9/10 Refreshing, smart, some tight dialog, shaky camera gets a bit old, but I loved this movie!

Rating: 9/10 (26 July 2004)

No spoilers here.
I've waited years for this movie. Finally, a picture that captures action in a more realistic way than we normally see. I ignore most action-genre donuts. (Fatty with an empty heart.)
I didn't see Bourne Identity, so I can't compare this with that.
Acting: Really good. Appropriate casting, nice to see Brian Cox and Franka Potente involved in this film. Yes, I threw that in just to feel worldly. I confess.
Plot: It's a fine plot, nothing really wrong, though I do question a few things that I won't mention here. Don't worry, it's small stuff.
Script: I liked the script. This movie gives you some fresh dialog in places where other movies give bloated, cheesy, wordy goo. I wish there was more original material, but that's ok.
Cinematography: The camera work was a bit of an issue for me. In some parts of the film it worked very well giving the viewer a sense of motion and speed and a feeling of loss of control, loss of spacial awareness. In other cases, it was obvious that the operator was shaking the camera like a baby's rattle. Hey, it worked for Blair Witch Project, mostly, and it works here, mostly.
Techy stuff: Ok, I somehow managed to ignore most of the high technology presented in the film, so they must have done a better job than most films. So, thumbs up for technical presentation I guess.
You know what I mean: a typical 'movie' computer makes about 20 unique noises per minute, processing, downloading, uploading, thinking, burping. Imagine sitting at the terminal for 8 hours hearing bleeps, bloops, swishes, dings, and blips. Now add that to all the other computers around you. Yeah, somehow most directors think we're stupid. Considering that many of us use computers daily, and those computers make no noise at all, it's surprising. Why can't they use a more realistic set of sounds, like a person saying "C'mon process my stupid request for crying out loud!" while the computer SILENTLY does its work. Or someone telling a stupid joke, or nervously tapping a pencil. Oh, and don't get me started about fancy red blinking ACCESS DENIED windows. Oh man. But I digress.
Overall, this is a refreshing intrigue/drama/action movie. If going to see an action film makes you feel dirty, rest assured, you will feel squeaky clean after this one.
9/10