A great film which perfectly updates Robert Ludlum's great trilogy

Rating: 10/10 (12 September 2004)

This is a great film, and slightly reminiscent of the very early James Bond movies - taut and dark and not dependent on loads of special effects. The Bourne Identity was perhaps a more embracing film, but this second of the trilogy led us down a darker path that was both chilling and unexpected. Jason Bourne, the hero of the piece, has gone from being the good guy of the first film, to the good guy with a very bad past in the second film. This was unexpected as most great heroes of a first film tend to remain exactly that. But because of that it makes the whole series stay very much alive and interesting, and very in-keeping with the books. Some of the non-stop use of hand-held camera was at times oppressive, but did little to dampen a great film. Already looking forward to The Bourne Ultimatum - the final outing of the trilogy.