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Based on the famous 1980 Cold War thriller by Robert Ludlum, our story begins when Bourne (Matt Damon) is found floating in the Mediterranean sea, near death and with no memory of who he is or what has happened. His only hope at regaining his memory is a strange device sewn onto his skin, which includes the code for a Swiss safe deposit box. Finding different passports and identities, he soon hooks up with Marie Kreutz, (Franka Potente) a young German staying in Paris. When the CIA begins to close in and wants him dead or alive, Bourne must race against the clock to unravel the mystery of just who he is and why he's the world's most wanted man.

Even before its smash theatrical run, The Bourne Identity was likely conceived as the start of a new hoped-for franchise. Yet you wouldn't know it from watching the film. This doesn't feel like the smashed-together cliches and set pieces usually seen in the first installments of franchise pics, the kind that leave open far more questions than they answer in hopes of filling up future sequels. The intelligent direction of Doug Liman (Swingers, Go) and a tight script by Tony Gilroy ups the suspense by keeping Bourne's identity crisis as the central focus. It's likely that most other directors would sideline the human drama with too many action detours and an overemphasis on the obligatory love interest, but Liman and Gilroy don't stray off course. Some may find it too simplistic, but I preferred this commitment to purpose to the convoluted plots of most spy pics these days.

But surprising me most of all was Damon as Bourne. Not that he isn't a very fine actor (witness The Talented Mr. Ripley), but I never quite pictured him as the lead in a spy thriller. Yet here his keen ability to use his face and body movement in subtle ways pays off - no cocky James Bond grandstanding nor any campy one-liners here. He's also well matched against Potente, who holds her own in a rather thankless role (especially as her motivations for staying with Bourne amid such potential death and destruction can strain credibility). The supporting cast led by Chris Cooper, Brian Cox and Clive Owen is also strong, and the foreign locales are attractive but not overblown like in such vapid eye candy as XXX.

The Bourne Identity is a fast- paced, highly enjoyable thriller and a nice antidote to the silly James Bond pictures, as evidenced by the lame Die Another Day. I, for one, am glad the film was a hit, because it likely means more. If future installments are as well made, well acted and as tightly wound as this one, then for once the idea of a sequel is good news indeed.

Video: How Does The Disc Look?

The film's theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 is presented in anamorphic video. This would appear to be the same transfer that was included in the original release of January 21, 2003. This is a very nice presentation with edge halos visible only occasionally; they don't intrude. Small object detail and fine textures are above average, but not quite up to the best transfers on the market. Color rendition is excellent, with very natural skin tones and vivid primary colors. Many of the scenes are depicted in overcast weather when the palette tends to become more subdued; this also reflects the emotional state of the characters. Compare those scenes with the original ending to appreciate the film's use of the full palette.  Shadow detail is very good, even in those scenes in which a heavy-handed application of blue was used to simulate night.  I noticed no compression artifacts. We're left with a rather film-like transfer.

Audio: How Does The Disc Sound?

The DTS track found on the original release has been dropped for this Explosive Extended Edition. The excellent Dolby Digital 5.1 track remains. The surrounds are used aggressively to immerse the viewer in the action and the acoustic ambiance. Even though this is not an official 6.1 mix, I'd suggest enabling EX decoding for a more satisfying experience. With fast attack times and good dynamic range, the sound effects are delightfully visceral. Deep bass is present, adding to the impact of the onscreen action. John Powell's orchestral score is nicely conveyed across a broad soundstage. The dialog remains crystal clear throughout. Nicely done.

The alternative languages are French and Spanish, each presented in Dolby Digital 5.1. English, French, and Spanish subtitles are available, as well as English Closed Captions.

Supplements: What Goodies Are There?

The disc is programmed to open with DVD promos (1:32) for Dawn of the Dead, Ned Kelly, and the first season of Magnum P.I. I could skip these only by pressing Menu on my remote control.

Select the Explosive Extended Edition from an opening menu and an instruction screen will prompt you to press Enter on your remote when a scope sight icon appears on the screen to see the new opening and closing scenes. Then producer Frank Marshall, screenwriter Tony Gilroy, and actor Brian Cox introduce (3:34) the changes and explain the rationale: 9/11. The new opening sequence runs 2:17; the new closing runs 4:57. These two scenes most assuredly add a different spin to the film. The closing, in particular, opens the door to a sequel that may or may not be consistent with The Bourne Supremacy. These two sequences, available with manual seamless branching, are of only the most modest video quality, equivalent to upconverted supplements found on some older DVDs. These scenes and the introduction are also the first supplements you'll find on the Bonus Screen; here they are called The Bookend Scenes.

The rest of the video supplements are very short featurettes shown in full screen. The Bourne Mastermind: Robert Ludlum (5:45), a tribute to the late author who created Bourne in novel form. In Access Granted: An Interview With Screenwriter Tony Gilroy (4:04), he explains what drew him to Ludlaum's work and his artistic approach in transforming a novel of over five hundred pages into a one hundred and twenty page screenplay with "lots of white space. "  In From Identity to Supremacy: Jason & Marie (3:36) Matt Damon and Franka Potente discuss the genre and offer spoiler-free hints about the sequel that they didn't expect to get made. In The Bourne Diagnosis (3:26), Dr. Reef Karim, a psychiatrist from UCLA, discusses the realities of selective dissociative amnesia. Cloak and Dagger: Covert Ops (5:32) features CIA Officer Chase Brandon. He begins by describing the structure of the CIA and moves on to the nature of the role of the field operations officers. He makes it clear that the portrayal of Bourne, his capabilities and actions as opposed to the rather dramatic plot, are consistent with reality.

The Speed of Sound (4:05) focuses on sound design and the car chase in particular. Supervising sound editor Per Hallberg, re-recording sound effects mixer Bob Beamer, sound effects editor Chris Assells, and re- recording dialog and music mixer Scott Millan explain how virtually all of the sounds during that chase were created rather than recorded practically. After they show us how, the feature segues into another clever little supplement that gives the viewer a chance at examining the various layers of sound. You can listen to a number of stems during an identical 1:32 sequence, selected with a combination of cursor keys and, if you're using your computer, the mouse pointer.

Declassified Information is a collection of four deleted scenes: Wombosi on the Private Jet (1:00); Bourne and Marie on the Side of the Road (2:30); Psychologist Discusses Bourne (1:47); and, Bourne and Marie practice on Subway (1:43). The Bourne Identity is so well structured and paced that I can readily understand why these perfectly respectable scenes were edited out. Inside a Fight Sequence (4:43) is a comprehensive look at how the sudden and brief fight at the bank was choreographed, staged, rehearsed, and shot.

An "Extreme Ways" music video by Moby, also found on the first release, runs 3:39. Cast & Filmmakers offers very brief bios and filmographies for six of the players, the screenwriters, and the director. Production Notes includes nine text screens that describe additional background information. Finally, DVD Credits is a 0:53 second roll of the people responsible for this Explosive Extended Edition. Those of you who are familiar with the first release will recognize that a few of the supplements are carried over from the original release, but some features from the first set of supplements have been omitted, like the fine commentary.

The 119-minute film is organized into twenty chapters.

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

Not particularly explosive. The original Total Axess portal that accompanied the original release has been since closed. So after the Universal skin loads atop your copy of the InterActual player, you'll have the opportunity to click on the Universal logo. This will take you directly to the Universal Pictures home page, which as of this writing highlights The Bourne Supremacy.  Once there, click on a film of your choice to be transported to its official website.

Parting Thoughts