i don't really understand why this film is so popular - it's not bad and the fight scenes are enjoyable, but i don't think the plot really goes anywhere. it's quite obvious that bourne is some sort of spy/assassin from early on and there's not much development from there. none of the other characters are interesting in any way including the woman and their relationship with each other, the climax is hardly climactic, no comic relief throughout the whole movie, don't feel that it had any sort of message, etc etc.
With Paul Greengrass’ filmmaking style so heavily linked to the franchise, its interesting to watch the initial entry that he had no involvement in and note that many of the hallmarks of the series were already put in place by Liman. It’s also clear how influential the film became as a result, with the resulting sequels more of a refinement to the original. The camerawork, whilst less frenetic, is still aiming to ground the action and each of the fight sequences are notable for emphasising the brutality and speed that the central character is capable of. Damon makes for a likeable protagonist and the filmmakers tread a careful line of making the central character’s dilemma and confusion relatable and sympathetic, yet at the same time reminding the audience of how dangerous he can be. The European setting equally helps to give the film a look that has since been replicated in every action film of note from Bond to Taken. It is a solid start to the franchise, though the film spends little time of consequence dealing with the ramifications of Bourne’s discovery and Potente’s does what little she can with Marie, a largely thankless role that seems to exist solely to give Bourne something to protect throughout.
It took me some time to finally watched this movie. There was no specific reason, it just happened.
Meanwhile this has become a franchise with lots of movies and even a series (which I did watch but didn't particularly liked). This movie is OK in terms of its entertainment value. The story is as deep as it needs to be, no surprising twists and turns. Which I must say I see as a plus because I hate it when movies have too much of them. The action and stunts are good and, because they are physical, look believable. But the sound effects during the fights are a bit too much at times.
Matt Damon does a lot of stuff by himself and it helps sell the character. I'm not a huge fan of Franka Potente. By that I mean that I don't think she stands out in a way that it couldn't have been anyone else playing her part. At the same time I applaud the casting as usually you get some Hollywood sweetheart for that kind of role.
The romance was lame, though. You know from the second they meet this is going to happen. It's a trait of storytelling no writer can stay away from.
So why not a higher rating? Well, altogether the movie is rather generic. It goes from A to B to C checking boxes along the way. Still overall not totally boring and since I do own the trillogy I will now watch the rest.
It has quite some action and is somewhat interesting but ultimately it felt pretty forgetful. I didn't find the story very good. Definitely worth a watch though.
I'd rate this 6.5 in 2021 but since this is back from 2002 it likely deserves at least 7.5/10 (but that's hard to tell nowadays).
The soundtrack at the start of the end credits was kinda nice, reminded me of Resident Evil (not sure wether that makes sense or not... :D).
This was the first time I'd seen the film since listening to the book on tape, so it was interesting to see the competing differences and similarities.
The two share a starting point and a few very basic plot elements, but the details and final purpose of each are vastly different, both with positives and negatives of their own. As a standalone film, this still works very well. The action scenes, brief and scattered as they may be, are still very well done and (mostly) grounded, especially by Hollywood standards. It's not quite as smart as it would like you to believe, but is intelligent enough to avoid becoming a stereotypically brainless puncher and I enjoyed the constantly-flipping roles of the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between Bourne and his handlers.
The ending feels too abrupt, though, tying everything up into too neat of a package and omitting a lot of vital details along the way. I guess that's what sequels are for.
M-M-M-M-MATT DAY MON
A modern James Bond movie. Very cool to watch, even though the 'Bourne Trilogy' is the exception on the rule that sequels are always worse.
The first movie follows a relatively basic story development, and never realy has a memorable impact on the viewer. It does manage to wrap it up in exceptional action and chase scenes, especially for it's time.
This is a great spy thriller that feels straight out of the cold war, despite not having anything to do with that really. I love how realistic it feels despite having pretty crazy, over the top stuff going on. When I was younger and saw this, I was totally grossed out/bothered by that dude pulling the pen out of his hand. It makes me cringe for some reason. Clive Owen's character is also really fun to watch. He's so calm, but precise and honest.
All in all, just a really good action film with an interesting plot you slowly understand.
After watching four John Wick movies recently, this is like a breath of fresh air. Great action thriller with a baby faced Matt Damon that resolves around an actual plot and feels a lot more realistic than the aforementioned. Needed this.
Feels very 2000's action movie. Matt Damon is perfectly cast as the lead. Great chemistry with Franka Potente. The way Marie is introduced and constantly gets entangled in Bourne's journey was perfect. Brian Cox is a standout even though he doesn't get that many scenes. I like the slow reveal of the mystery throughout, really gives you time to assemble the puzzle pieces.
As an action movie it feels restrained and I mean that as a good thing, it isn't trying to give you out of proportion action set pieces but rather focuses on realistic smaller scale action. They're still pretty good edge-of-your-seat sequences with a Matt Damon who's got some moves. The hand-to-hand fights being the best part and a great car chase through Paris.
Didn't like the score. Good acting all around. Knows how to keep the tension throughout. It had me glued to the screen in the first act that was my favorite part, lost a lot of steam in the middle and got back up in the third act but I did expect more. I'm a little curious for the sequel(s).
