A decent effort but it fails to impress enough

Rating: 4/10 (27 December 2009)

I knew nothing of the the Bourne books written by Robert Ludlum, but I like spy thrillers and thought it would be worth a look and I have to say I was quite disappointed. It starts intriguing with a man called Jason Bourne found shot on a fishing boat way out to see who wakes knowing nothing about himself, his name or past life and ends up being pursued by assassins as he tries to find out about himself.
Overall the story of the film is quite complicated to understand and may need re seeing twice but even then you like me may lose your interest in anything that's going on. Another criticism is that there is too much plot with very little action attached throughout. The movie as a whole becomes long winded particularly clocking at two hours.
Matt Damon as Bourne I'm afraid fails to impress. He seems far too normal with the situation he's in. There are not many emotive qualities to attach in particular when he falls for Maria played by Franka Potente. There relationship fails to convince really and the aura of Damon being physically diminutive makes him unconvincing as an assassin hired by the CIA.
However the supporting cast like Clive Owen as a hit-man and Brian Cox,Chris Cooper and Juila Stiles as CIA operatives make the most of there roles. The action what there was entertaining, it was well shot and to be fair the film is just setting up the story for the next two parts which I fear though will be equally disappointing. It's a decent effort on the whole but it just wasn't good enough.