Search - The Bourne Identity (TV Miniseries) on DVD

A Superb Realization Of A Ludlum Thriller

John G. Gleeson Sr. | Frederic, Mi USA | 09/28/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I read the book, and saw the recent movie with Matt Damon, which was full of "special effects" and short on Ludlum. This DVD is the reverse: it is a good story translated into a near great viewing experience. Why? Because it follows some long standing rules about story telling. It has characters that are believeable and a plot that moves briskly, but not at the high speed of the recent film. Richard Chamberlain is a consistantly good actor and he gives an excellent rendition of Jason Bourne here. Jaclyn Smith is an OK actress who is good enough so as not to drag down the pace of the film by being an unbelieveable character. The remainder of the cast, including Denholm Elliott, Donald Moffat and Anthony Quayle, all perform well, as would be expected of such excellent actors. The tranfer of a television "miniseries" to DVD is excellent, with one irritating exception; The pauses for commercials are still in place, when some judicious editing would have been an easy fix. Two other (minor) negatives are the score and the romance angle: the former is terrible, sounding saccharine in places where it shouldn't, and generally out of place in a film like this. The love scenes, especially the first, are like the worst of 80's soaps.. However, leaving the nitpicking aside, this is a nearly great visual experience. One BIG plus is the detail in filming European cities; it's fantastic. Seeing the intact WTC, in the new YOrk shots is a grabber though, at least to me. You simply can't go wrong with this one!"

BOURNE to be re-make..........

alfo68 | Australia | 09/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've seen this tv-miniseries version of Robert Ludlum's bestselling novel many times, that I can actually say the lines and the dialogue in most scenes. However, that doesnt stop me from buying the new dvd version -- one plus, is having a new cover with Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith. The first one that came out is just plain white cover and the second version is just an artwork. So, this cover version for one is worth collecting. This version came out in 1988 and became a big hit worldwide in rental video and in some countries, it was released theatrically. Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith, I must say, did an excellent job in this movie. Jaclyn Smith was a revelation in this movie. Well, she and Richard Chamberlain are well known-as the King and Queen of the Miniseries genre, but this is Jaclyn's first foray to the action/thriller mold and she's very good at it. There's no high-popping special effects nor high-tech flying action scenes, but this movie delivers what an espionage thriller should be. It will hold you from start to finish. It's a non-stop gripping action thriller and the photography and the musical score are absolutely fantastic. A big thumbs up and worth watching again and again!"

This is the only REAL film version of the Bourne Identity...

Alexander Dukas | Boston / Los Angeles | 07/06/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ignore the recent Matt Damon/Franke Potente GenX-ified bastardization of Robert Ludlum's wonderful book because the Richard Chamberlain/Jaclyn Smith version is the only version that actually faithfully adheres to core details and elements of the novel. If you really want to appreciate the Jason Bourne Series, read the trilogy, and then go out and buy this DVD. There isn't enough space here to recommend the mini-series highly enough or to explain just how thorough and horrid a mutilation the recent film really is of both the characters and the story."

"One of the best thrillers of all time!"

alfo68 | Australia | 08/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The book is one of the few that i really treasure and much to my delight, it was turn into a tv miniseries with two of my fave actors, Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith--the King & Queen of Miniseries! This is a well-made action/thriller with beautiful and haunting music by Laurence Rosenthal and piercing photography by Tony Pierce. Acting wise, both actors are superb. Jaclyn Smith is excellent as the Canadian economist kidnapped by Bourne. The scene where she is trying to escape from Bourne, running and trying to grab moving cars' doors is one of the highlights and the time where she was being assaulted by the guy who is going to kill her is well executed. Richard Chamberlain is superb, although not my first choice, and he deserves the Golden Globe nomination for the role. Their on screen action scenes where Chamberlain used Smith as a hostage, running inside the car park, will grab you in your seat! This is a violent, explosive, screaming with thrill and suspense espionage. A definite must for lovers of this genre!"