Rewrites the rule book for all action/spy movies as a new hero is Bourne.

Rating: 9/10 (5 November 2016)

It's hard to believe that back in 2002, The Bourne Identity would rewrite the rule book for action/spy movies and set a new benchmark. There's plenty of thrilling action sequences, and there's also the addition of brains to counterbalance the brawn. Matt Damon, who was an unlikely choice as the spy Jason Bourne, completely redefined the movie spy for the millennium and made himself and his character a household name. Based on the best selling novel of the same name by Robert Ludlum, The Bourne Identity was one of the most successful movies of 2002 which spawned several successful sequels.
The movie begins with Jason Bourne (Matt Damon, Good Will Hunting) being rescued by Italian fishermen after being found in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea with two gunshots in his back. While being nursed back to full health, Bourne wakes up with no memory of who he is and how he was found, but is fluent in several languages and highly proficient in unarmed combat. finds himself capable of advanced combat skills and fluency in several languages. The only lead Bourne can act on is a tiny laser projector under his hip which gives a number of a safe deposit box in Zurich. After he visits the bank in Zurich, he finds a large sum of money, various passports and a handgun. The visit to the bank alerts black ops CIA director Alexander Conklin (Chris Cooper, Adaptation) who is in charge of Operation Treadstone. As Conklin and Deputy Director Ward Abbott (Brian Cox, Manhunter) spearhead the operation to take down Bourne who is believed to have gone rogue, Bourne enlists the help of German woman Marie Kreutz (Franka Potente, Run Lola Run) to initially drive him to Paris with a sum of money but finds herself being caught up in the middle of the secretive plot. While Bourne slowly uncovers how he found himself in his current situation and who he really is, he also uncovers the conspiracy to see through that he is not to be taken alive.
Matt Damon won critical acclaim for he previous roles in Good Will Hunting (1997) and Saving Private Ryan (1998). Here in The Bourne Identity, his career kicks into another gear as super spy Jason Bourne who also has cemented a well deserved spot as one of the greatest characters amongst such names as James Bond, Rambo, Terminator and John McClane to name a few. It's hard to believe Matt Damon was an unlikely casting choice, but now Jason Bourne is one of Matt Damon's best roles.
The rest of the supporting cast round out the movie well such as Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Brian Cox, Clive Owen, Julia Stiles (another unlikely casting choice) and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. Keep an eye out for Walton Goggins (The Shield), Gabriel Mann (Revenge), and Josh Hamilton (American Horror Story).
Director Doug Liman was also an unlikely choice as director following his work in indie movies such as Swingers (1996) and Go (1999) but here his work has worked wonders.
The Bourne Identity spawned several blockbusting sequels however giving credit where its due, The Bourne Identity was the movie that started it all and made its permanent mark. Putting a lot of no brainer action movies to shame, The Bourne Identity is more of a thinking man's action movie with spectacular stunts and more twists and turns than a roller coaster ride. Even after Moby's Extreme Ways plays during the end credits, you still find yourself glued to your seat. The Bourne Identity is still an entertaining action movie from start to finish.
9/10.