Rapid Review: The Bourne Identity (2002)

“You’re U.S. Government property. You’re a malfunctioning $30 million weapon. You’re a total goddamn catastrophe, and by God, if it kills me, you’re going to tell me how this happened.”
– Conklin

SYNOPSIS: A man is picked up by a fishing boat, bullet-riddled and suffering from amnesia, before racing to elude assassins and regain his memory. – via IMDB

I love Jason Bourne. Seriously. I love these movies. I have always enjoyed them. Plus, Matt Damon. Because Matt Damon is amazing. But really, I wish I could express how exciting and brilliant I find these movies. Okay, okay, let’s move on to the movie itself. The Bourne Identity is one of those action movies that ticks all the boxes for me. It is smart, has a really good story, has a solid cast carrying it all, is directed well, looks fantastic and has brilliant choreography. The pacing is something I liked. No rush here, so sirree, it starts with Bourne in the ocean, shot, fished out, almost dead, and as Bourne learns about himself, so does the audience, and that is a fun thing. There is no rush, and when the action kicks in, you get swept up in this intense mystery of who the hell Jason Bourne is, and what he was before the amnesia kicked in. Matt Damon is just brilliant here. He delivers us Bourne and he nails it – the emotions are down, you identify with Jason and root for him, even though you know nothing about him at all, it doesn’t matter. Hell, even when you learn he was a super spy assassin, that doesn’t matter. Bourne is layered, and his blank-slate introduction made him someone you could identify with in a hurry, so they didn’t have to tell you too much. But you uncovered more and more about him and find ways to slot the new information in on the man you have discovered him to be without his memory. The story is also pretty sharp, definitely a solid spy-thriller and it doesn’t get old, either. The camera work is also something to be admired, something that transports you right into the events that are unfolding before your very eyes. The Bourne Identity is a solid movie, with a gritty, realistic hero, something I would highly recommend spending some time watching, as it is well worth it!

April Blind Spot Review: Children of Men (2006)

“As the sound of the playgrounds faded, the despair set in. Very odd, what happens in a world without children’s voices.”
– Miriam

SYNOPSIS: In 2027, in a chaotic world in which women have become somehow infertile, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea. – via IMDB

Well, well, well. I didn’t think I would dislike this movie as much as I did, as much flak as I may get for this. It came in recommended from my neighbour, though he said that there were a few scenes that the whole film basically hangs on. I didn’t realise that this movie had this mad love surrounding it and critical acclaim and all, and I went in relatively blind in terms of plot. It was evident in the first fifteen minutes that I was not going to enjoy it. I hated the camera work, it was jumpy and all over the show and gave me a headache. Then there was the dialogue, and I am sorry, there is nothing that will change my mind on the fact that I thought it was horrendous and awkward and didn’t flow right. There were more irritating characters than you could shake a stick at and the world may love Alfonso Cuarón but this was just not that great. It felt incredibly long, and I was ready to start bawling when I was sure we were nearing the final third, only to find that we were barely halfway. What annoys me is the fact that it had quite a good premise. It was interesting, it had potential, there were things to do and places to go and instead all that potential was squandered, and littered with bizarre and highly unlikable characters and events and things don’t flow properly. I was expecting some awesome plot twists, but none were delivered as promised. It was utterly predictable, and I was underwhelmed by the fact that the infertility issue was never explored more. Also, that ending! After all my pain and suffering, that’s how it went? Ugh. There were a few scenes that were done well and some things that were beautiful, especially when you think about it, but there were others with really flawed logic (such as a dude pushing a car all by himself, containing two women, along a muddy country round with hills). I feel that the cast was underused, as well. Julianne Moore and Michael Caine are big draw names (for me, anyway), and not much was really done with them when you get down to it. I know this is a pretty harsh review, but I was no fan. At all. And then when I saw the rave reviews and ratings coming back I was sure that I had missed something completely, and I did give this movie a fair shot. Overall, I was really hoping for more and instead I was left with this bitter taste  of disappointment, and that sucks. Really.