I saw a Christmas tree so this is officially a Christmas movie!
Jason Bourne is for the children.
Haven't seen this movie in .. dang 10 years? It's good. I'll give it that. It's a fun action movie. What it isn't however is a good adaption. Adaptions aren't cookie cutter mirrors of their books. I get that but this one trimmed one layer too deep. The reveal about who Jason Bourne is really kinda makes the whole narrative and the movie robs you of that. I feel what they've replaced it with is a bit sloppy and maybe I'm reading too much but a touch racist. The car scenes hold up better than the fight scenes but this movie has energy the likes of which we don't typically see in action movies that don't star legit martial artists. I'll put that on both Liman and Damon. They did a lot of work on this and it shows. Franka Potente is lovely as always but her Marie is underused. In the books Marie was the driving heart of their side of the story. Marie kept Jason going digging him to find out more. Here Marie is more what she appeared to be from the outside. Just along for the chaotic and confusing ride. She's great but she could have been so much more if they had given her a character to portray.
I'm at not the biggest fan of these types of movies, and this particular one does little to stand out above its counterparts. However, it is definitely a solid movie and my second favorite of the Bourne series.
Rating: 3.5/5 - 8/10 - Would Recommend
It's not what I'd call a true "classic", with a plotline that is nothing remarkable, but it's a fun enough watch, with Franka Potente giving the film much needed charm. And that's really the best thing this film had going for it. Damon is merely kind of likable, but is the definition of "generic, young white bread", but Potente imbues their onscreen relationship with a lot of humanity and just plain cute moments, without being chinzy or feeling especially Hollywood.
Given how many films there are in the franchise it's hardly a spoiler to say that it ends with a real crowd pleaser of a finale, especially with the Moby track playing out the last scene, (which, along with the creative use of writing utensils, was the only other thing I had remembered since seeing it in theaters twenty-one years ago.)
And this film gains a lot from the theater treatment. You really need a large screen and a great sound system to properly get into this kind of film, even with the "4K HDR" update, which was barely noticeable to me. It's not a bad looking film, but it's pretty unremarkable, as was the faked HDR tone-mapping. I'd simply have much rather been watching pretty much any Bond film.
ps. At the risk of calling myself a hypocrite, I guess the plot actually was kind of remarkable in the fact that it did show the CIA being terrorists, and it wasn't a rogue element committing the terrorism, but rather a rogue element that actively decided to stop being an international terrorist only after going rogue.
The Bourne Identity is a masterful action thriller film that boasts a great plot and top-notch acting. The movie is part of one of the greatest series of all time, and for good reason. From the opening scene, you are taken on an exhilarating ride filled with pulse-pounding action sequences and unexpected twists and turns. Matt Damon delivers a phenomenal performance as Jason Bourne, the amnesiac CIA agent who must uncover the truth about his past while fighting off assassins. Overall, The Bourne Identity is a must-watch!
One of my favourite films ever. Almost flawless. Supremacy is also great but this is my favourite of the trilogy.
In The Bourne Identity, Doug Liman and Tony Gilroy's adaptation of Robert Ludlum's novel, Matt Damon stars as Jason Bourne, a man who is found floating unconscious in the Mediterranean Sea with no memory of his past and a series of mysterious numbers tattooed on his body. As he tries to piece together his past and unravel the mystery of his identity, Bourne realizes that he has been trained as a highly skilled assassin and is being hunted by various groups who seem to want him dead.
One of the film's major strengths is its central character, played by Damon in a performance that showcases both his physical and emotional range. Bourne is a complex and layered character who is both relatable and sympathetic, despite his formidable fighting skills and dangerous nature. The film also does a good job of establishing its European setting, which gives the film a distinctive look and feel that has been widely imitated in other action films.
However, the film is not without its flaws. The plot, while engaging, does not offer much in the way of depth or development, and the other characters are underdeveloped and lack any real complexity. The relationship between Bourne and Marie (played by Franka Potente) is particularly shallow and lacks any real emotional depth or resonance. The film's climax is also somewhat underwhelming, failing to deliver the same level of excitement as the rest of the film.
Despite these weaknesses, The Bourne Identity is a solid action thriller that is elevated by its compelling central character and distinctive European setting. While it may not be a groundbreaking film, it is an enjoyable watch and a strong start to the Bourne franchise.
The location, the cast, the plot, the acting, the direction spot on. What was needed in the end the movie ending at the song “extreme ways”... 10/10
It takes me back to memories when I was living in Europe in 20’s .....all you have to do is turn on extreme ways in your headphones and relive Jason for a while.....
"I can tell you the license plate numbers of all six cars outside. I can tell you that our waitress is left-handed and the guy sitting up at the counter weighs two hundred fifteen pounds and knows how to handle himself. I know the best place to look for a gun is the cab or the gray truck outside, and at this altitude, I can run flat out for a half mile before my hands start shaking. Now why would I know that? How can I know that and not know who I am?"
Splendid. I like that it feels like a lower budget movie and doesn't get too over the top while still delivering the spy thriller goods.
