The Bourne Identity

A lively spy thriller and, despite being the second adaptation (the first was a two-part adaptation with Richard Chamberlain), it has a certain charm. Certainly better than a lot of action/spy movies I have seen lately (and I’ve seen perhaps too many). Just a shame that the theme has been rather over-used and so you know exactly what to expect and when to expect it. Damon is absolutely convincing and it is easy to “be fooled into thinking" that he is just a harmless young man with a pleasant face and his subsequent rebirth into a killer is just perfect. Too bad that in the second half the movie becomes loses a little of the atmospheric and pace of the first half. It is a crying shame that the director didn’t give Powell’s great soundtrack more of a chance to make a mark. The entire movie is spoiled by the final over the top jump; this belongs more in “triple-x" movies than in anything trying to be a little serious. Simply a good attempt at a genre piece that walks its own original path. Until the finale, that is. (03/08/2004)

Action movies aren't usually my cup of tea, but this one is really worth it. It primarily relies on a well-developed script that isn't aimed at viewers with the mentality of an overgrown ten-year-old, and on the unconventional, more civilian portrayal of the main character. Matt Damon fits perfectly in the role of the disoriented agent and is in excellent physical shape. The film maintains a high pace, sustained tension, and an atmosphere of unpredictability. After watching it a second time, I'm raising my rating to 90% and adding a fifth star. (18/05/2007)

So I guess I got a taste for it the second time around. It's awesome, there's nothing else to say. Matt Damon is incredibly cool as an agent and above all, it's the realism that emanates from him that people like the most. The music adds incredible nuances, the cold atmosphere is more than good. For my taste, maybe not the most precise action, which is occasionally spoiled by a few sloppy cuts, but in terms of content, it's a ride. Maybe even better than The Bourne Supremacy. (26/10/2003)

A great spy action movie with very nice atmosphere and likeable heroes. I don’t know if I have anything to complain about, everything works as it should. It was of course close to five stars, but the overall impression is not strong enough, maybe next time… I’m already looking forward to the sequel. (27/08/2008)

In general terms it’s totally fine. It's got plenty of action, drama, and ambition. But what bothers me here is the rather unappealing atmosphere. It's like a mock-up or a set-up for something big that's not so big after all. I don't think Matt Damon was fully baked at that point. The same old pace can get boring after a while. 3.5 stars. (22/07/2011)