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Maybe it's age, or maybe Matt Damon just makes a better, stronger Bourne, but this TV- lite version doesn't really hold up after fifteen years: All the international espionage still has a pop immediacy, but between this 3- hour monolith's interminable synthesizer soundtrack and the decidedly TV-movie-quality of the production values, it leaves much to be desired. As the lead we are supposed to root for for three hours, Chamberlain is merely adequate. Instead of opting for dreamy beefcake, Young went for the old favorite - Chamberlain broke television ratings records (and hearts) in The Thorn Birds, one of the more popular TV miniseries ever - and where the actor's ease and comfort in front of the camera is readily apparent, any real depth of character is sadly lost. His Jason Bourne is steely, cool and frustrated, but instead of manifesting this anger against the world he's been thrust into, Chamberlain confines it all to silent nods and pensive looks through Parisian hotel windows.

We could have hoped Smith to pull up the slack, because who can resist Jaclyn? Every time I hear she's going to be doing anything, I want to whip out some K-Mart fashions, grab a "Charlie's Angels" lunchbox and enjoy the campy tsunami. Yet here she's not much more than a well-permed damsel in distress given little to do. Aside from her undeniable camp factor, I really think she could have made for a much better female lead in a spy thriller like this - she's sassy enough to hold her own in a gunfight, demure enough to seduce even the most hardened super-spy, and good enough of an actress to bring it all home - but this adaptation is so by-the-book that her character never comes to dramatic fruition.

Whether this DVD release was just a cash cow to capitalize on the success of the new blockbuster remake or already on the schedule, this relatively popular miniseries is finally on DVD, all 188 minutes squished onto one convenient disc. It may not hold up, but it's still worth a rental for spy-movie enthusiasts, even if Chamberlain no match for Matt.

Video: How Does The Disc Look?

Presented in matted 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen, even for a made-for-television production this transfer is just okay. Since TV back in the 80's was all about low-resolution squares, there is little in the way of panoramic vistas, but the up-close dialogue scenes come off well: Colors are a bit constrictive and drab, with fair blacks and contrast. Detail is rather underwhelming, and because all three hours of the miniseries have been squeezed onto a single disc, compression artifacting is rampant. At least the print is in okay shape with little dirt or blemishes to speak of, but this is still just an average transfer.

Audio: How Does The Disc Sound?

The included English 2.0 stereo mix here is perfectly adequate, a simple and effective replication of the TV broadcast. Like most dated television soundtracks, dynamic range is pitifully meager, but most TV fare tends to have wonderfully well- recorded dialogue and The Bourne Identity is no exception: Even on- location, on-set and looped dialogue come across clean and clear. It might have been nice to have some surround action to liven the mix, but as far as simply reprodcing the television experience, this gets the job done.

Also included is a French mono dub, English, French and Spanish subtitles, and English Closed Captions.

Supplements: What Goodies Are There?

All we get is a basic cast and crew listing but no actual filmographies or biographies.

DVD-ROM Exclusives: What do you get when you pop the disc in your PC?

No ROM extras have been included.

Parting Thoughts