"Who has a safety deposit box full of money and six passports and a gun?"
It has been awhile since I've seen the Bourne films and I'm not surprised it holds up as well as it does. Especially the first entry. I love how to story unfolds, Matt Damon is great in this, we get one line by Walton Goggins and we have Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje who reminds me to watch Oz again someday.
I love the way it sets up the next film at the end with the mention of Blackbriar, I just wish that Doug Liman would've directed them all! Anyway the chase scene in the mini is great and I love the way Bourne messes that lad up with a pencil.
Yes, The Bourne Identity was a good choice for today!
honestly im just a sucker for matt damon
god how i wish i was marie
The plot is very simple, from all the hype. I had expected something more complex.
Perfectly paced, with little to no downtime, and a lead actor that delivers with one of his best ever performances, you get one of the best spy thrillers ever made.
Required viewing!!!
This film is part of the Jason Bourne film series
The Bourne Identity (2002) https://trakt.tv/movies/the-bourne-identity-2002
The Bourne Supremacy (2004) https://trakt.tv/movies/the-bourne-supremacy-2004
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) https://trakt.tv/movies/the-bourne-ultimatum-2007
Jason Bourne (2016) https://trakt.tv/movies/jason-bourne-2016
To be or not to be an agent, that is the question. ;)
this was a great action film...thrilling,mysterious and fun..liked the story of this amnesiac hero..i know it is too late to watch this movie...and i already know that there is sequels...but this movie was a great stand alone film in my opinion...and i am ready for the next bourne movie now..lets see what those have for me...
Great story we really loving it.
An entertaining Spy movie. The suspense is really good and the action is good not great but good. The acting is great from most of the cast. The story keeps you interested the whole time waiting for the next event to happen. Overall it’s a good movie that is perfect for any fan of action/ suspense.
(8 out of 10)
The Bourne Identity is an exciting espionage thriller from director Doug Liman. The story follows Jason Bourne, who wakes up with no memory of who he is but soon makes some disturbing discoveries leading him to believe that he’s a professional assassin. The cast is excellent, and includes Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Brian Cox, and Clive Owen. Additionally, the script is especially well-written in how it builds the suspense and mystery as to who Bourne is and what happened to him. Plus, Liman does an exceptional job at directing the action sequences, and keeps the film intense and energetic. The Bourne Identity is an outstanding action film that helped to bring gritty realism to the spy genre.
Decent movie. I feel like it would've been better without the whole Jason and Marie dynamic. Hell, it'd have been a better movie without Marie at all. Especially considering what happens to her in the second movie of the Bourne movie franchise, or at least I think it happened in the second one. I'll find out soon enough, for a second time, once I watch it for a second time.
Great start for a great trilogy...It was little excessive in some points but overall a great action movie with nice atmosphere and superplot.8/10
Excellent,the book was amazing and this movie didn't disappoint me for a change when compared with it,
Seeing the 2016 sequel made me want to go back and watch this, so here we are.
For a film I’ve only seen once in the past, I’m surprised at just how memorable The Bourne Identity is. Everything from getting found in the ocean, the Mini car chase and even small things like ripping the fire map off the wall to find escapes - it all stuck with me, even 14 years on. It’s those details that elevate this above your average summer action film. They allow us to revel in Bourne’s ingenuity, and of course wonder where it all came from.
I had forgotten that Paul Greengrass doesn’t actually direct this film, it’s Doug Liman. The camera doesn’t shake as much as you might expect. While the wobbly hand-held effect is present, the latest instalment in the franchise makes this look like steadicam footage.
A really solid start to the trilogy.
http://benoliver999.com/film/2016/08/14/thebourneidentity/
The sound bytes are horrible I can't hear a thing on most of the movies on this website??? what's going on? #ShiftvW8
Boy does this hold up. So great. So much fun to see where it all started. Also, I know this kicked off a trend still in use today of quick, close cuts on fighting, but it still works here. Doesn't feel tired or played. I for a long time thought Supremacy was better, but watching this then Supremacy, I have no idea why. Number 2 is great too, but I gotta give the gold ribbon to this one. If only for the parts where he is discovering who he is. Not the "who am I really? who did I kill?" stuff, but him realizing he's some sort of bad ass as he kicks peoples asses. That's awesome and can't be replicated in sequels.
image 4/5 , sound 4.5 / 5. Still a great action movie, with great action scenes
maybe this one a least favourite from trilogy by me.
Modern action that's not mindless. The plot is intriguing enough on the first watch to keep us interested however it doesn't become convoluted. Matt Damon is a delight to watch as a badass but also a human with a conscience. Although the romantic arc is to be expected, it is realistic. I think this is a nice set up for the rest of the trilogy. On it's own, it's a quaint, simple but entertaining action.
Great thriller and start to a terrific trilogy!
Het boek is beter...
Watching it a second time, 12 years later, with my dad. Extended version, great film.
Shout by SandraBlockedParent2016-08-05T11:46:41Z
I don't know why it took so long for me to watch this, but I'm glad I did. It's a pretty enjoyable thriller. Looking forward to seeing the rest of the movies, by now it's like 4 or 5 of them, ha ha