Overall: 87.1%

Rating: Null/10 (12 July 2004)

Inspired by Robert Ludlum's novels (The Bourne Identity, Supremacy, and Legacy), The Bourne Identity revolves around Jason Bourne, an amnesia-stricken individual in search of his true identity and seemingly on the run from almost everyone.
Jason is rescued by a group of fishermen who find him at sea, injured from multiple gun-shot wounds and on the brink of death. While Jason's amnesia doesn't allow him to remember why he was at sea, where he lives, or even where he works, he eventually picks up several clues that lead him to believe that he is a government agent and on the run from the very same people that trained him to become an invisible weapon.
Bourne decides that he no longer wants to be government property and revolts and gains assistance from Marie Helena Kreutz, a woman with her fair share of problems, but in desperate need of income, which Jason offers in return for her help.
For those of you who thoroughly enjoyed the far-fetched, unrealistic scenes in other spy films like the James Bond series and Triple X, there's a chance you won't enjoy this film. A large part of the film is spent in developing the Bourne character and on unraveling the information behind his cryptic past. However, the film does have several action sequences. Especially enjoyable are the vehicle chases between Bourne and Paris police through the streets of Paris; a chase sequence that won the coveted Taurus Award from The World Stunt Awards in 2003.
Overall, amazing European scenery, a beautiful soundtrack composed by John Powell (along with tracks from other artists scattered throughout the film), and a convincing cast (Matt Damon, Chris Cooper, Franka Potente), make this spy film a lasting one and a good setup for its subsequent titles, such as The Bourne Supremacy (2004).
Overall: 87.1% Categories: Story: 90%; Entertainment: 85%; Script: 80%; Soundtrack: 95%; Acting: 85%; Set and Design: 90%; Sequences: 85%