Member review

Plot: Clueless and disoriented, Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is rushed through an entourage of fairy-tale rescues, maddening encounters, Swedish bank accounts, chases, races and in-your-face action. He encounters a certain Marie (Franka Potente), and she becomes more than just a tag-along in the race to discover Bourne's identity- will he exceed his past? Review: The Bourne movies have long been a favorite of many, and at the time, marking the return of down to earth, real spy action! Rampaging it's way to the top of many home DVD stacks, it is based on the popular literary novel by the renowned author Robert Ludlum. High action thriller dramatics were inevitable, as well as the drip drip drip of an odd leak in the plotline! Any plot holes are easily ovelooked however due to the role of Oscar winning Matt Damon and new to the scene Franka Potente (at the time of the movies release of course!). I'd wager this movie to be her door to a prosperous career, i'd certainly put it on my CV! A healthy rival to the 'Bond' movies, Bourne smashes to the lead; action packed without the cheese. There are no posh totty spies and there are no glamour model girls. The exotic locations have been cut (save the final scene), and the spy is where he should be, not livivng the high life, but actually being helpful. It;s down to earth with a pinch of corny to please the audience. The movie builds on the epic car chase using a weathered Mini rather than an Aston Martin. Compared to bond, it's a car-chase, bloody-face, brawl-space action thriller! After a dip in the spy genre, 'Bond' being a little too radical for its own good, Bourne cruises into control proving a good viewing. The Hitchcockian touches bring something new to the spy genre. The mirrors, mystery of identity and vertigo style building sequence evoke a montage of thrill, suspense, peril and mystery... A fantastic achievement for director Doug Liman, who previously worked on movies of a smaller scale. Also, working with a new genre i think it fair to say that liman brings something new to the genre- perhaps weaving in the suspense of a true horror. It could be that the spy genre has simple been re-Bourne! Opening with an iron grip, the desaturated colour in the storm ridden territory of the sea provides excellent pathetic fallacy, force-feeding you a spoonful of shock-mystery! A deafening silence of dialogue supllies the tension, and together with the hand held shots giving you the motion of the sea, a sickly feeling builds. However, there to lighten the mood is a 'Fairytale' rescue by some kindly fishermen, who happen to be there. Right on cue! A scene i feel deserves special credit (without giving to much away!) is the flat scene. After a tracking shot around the gothic spiral stairs After a tracking shot around the gothic spiral stairs creating an initial gut feeling of horror, mirrors, shadowing and POV shots toy with the flat! The suspense in this scene is thick enough to cut with a knife, the silence not adding much to lighten the situation. A warped effect is portrayed through the point of view shots (especially in the wardrobe, where the view of the scene was obscured- twisted!). This classic moment has the aura of a horror, and with the constant focus on doors, all you may want to do is escape. With a crash, the sudden entry gives an epic edge-of-seat to in-the-air effect! The flash-back montage of scenes explodes with realization, emotion and climax! The quick cuts and point of views fly with an urgency that is felt by Bourne, aided with some quite contrapuntal sounds that are reminiscent of the tubular bells, to reinforce the horror behind Bourne’s realization of his owned-to-kill past. Despite the occasional plot hole, the movie hi-jacks your car and takes you in the direction of some serious spy action filled with mystery of suspense. Spotlights on Matt Damon and Franka Potente who steal the show (along with several cars!), making realistic and believable spy anti-hero (performing a majority of his own stunts!), and Potente, being new to Hollywood, giving a natural performance due to her low profile in America. Do you want down to earth action and realistic events? The spy genre to have finally grated the last of the cheese? Then prepare for Bourne and take the most thrilling spy journey through mystery and suspense that has ever been! Verdict! What the action genre needed- not just a pick-me-up but a full frontal, guns blazing charge through!