Customer Reviews

The Bourne Identity (TV Miniseries) [VHS]

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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!

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!

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.

I saw the original movie when it aired on TV, and thought it was excellent - a great combination of suspense, intrigue, and romance. Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith (the King and Queen of the TV miniseries at that time) were both excellent in the starring roles and had great chemistry together. Inspired by the movie, I purchased the book and found the movie to be fairly true to the original. To the reviewer in New Jersey, I can only respond, have you read the book? In my opinion, at least, Richard Chamberlain was much more believable in the role of Jason Bourne than Matt Damon could ever be. From what I've seen so far, the new movie will probably pale in comparison to the original.

When the new one came out with Matt Dameon I was excited to see it, but was sorely disappointed. There was just emptiness, the story was changed and chopped with the loss of any of the great passion of the TV Miniseries.
The miniseries doesn't have all the special effects, but it has passion from people that are believeable and not contrived as in the Dameon movie. Their characters are real and you understand what they are feeling, from love to frustration, from fear to grief, and from confusion to loyalty. Since the Movie changed the story, none of these aspects where even attempted to be shown, just a love affair with no substance.

After seeing the most recent Matt Damon version, I'll admit that I didn't know what to expect. I was shockingly and pleasantly surprised, however. I actually liked this one better. Somehow, I never could quite get over a very young looking Damon in a role that Ludlum probably reserved for an older character. After watching the Chamberlin version, I came away wondering if the movie studio that put together the newer film wasn't trying to milk as much milage as they could out of a younger, sexier looking actor for their remake. This Bourne is older, more experienced, and surprisingly, a lot more believable in this role. No, the explosions weren't as visually catastrophic but the action never drags, not for one minute. I purchase and watch DVD's for their plot line and content and have been disappointed a number of times by 70's and 80's movie-making attempts. This one far outshines most from its genre. One of the best DVD purchases I've ever made.

I am another one of those people who did not check out the 1988 mini-series (why it is called a mini-series rather than a two-part made-for-television movie I do not know) based on Robert Ludlum's novel until after they had seen the 2002 theatrical thriller starring Matt Damon and Franka Potente. For that matter I also saw the 2004 sequel, "The Bourne Conspiracy" before I got to this DVD where the main roles are played by big time small screen stars and top drawer beautiful people Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith.

The character that we will come to know as Jason Bourne (Chamberlain) is shot on a fishing boat off the coast of France, falls overboard, and is washed ashore. He is taken care of by Geoffrey Washburn (Denholm Elliott), a defrocked doctor who is able to save Bourne's life and help him uncover the first clues as to solving the mystery of his identity. When they are attacked the question of his identity seems rather pressing, and "Bourne" heads off to investigate the first clue in Zurich. But just as the first pieces are beginning to fall into place guys with guns start showing up and shooting at Bourne and he ends up taking a hostage, a Canadian economist named Marie St. Jacques, who in the end becomes the one person he can really trust and the proverbial much, much more.

The first part is better than the second part, because it focuses primarily on the mystery of Chamberlain's character discovering who he "is," although all information is suspect, especially when it looks like Bourne is not just any trained assassin but the infamous Carlos. Granted, Chamberlain was 53 at that point and too old for the role, but it is actually one of his better performances as the King of the Mini-Series. Early on he has to pretend that he knows more than he does in order to get more information, and I like the bit he does when he is trying to dredge up information on places. Eventually he gets to the point when he has enough confidence to start putting the screws to people as he gets closer and closer to the truth. So, he might be too old but he is definitely doing more than just standing around and look pretty this time around.

The flaw in this version of "The Bourne Identity" is the romance between the two main characters. I know it is a Hollywood staple that this sort of thing is supposed to happen, and when you have a pair this good look it is one of those consummations devoutly to be wished you hear so much about, but I just did not buy it when Marie decides the appropriate reaction to everything that has happened to her is to throw her self as Jason. Aesthetics aside, it is just too much of a jump to bridge the first half and second half of the story. Then there is the way Marie embraces the mission, which certainly speaks well for Canadian women because usually the female character in this position is neither as intelligent nor as brave.

The second half becomes a race to see if Bourne can get the bad guys before the bad guys or the good guys get him. Things get a little muddled and it is not surprising that Bourne starts to lose it as everything starts coming down on his head. The action sequences are basically people shooting each other, so that will seem rather tame after the big set pieces in the Matt Damon films, but the point here really is the mystery rather than the action, which is why this version of "The Bourne Identity" is well suited to television. You will also appreciate it the more you remember the Cold War mentality that it reflects.

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!

This is one amazing movie made for TV ,I rate this as the best movie ever come out from a small screen,everything rite from the casting ,writing,acting ,direction and superb music score rate 5 star.Frankly speaking till now after more then 14 years I still wondering why it didnt get a big screen release in 1988.I've seen it for countless time and it still pack a powerfull punch after all this while.I just got my DVD copy last nite and I was so glad to see it being release in a wide screen format and it make me feel like i was watching a big screen movie.The casting of Richard Chamberlaine is perfect he give a powerfull performance as Jason Bourne he was nominated for golden globe award for his work in this movie. The remake version with Matt Damon cant top this 1988 release.

For people who have read the book by Ludlum, this movie will come at first as a bit of a disappointment. Chamberlain seems somewhat old for the role of Bourne and the plot has been greatly simplified. On the other hand, there are still enough turns to keep the attention and the supporting cast does a good job of filling out their somewhat two-dimensional characters. If you forget about the book, this is really quite a good movie. It is a bit overlong and especially the beginning has been stretched to much, but there is a lot of suspence and action so on the whole nobody needs to be bored.