El caso Bourne

Matt Damon, with his boyish appearance, doesn't fit into the super agent type, at first glance he looks like an ordinary dude, but when he reveals his fighting skills, you can see what a mistake that impression is. It makes you root for him all the more and relate to him. A superb thriller that does without exploding cars and piled-up corpses. The hand-to-hand fight in Bourne's apartment is one of the best I've seen so far. And not to mention John Powell's great soundtrack would be an unforgivable sin. PS: After a repeat viewing I am forced to throw in the fifth star, this likeable "action flick" has everything such a film requires. And to top it off with a polished script, with some interesting original moments. (02.03.2003)

A great spy action movie with very nice atmosphere and likeable heroes. I don’t know if I have anything to complain about, everything works as it should. It was of course close to five stars, but the overall impression is not strong enough, maybe next time… I’m already looking forward to the sequel. (27.08.2008)

A traditionally straightforward espionage ride in which director Doug Liman delivers several top-notch action sequences according to modern audience demands. However, the film also relies on a captivating plot that, compared to the original book, may come up short, but in the case of this film, I'm willing to tolerate it because of the brisk pace, which briefly eases in the second third but then picks up full speed again in the end and manages to engulf the viewer throughout the full two-hour runtime. The careful work with the camera, which perfectly captures the action scenes, and the use of a cold color filter that complements the slowly snowing Paris, along with the excellent musical accompaniment by John Powell, are just a few of the film's strengths. Not to mention the precise performances by the cast, where although a young Matt Damon might raise some eyebrows, his minimalist expressions suit the role perfectly. One minor criticism could be directed at the occasional "late" editing, which reveals the stuntmen "catching" falls. However, even after seeing the film more than ten times, it's impossible not to give The Bourne Identity a perfect review with a smile on my face. (21.01.2005)

An agent without a past... and without balls. Matt Damon is fine, and I'm not saying I don't like this concept of a "man of the people," who turns into a killing machine in a crisis, and the master of an ingenious escape strategy. But I enjoyed the character of Jason during action scenes rather than outside them, where he lacks charisma and is not all that convincing. Doug Liman has spawned a couple of very solid action scenes that are great. Then there are a few passages where the film tries to look cool and like a spy film, and it somehow just doesn't work. But despite all the shallowness and Damon's wooden acting, the civilian level of the "agent without a past" is truly fine, and certainly not without influence regarding the future of Agent 007. I didn't quite understand the magic tricks with the alternative ending, which the creators were planning after 9/11. It's so stupidly correct that I'm honestly glad it didn't make it into the serious version of the film. After all, even the statement of one of the creators that after 9/11, it looked like there would be no more explosions in films is sufficiently telling. Times change, while Agent Bourne and explosions remain. After the first part of the trilogy, I would say: it's pretty good. (14.02.2008)

A lively spy thriller and, despite being the second adaptation (the first was a two-part adaptation with Richard Chamberlain), it has a certain charm. Certainly better than a lot of action/spy movies I have seen lately (and I’ve seen perhaps too many). Just a shame that the theme has been rather over-used and so you know exactly what to expect and when to expect it. Damon is absolutely convincing and it is easy to “be fooled into thinking" that he is just a harmless young man with a pleasant face and his subsequent rebirth into a killer is just perfect. Too bad that in the second half the movie becomes loses a little of the atmospheric and pace of the first half. It is a crying shame that the director didn’t give Powell’s great soundtrack more of a chance to make a mark. The entire movie is spoiled by the final over the top jump; this belongs more in “triple-x" movies than in anything trying to be a little serious. Simply a good attempt at a genre piece that walks its own original path. Until the finale, that is. (03.08.2004)

I've been waiting long enough, and I got even more. Specifically, a perfectly intimate action drive, which has no equal in its genre. And even though the viewer knows well where the plot is heading, they gladly follow the path of agents, bosses, assassinations, and betrayals. The secret of the main character works superbly. And despite all the admiration, I have to admit that at that time, I didn't even hope that Jason could become the most impressive killer of the 2000s and that the adaptations of Ludlum's books would become almost artistically popular affairs loved by both perfectionists and ordinary viewers. (11.02.2005)

In general terms it’s totally fine. It's got plenty of action, drama, and ambition. But what bothers me here is the rather unappealing atmosphere. It's like a mock-up or a set-up for something big that's not so big after all. I don't think Matt Damon was fully baked at that point. The same old pace can get boring after a while. 3.5 stars. (22.07.2011)

