The Bourne Identity
This film stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, a man with a lot of holes physically and mentally. You see, he's been shot a couple of times and he's suffering from amnesia. After getting back on his feet with the help of some fishermen, he tries to find out who he is. An account number found in a laser pointer attached to his hip takes him to a bank, where he finds passports, money, and a gun. The CIA wants him dead after Bourne's mission from a couple of weeks earlier fails. They track him to this bank where the game of cat and mouse begins. Bourne befriends Marie, a cash-strapped woman played by the great Franka Potente of Run Lola Run fame, who is willing to drive him to Paris for $20,000. Soon, she finds herself a target of this chase and they go together to elude the various CIA agents chasing them.

The story is smart and intelligent. It shows not all summer flicks need to be dumbed down to a level that everyone can understand. Probably not intentional, but I laughed at all the references Bourne makes about running when talking to Marie. But what's lacking in this summer atmosphere of movies is the action. We see glimpses of it, but nearly not enough in a movie that hypes itself as one. It also goes along at a snail's pace. A device by the director to discover memories with Bourne? Who knows? But it's a little frustrating all the same. Also, it's not fully explained as to what Bourne actually is. Cyborg? Universal Soldier? (What other Van Damme movies have there been?) Plus, one has to wonder why Julia Stiles is here playing a bit part. Nevertheless, it's a thinking man's movie as we along, with Jason, find out what the heck is going on. 2.5 stars