The Bourne Identity – Blu-ray Review

The Flick:

Spy movies are a dime a dozen, but good spy movies are few and far between. The Borne Identity isn’t just a good spy movie, it’s a great spy movie. Doug Liman successfully directed one of the smartest spy thrillers that I have ever seen.

Super solid thespian, Matt Damon plays Jason Bourne, a spy with a bad case of amnesia. After being pulled out of the ocean with a back full of bullet holes he has no memory of who he is, why he was left for dead, or why he’s able to kick so much ass, speak multiple languages, and understand covert operations like it’s second nature.  The only clue to his former life is a red bag filled with money, multiple passports, and a name. The name of course is Jason Bourne. So he hooks up with hottie, Marie (Franka Potente) and the two of them set out to find answers. Along the way they are constantly bombarded with roadblocks put into place by Bourne’s former handler Conklin, played by none other than the amazing Chris Cooper.

Spy thrillers don’t get much better than this. Liman knows how to craft a compelling story that never seems forced. All of the situations that Bourne is thrown into are as realistic as they could possibly be given he circumstances (Hollywood). The cast is unbelievable. Chris Cooper is such a force on screen and Clive Owen is a scene stealer even when he barely speaks. Julia Stiles is nothing less than a perfect fit as information rustler Nicolette, but it’s Damon that holds it all together. His screen presence demands attention. Overall everything about this flick is nearly perfect. Even the plot holes are filled in with satisfying answers.

If your looking for a blu-ray to add to your collection, then I’d recommend picking up The Bourne Identity. It’s the sort of flick that never gets old and deserves multiple viewings, because it is positively a killer film.

The Blu-ray:

Audio/Video

The flick’s audio is nothing short of awesome! The DTS master sounds great from beginning to end. Offering up a wealth of brilliant soundscapes that enhance every nuance of the movie. The video is stellar as well, boasting subdued blacks and grays, and beautifully captured whites that draw you into Bourne’s world. Some of the interiors could have been slightly brighter, but overall I was satisfied with the transfer.

Special Features

Commentary: The audio commentary on this disc is wonderful. Director Doug Liman gnashes honestly about his film. Revealing his mistakes with a frankness that I found refreshing. It was so good in fact that I listened to it twice. A record for me.

The Ludlum Identity, Supremacy, and Ultimatum: This featurette focuses on novelist Ludlum and his work on the books that came before the acclaimed movies. It features interviews with the writer, and commentary from Liman and Damon.

The Birth of The Bourne Identity: More of a press kit than a featurette, this morsel of video recaps the movie’s plot and gives viewers a little background on the flick itself.

From Identity to Supremacy: Jason & Marie: A short talk with Damon and Potente that discusses their characters. Probably my least favorite feature on the disc.

The Bourne Diagnosis: A boring feature that dives into the medical condition amnesia.

Cloak and Dagger: A short, but interesting look into the real life CIA.

Access Granted: Co-writer Tony Gilroy talks about his take on the script and his process of adapting the novels.

Deleted Scenes: Standard issue deleted scenes.

Alternate Opening/Ending: Alternate scenes that thankfully didn’t make it into the final cut of the flick. Check them out and you’ll understand why.

Inside A Fight Sequence: I wish this feature would have been longer than it’s short five minute runtime. It provides a detailed look into the training and planning that goes into a fight sequence.

Extended Scene: A slightly longer version of the Farmhouse Scene that wouldn’t have hurt to leave in the final cut.

The disc also contains, a Music Video for Moby’s song Extreme Ways, a DVD copy on the flip-side of the disc, BD-Live features, U-control features that allow the viewer to access the Treadstone Files as well as other interesting facts and features exclusive to the blu-ray disc.

The Flick: Rating:

The Blu-ray: Rating: