Not a bad little thriller

Rating: Null/10 (27 July 2002)

OK...I had minimal expectations going into the Bourne Identity, and
I must say I was not disappointed, but rather entertained. It's got
some style, the editing is tight but not MTV-ish, the French
locations very gritty and realistic, and the action is regular, kinetic
and creative. A nice little rental movie or a cheap matinee.
Some weak points? Julia Stiles, who I liked in Last Dance, is
utterly wasted here as a glorified phone operator. The subplot of
the African dictator in exile doesn't really pay off; you really don't
care whether he lives or dies. And finally, and almost fatally, Matt
Damon is too boyish to be a realistic Jason Bourne, who I
expected to be a bit more world-weary.
All that being said, I hear there are two sequels in the works. I'll
still consider catching those, particularly if directed by Doug Liman,
who I liked in Go.