Here's my review of The Bourne Identity, which I saw yesterday. I've included 2 versions - one with spoilers, and one without. Take your pick, but some of you may prefer to read about the details, as they help prepare you for certain scenes so you don't miss out on some really spiffy plot developments.

Review 1: Without spoilers

Easily the most famous of Robert Ludlum's spy thrillers, I vaguely recall a TV series based on it many years ago, starring Richard Chamberlain. So when I first heard of the big-screen version, featuring Matt Damon of all people, I wasn't very impressed -- Damon in an action flick? Errr....
But thanks to an aggressive marketing ploy by Universal / United International Pictures, I was practically brainwashed into going to the cinema. I've been endlessly inundated by trailers and making-of specials for the movie this past week, and was quite taken with the shots of Damon kickboxing -- sorry, I'm a sucker for such things. :)

Rest assured, though, 'cos you will not be disappointed! "The Bourne Identity" is an exceptional espionage film, in the tradition of old-fashioned classics like "The French Connection", yet reminiscent of the recent "Enemy of the State".

Damon plays a man who is mysteriously found floating in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea one stormy night, with no form of identification on him, and worse, no memory of who he is. However, he leaves himself various clues, and a trail leading to the name Jason Bourne. Along the way, Bourne discovers he is a wanted man, being hunted by the CIA as well as its enemies. What follows is a slam-bang action movie, made even more exhilarating by an intelligent storyline.

I'll leave details of the scenes in the review with spoilers, and take the opportunity in this one to wax lyrical about the cast and crew. :)

Doug Liman ( director )
A search on his past credits yielded only one film I know -- "Swingers" -- which is basically a buddy-road-trip film that starred Vince Vaughn a few years ago, and earned rave reviews but modest box office takings. A surprising discovery, especially after watching "The Bourne Identity". His expert direction makes it seem he's been doing this all his life, a la Ridley Scott. The director, in my opinion, is always the most important figure in any film, dictating everything from the mood to the pace and of course, the quality of the actors' performances. This guy's definitely made a big impact here. Let's hope he won't mess it up by making bad choices in the future.

John Powell ( composer )
A search on THIS guy coughed up the following: "Face/Off", "Rat Race", "Evolution", "Shrek" and "Antz", among other varied projects. While some movies are complemented by their soundtracks, this one's practically propelled by it, and listening to Powell's pumping tempos is almost as enjoyable as watching the action unfold. If you have time, sit back for a full blast of the excellent score after the credits start rolling. You won't regret it.

Franka Potente ( female protagonist )
Here's another one of those unknown actresses who suddenly lands a big role in a major Hollywood film despite so-so looks -- not unlike Thandie Newton from "Mission: Impossible 2". Luckily, Potente fares a lot better in the acting category, and does much more than parade around rolling her eyes or dressing skimpily ( the weather in "The Bourne Identity" is uniformly wet and cold, so everyone's wrapped up for most of the film ). She possesses a streetwise yet innocent charm that plays off Damon's paranoia extremely well. I thought the love scene was a tad forced, but the chemistry's there. We'll be seeing more of her in the years to come.

Matt Damon ( male protagonist )
I've left the best for last. :) In truth, Damon's always been in the back of my mind, and I first saw him in "The Rainmaker", the movie that made him a star. Since then, he's taken the road less travelled -- as his lifelong friend Ben Affleck went on to become a mainstream action hero, Damon's played everything from a genius ("Good Will Hunting") to a gay psychopathic killer ("The Talented Mr. Ripley") to a cowboy ("All The Pretty Horses") and a thief ("Ocean's Eleven").
Though often overshadowed by his more outgoing compatriot ( ie. Affleck ), Damon displayed his own intelligent wit and sexy charisma in an interview with Oprah Winfrey last year ( which I have on tape, ahem :)). Ben may be the hunk, but Matt's cute, AND a deep thinker.

So yes, I raised my eyebrows when I heard he'd been picked for the role of Jason Bourne, but after watching the movie, I guarantee you will agree he was made for it. Thanks to Hollywood magic and know-how, Damon's transformed into a veritable fighting machine, complete with bulging biceps, moves worthy of Jean Claude Van Damme's admiration, and the agility of a panther. He also adds a nice emotional tinge to his character, who's capable of killing without remorse, yet stops himself when morally confused.

An interview on the movies.com website ( search for "The Bourne Identity" ) mentioned the possibility of another installment for Jason Bourne, and Damon did say he wouldn't mind reprising the role. Wishful thinking? It doesn't hurt to hope. :)

Review 2: Spoilers included

Favourite scenes:
1) The car chase: Any doubts about the hardy little Mini should be laid to rest with this heart-stopping sequence through the congested, narrow streets of Paris.
2) The wall crawl: This one takes place during Bourne's daring escape from the American Embassy in Paris, and has him stealthily creeping along the outside wall while
all hell breaks loose within. I particularly liked this part 'cos I noticed that there was no background music ( possibly the only moment in the film where there's complete
silence ). So you have Damon slowly inching his way down, with nothing but the sound of his footsteps and maybe a gentle breeze blowing. Really cool.
3) The fight scenes: More drooling on my part, sorry. :) Damon demonstrates deft grace in his execution of karate/kickboxing moves. The nice sound effects add some
finesse as well. Say what you like, Ben Affleck probably won't look as convincing doing the same thing.
4) The hunt for the sniper: This occurs while Bourne is hiding out at a country house with Marie ( Potente ), and confronts an assassin sent to kill him. The tactics employed
by both killers are calculated and ingenious as each tries to flush the other out.

Nice touches:
1) The bathroom scene: Bourne washing Marie's hair is innocuous yet rife with sexual tension. You'd have to be dead not to feel it.
2) Afterthoughts: This one's a short list of smart things Bourne does throughout the course of the movie, so you can pick up on them.
a) In the American Embassy, as the alarm is sounded, Bourne calmly walks through the corridors, then suddenly yanks a framed picture off the wall. This is actually a floor plan showing the exits, and helps him navigate his way to an escape route.
b) Again in the Embassy, after whacking a guard, he doubles back to grab his headset, so he can tune in to the other guards' conversations and find out where they've positioned themselves.
c) Just before the car chase, Bourne is seen carefully scrutinizing a road map. I completely missed this one, and only realized it when my friend told me about it. Bourne has a photographic memory, so although the Mini seems to be aimlessly weaving through traffic, this guy actually knows exactly where he's going.
d) At the country house, Bourne creates an explosion, using the thick smoke as a cover as he runs up the slope to where the other killer is parked. Once up there, he shoots at a flock of birds in the long grass, so they make a ruckus and distract the sniper while Bourne uses the opportunity to move around without being discovered.
e) A humourous segment: In an attempt to obtain a hotel bill, Bourne devises a complicated plan, only to be caught offguard by Marie's straightforward method -- that of just walking up to the concierge and asking for it.

I'm just waiting for the DVD release, so I can add it to my collection. :)