Movie Review: The Bourne Identity *Spoilers*

[DinbinFanfoom]

My wife had just read Ludlum's book, which was suggested to her by my cousin. I haven't read but a few chapters of it (to her) but I got the feeling that it was a rollercoastery plot with a lot of twists, turns and names and places to keep straight.

The movie was nothing like that at all.

I should have remembered the oft-learned lesson that "a movie is never as good as a book you've read" but I didn't. I'd call the movie, "Bourne Identity for Dummies". IE: the plot was predictable, boring and not 1% as interesting as the book (yep, even the few chapters I read). I got the feeling (from the book) that Bourne was a late 30's/early 40's guy, not a Matt Damon.

The female character was also relatively unimportant in the movie, which really threw me for a loop.

The only entertaining bit was the fight scenes. Nicely done.

In short, a disappointing movie if you've read the book, I think.

[Greebo]

Don't you know by now? NEVER read a book before seeing the movie! You can't avoid it if you read the book ages ago, of couse - was that the case?

[Caranthir]

I just finished reading the book (saw the movie a couple of weeks ago), and you're absolutely right. But you also need to keep in mind that probably about 75% of the movie-going audience would have been completely lost if they'd made a direct translation.

[DinbinFanfoom]

Don't you know by now? NEVER read a book before seeing the movie! You can't avoid it if you read the book ages ago, of couse - was that the case?
I actually didn't know they were making a movie. I wouldn't have read it.

[Asharad]

I actually read the book and enjoyed the movie. The movie wasn't nearly as complex as the book, and the character of Bourne was about 15 years too young, but as a whole I enjoyed the movie for what it was- a fun action/intrigue movie.

[Sagar]

We really enjoyed the move. Sounds like we need to go get the book, now.