he Bourne Identity

Matt Damon, Franka Potente. Doug Liman, director. Universal Pictures, 2002.

The box said, "an adrenalin rush!" but I don't know what THAT reviewer was on when he saw the film, because it was a far cry from that. Sure there were action scenes in there, but it had the same sleepy look as the Talented Mr. Ripley - which was a snoozer from start to finish. I swear I thought Matt Damon was going to take those six passports and empty out his rich friend's bank account at any time.

My wife was completely bored - and this from the woman who loves action movies - she practically gobbles 'em up. So she KNOWS action and she knows IN-action - this was definitely it.

To be fair, the director was developing tension. Who is he? How's he going to get out of this? Will he figure out who he is before one of the assassins kills him? Yeah, OK, but by the time we get to where he's blowing up cars with a double-barrelled shotgun and winging people in the snowy grain, we have long sinced ceased to giveadarn.

The main thing that kept me interested was wondering if the female lead was the same lady who played in that GREAT movie Run Lola Run and that total snoozer (except for the tracheotomy scene under the truck) The Princess and the Warrior. Turns out, she is: so I can honestly suggest that you give this movie a miss and just rent Run Lola Run. And of course, forget the other two movies I mentioned here, unless you really want to have a slumber party and emphasis on the "slumber."

TTFN

VG