Action movies are not my cup of tea, but this one is really worth it. First of all, it relies on a sophisticated script, which is not primarily aimed at viewers with the mentality of an oversized ten-year-old child, and on an unconventional, rather civilian portrayal of the main character. Damon is perfect for the role of a disoriented agent and demonstrates excellent physicality. High pace, maintained tension, and an atmosphere of unpredictability. After the second viewing, I increase the rating to 90% and add a fifth star... (18.05.2007)

I’m really pleased with part one of the Bourne trilogy. I didn’t use to like Matt Damon much, but thanks to this role I’ve got used to him. The directing is also excellent, even though I tend to prefer Greengrass’s style in The Bourne Supremacy than Liman’s. The story is clever, fast-moving with great momentum and surprises in places that you wouldn’t even think could surprise you. Simply a great watch that, two years later, was surpassed by part two. (31.05.2006)

So I guess I got a taste for it the second time around. It's awesome, there's nothing else to say. Matt Damon is incredibly cool as an agent and above all, it's the realism that emanates from him that people like the most. The music adds incredible nuances, the cold atmosphere is more than good. For my taste, maybe not the most precise action, which is occasionally spoiled by a few sloppy cuts, but in terms of content, it's a ride. Maybe even better than The Bourne Supremacy. (26.10.2003)

A story from the "olden days", moving at a modern pace, with a likeable Matt Damon and the rather underused, but fortunately still interesting, supporting characters of Brian Cox and Clive Owen. Unlike other viewers, however, I don't think the comparison to the TV movie The Bourne Identity with Richard Chamberlain is unfair or inappropriate. I probably don't think it's because the older film would have won in my case, especially because its story is somehow more mysterious and unpredictable, and there was plenty of action (though not that much of it, of course). (30.01.2015)

An incredibly well made tribute to the spy genre, which works great on all fronts throughout its two hour runtime, and, in terms of the complexity and the intensity of experience, surpasses all Bond films except Skyfall. The unrelenting pace of the plot is accentuated by the contact cinematography and the overblown genre soundtrack, while the action scenes themselves are so stylishly and clearly shot that they don't lose their impact even after the tenth screening. The beginning of a series from the realm of viewer's dreams. (22.09.2016)

Sérii o Jasonu Bournovi considero las películas de acción más sobrevaloradas. La mayor debilidad de la primera y segunda entrega (probablemente no me atreva con la tercera) radica en su trama simplona, Matt Damon se mueve por el mundo, o más bien, en el caso de la primera, de Suiza a Francia, sin saber quién es, qué hace o por qué, aunque memoriza perfectamente algunos movimientos, palabras y acciones destacables, sin mencionar su increíble habilidad en idiomas, con su alemán y francés perfectos podría trabajar en los servicios diplomáticos. Si se supone que es una película de acción, tiene muy poca acción, si se supone que es un thriller emocionante con un guión bien pensado, falla por completo y en conjunto se convierte en un espectáculo aburrido, poco interesante y estúpido. Jason Bourne simplemente sería derrotado por Jack Bauer o Ethan Hunt. Al menos tuvimos París en la primera entrega. (20.09.2008)

It falls slightly short of its successors in its traditional story structure. (15.06.2010)

A film that I have heard a lot about. About it and its sequels. And I have been avoiding it for a long time, like I do with classic films by Coppola or Stone. I simply didn't get around to watching them, so I thought it was time and that I would combine them into one chain and watch the other films in the series, including the latest one, which is also highly acclaimed. The fourth sequel is definitely a good result, especially since Matt Damon did not return for the fourth time. Here we have him in all his youthful beauty. He was 32 years old in 2002 and still looked pretty hot. His performance was even more dazzling because no one expected him to start acting like a real professional assassin. He is incredibly believable and the role suits him. But... somehow the enthusiasm didn't catch on. Robert Ludlum's source material is quite worn out. Not because it has been filmed so often, but because a similar element is used more frequently. For once, I would appreciate it if there was no government or some government organization that could be blamed for the person losing their memory. Memory loss is such a powerful element that can be used in other ways, not just within a secret program, etc. It's not bad, of course, but I would like to see some invention for once. Not just a silly one, but a truly meaningful one that won't be about secret agents. "The Bourne Identity" ultimately works well in this regard, the story is logical, it is set in a functioning environment, but I just can't shake the feeling that it's something seen many times before. Additionally, I found the action to be a bit lacking at times. On the other hand, Matt Damon is the man who guides you through the whole film, and you will be satisfied because you simply will root for him. An innocent person who has no memories tries to stand up against an evil government organization. This simply must excite all opponents of organizations like the CIA or FBI. It's a good film, but I was just expecting a little more. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2013/01/divosi-10-years-divoka-stvoreni-lets.html (05.03.2013)