A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: The Bourne Identity

Date Viewed: 6/15/02

Details:

Matt Dillon

Franka Potente

Chris Cooper

Clive Owen

Julia Stiles

Director: Doug Liman

Score: 1/2

The Review: A comatose, almost-dead floater with several bullet holes in him. A man with no memory of his past, but with some fascinating and lethal reflexes. Ah, but there's a clue: a high-tech gadget surgically implanted in his back that, when removed, is flashing what appears to be a Swiss bank account number. Thus starts the hunt -- for his identity and persona(e) -- and the chase -- from his prior organisation and himself.

Taken from ("inspired by") the Ludlum novel(s), updated a bit to revise the original now-anachronistic Cold War references, and filmed across Europe (Prague, Paris, Greece; although I could have sworn it also included Zurich, it wasn't credited; guess I need to visit Prague). Dillon is reasonably believable as a trained assassin, but Potente seems paralyzed and useless as his traveling companion. The more sinister side of the organisation -- Cooper and Owen -- are well done. Overall, it is action-packed and entertaining, but doesn't quite deserve full marks.

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