great action, solid film, wrong villain

Rating: 6/10 (18 August 2007)

(There may be a mild spoiler later in the review.) This film has superior action sequences. It is a return to the gritty action of From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, and the French Connection only in this film it is non stop. The fight between Bourne and an assassin is very similar to the great briefcase fight scene in the classic Bond film: Russia With Love.
Some people have complained that the action makes them dizzy or disoriented. But in a real car chase the riders would be dizzy. The film and camera work are fantastic.
The only weakness in this film may be the villains. U. S. government agents are the ones chasing Bourne. Although this film may clarify that these U.S. government agents that are chasing Bourne are rogue agents, it also has many regular agents involved. In real life I am sure many agents would begin to question orders although there is a slight moment of truth late in this film in regards to that.
It is a fact that the best and brightest in our society join national security agencies, the C.I.A., the F.B. I. and the military. The finest minds and physically trained men and women join to protect you and this country.
One good point that can be derived from the film is that in a democracy and republic like ours, we have an open society. Even spy methods, interrogation techniques and and procedures can be discussed in the wide open in which the the whole society is aware of controversies. For example the discussion in our society of whether terrorist should be given Geneva conventions even when these terrorists have killed entire schools of children, beheaded reporters and murdered red cross workers is a wide open discussion. This film does not enter anything heavy like this but it does touch on the subject.
One more thing about the villains. In the real world the C.I.A. probably has more of a problem with left wing infiltration in which the CIA is made to be downsized and less effective and believes we have no enemies. Of course America has many enemies and 911 was not another American Government conspiracy. In real life terrorists in the Middle east, Africa, Asia, and South America prey on the innocent. The Bourne story ignores this. This film is more like James Bond in which Bond's own British secret service is after him. Hopefully there will be a sequel in which freedom's real enemies who are terrorists and thugs and warlords who are the villains. Hopefully, the sequel will be as well made as this film.
All and ail this film has the feel of From Russia with Love and the classic Michael Caine film Ipcress File.