Diagonaldi Very well executed

GamerTab That was an excellent one.

Konterr Brilliant and touching

Tyreece Hulme One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

sanddragon939 Having read the original novel and seen the 2002 film 'adaptation' starring Matt Damon, I was always curious to see this older rendition of Robert Ludlum's most ingenious and complex novel, The Bourne Identity. Having recently had the opportunity to do so, I can safely say that this miniseries, starring Richard Chamberlain is as good as it gets. This film is meticulously close to the original novel and truly recaptures the feel of Ludlum's suspenseful Cold War era thriller about an amnesiac on a quest to rediscover his identity in a cloak and dagger world of espionage and murder. The locations are wonderful and really add on to the story. The action scenes are no where near as stylistic as those in the Damon version and therefore greatly benefit from a more realistic and gritty tone. The music too is brilliant and highlights the mysterious and suspenseful theme of the movie. This film has only two shortcomings. Firstly, Richard Chamberlain, though a great actor, comes across as being a bit too mild to be Jason Bourne, whom, as anyone who has read the novel or its sequels would know, is an on-edge killing machine. He comes across as being only moderately convincing in the more brutal actions of the character on screen. Secondly, although Yorgo Voyagis does a fair job as Carlos, the ruthless assassin determined to eliminate Bourne, he in no way captures the aura of mystery that lies around the Carlos of the novel, who is a faceless manipulator seated at the center of a web of deceit. But then again, Chamberlain more than makes up for his relative inability to portray Bourne's violent side with his excellent portrayal of Bourne's ingenuity and skill as a 'Chameleon' (something Matt Damon has thus far never brought onto the screen), and I can quite understand that the directors did not wish to spend much time establishing Carlos, since Bourne is the true center of the viewers attention. A mention must be made of Jaclyn Smith, who plays the part of Marie St. Jacques to perfection, though she barely physically resembles the character in the novel. All in all, this movie is certainly the definitive rendition of Ludlum's great thriller.

suze-4 I didn't expect too much from a TV mini-series based on an adventure novel, which was later made into a big budget action film.I had not enjoyed the 2002 version of The Bourne Identity with Matt Damon, but this one was gripping from the first frame. I read a lot of the reviews and posts here as I always do to compare reactions, and found people were praising some elements, and criticizing others. Here is how it affected me.Primarily it was a story about a man's search for his identity, and Chamberlain, never known as the greatest actor in the world, was very believable and effective. Jaclyn Smith was just adequate in her role and she is definitely one of the worst actresses they could have chosen, but one can't have everything. She makes good eye candy. The movie's other characters played pivotal roles and delivered excellent characterizations. Notably Denholm Elliott as the doctor.The story was a fast moving adventure, which was almost Hitchcockian, the story of one bewildered man with villains trying to kill him, and a random pretty girl he abducts to help him (also echoes of the Redford movie Three Days of the Condor), and the extensive scenery of Paris was beautiful. Except for the obvious pauses where commercials used to be, this looks like a real movie and not a TV series. It doesn't look cheaply made. They obviously took pride in this production.But to me the most surprising thing of all was the human element, the complex emotions in the amnesiac's story. Richard Chamberlain delivered them far above what one would expect from him, or from a TV movie. Yet this movie is all but forgotten since the theatre versions were made. I think that Hitchcock, if he had been alive to make this picture, would himself have chosen Chamberlain as he was very much like the James Stewart "everyman" who raced against time to solve the mystery of his amnesia.There are a few places where key scenes from the past are shown briefly and never explained (apparently a sequel was planned, which would explain them), and yet I was able to fill in a likely explanation, from my own imagination. This is the mark of good film making. There were no fantastic special effects or avant garde techniques. It was straightforward story telling.I am easily bored, highly critical, and so because I loved this, I am very surprised and had to post about it, in case it might help someone decide to go ahead and see it. Yes, it is well worth it and highly enjoyable. It hails from another era (where the story was more important than the chases and effects).I am glad it is still available in video, and if I find it in DVD I will buy it because it was a movie I would like to see again. I still think about it - and went to the library to get the book the next day - and that rarely happens with an action movie of this type.

jsalavar I flipped to this after seeing it on the channel guide thinking it was the Matt Damon version. I didn't know it had been a made-for-TV movie before Damon took a shot at it.I watched it for about 10 minutes and found it laughable. Maybe I didn't give it a chance but the action segment I saw with Chamberlin made him look more like a school teacher than an assassin.I can't recommend this to anyone as long as the Matt Damon version exists. Maybe I should read the book and then watch the 1988 version to see if it hold up better.OK, IMDb requires 10 lines of text. I have nothing more to say so this is just fluff talk.

Jesse Dunaway (brimleg) I have no intention of spoiling this film for anyone. Sorry, you will have to view it for yourself.The film is outstanding for 1988 and even more so for a "made for TV" film. My favourite thing is the fact that it is a better adaptation than the 2002 remake starring Matt Damon.While the newer version has all the cinematographic advantages, this film is just more faithful to Robert Ludlum's book and I am excited every time I watch.Treat yourself to a great movie night. Get a bucket of Popcorn, chips, Pizza and Soda. Keep the remote handy for those intermissions you require (the pause button) and just get ready to enjoy.10 stars **********