IDENTITY KNOCKOUT

Rating: 8/10 (25 June 2003)

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
The opening scene accurately portrays the darkness that enshrouds the secretive and veiled identity of the character that has been discovered in mysterious circumstances, floating in the sea, having been left for dead. [Cue the haunting overture]
He would've been invisible in the water if it weren't for the flashing distress light on his wet suit. [Watch out for scenes in the film where the camera pans across, making it seem as though the character just disappears -- you'll understand the importance of the ability of this character being invisible as the plot unravels]
Although passing fishermen come to his aid, when he regains consciousness the character finds he's still in the dark regarding his sense of self.

He has retrograde amnesia, and is frustrated trying to find the trigger he needs to tap into the temporarily unavailable memory file that stores his true identity.
A series of turbulent events occur that provide invaluable pieces of the jigsaw, but it becomes increasingly evident that the puzzle is far more complex and intricately interwoven than first thought.
As he gets closer to finding out more about his assumed identity, Jason Bourne, it appears as if the character is as cold and calculating as the antagonists he's up against, but we later find out that battling with his conscience was the deep-seated root of his problems.

Having weathered the tempestuous storm (locked horn battles with Biro pens at the ready, perfectly illustrating that the pen is mightier than the sword, and a nail-biting car chase), Bourne finally gets to step out of the shadows and into the welcoming, reassuring sunlight -- signalling an end to the dark and dreary tunnel he had to travel in an attempt to discover exactly who he was.
Honestly, he does travel in a darkened tunnel (not just me being overzealous with the cliché), and on a train that from the front uncannily resembles K9 -- for those of you who don't know who or, more specifically, what K9 is, then don't worry -- I'm just showing my age.
***
In my opinion, this is a really cool film that I would wholeheartedly recommend to watch. It's action-packed in a realistic way (and thankfully never stoops as low as the murky depths of being OTT), and also manages to add spice with a hint of romance simmering away gently in the background.
Personally, I like the alternative way of travelling downstairs without actually using the stairs or sliding down the banisters (but as always folks, don't try it at home -- or else your neighbours will be really cheesed and with no tomato sauce effects, real blood is just too messy -- trust me!)
Also, it's not just Jason Bourne who has the potential to disappear -- here in the UK, that red bag would've done a disappearing act well before Jason got the chance to reach the bottom of the building [and the likelihood of the CCTV being switched on would be negligible -- ok, so hands up -- is that the cynicism police I see before me?]. A new slant on the film, with Bourne chasing after the thief, (who, for obvious reasons, couldn't be called Amy), with the possibility of ending up in a desert valley bordering E California and W Nevada (where Bourne finally meets up with his long-lost buddy called Gerry AlaCasey), could for all intents and purposes be aptly titled, Run (the fcUK) Jason Run. Ok, perhaps not!