A tight, gripping spy thriller that's a pleasant surprise.

Rating: 6/10 (2 September 2010)

Left for dead, an American intelligence agent (Matt Damon) wakes with no memory, and attempts to piece together who he really is.
The Bourne Identity is a solid, proficient action-thriller that rarely seems to strain for effect: the second hour - which has the hero chasing a paper trail across Europe, while the CIA tries to tie up its loose ends - isn't nearly as much fun as the first, but there's an unexpectedly classy cast for this kind of thing. Particular acclaim was directed toward the film's central car chase which was described as an exciting action highlight and one of the best realized in the genre. The film is the first in a trilogy, being followed by The Bourne Supremacy (2004) and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007).