Cliched but still entertaining

Rating: Null/10 (6 September 2002)

I never read the book but I thought this film was very fun, entertaining and very good throughout. The action was crisp and it moved very well from one locale to the next.
The plot may be a reject from every other b-movie actioner around but its still good. And whilst Bourne isn't a secret agent (of sorts), he is an assassin out to kill some African Delegate threatening to expose CIA missions in the Congo or something.
I think Matt Damon plays Bourne very well. His Aikido/Jujitsu is very fresh, fast and he gives the impression he's doing it on instict rather than showing he knows the moves.
Yes it did drag a bit, and yes every cliche out of hollywood comes out of this (for example: he's an assassin who cares - pl-eeze). But I think it's pretty good for a cheap seat at a cheap cinema. I wouldn't go top dollar for this movie I don't think its worth it.
Julia Stiles is also in this, but doesn't really do anything of interest. The most intreging character was Clive Owen's "Professor". Saying almost nothing but showing off his brooding James Bond/Tim Dalton with Glasses look.
Its entertaining until the very end where Damon decides to go all out as Chow Yun Fat wannabe...but whereas Fat would slide down the bannister, Damon jumps off the side and flies down to the bottom. That one sequence is just plain stupid and funny at the same time when its not meant to be.
Overall: 6/10