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Parents' Guide to

The Bourne Identity

By Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Violent but thrilling first of the Bourne action trilogy.

Movie PG-13 2002 116 minutes
The Bourne Identity Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 13+

Based on 9 parent reviews

Rated T for Tommy
Rated T for Tommy Adult
February 18, 2023
age 14+

And thus a series was BOURNE!

Bullets are plucked out of Matt Damon’s bare back, excessive kissing during the “haircut” scene (but that’s it for sensuality), a couple characters are shot and killed and their deaths are brief, excessive bad driving in the streets, some kicking and fighting, some unique plot twists, about 6 sh*ts, and only 1 very brief f*ck, and the Lord’s name taken in vain use moderately. So therefore typical PG-13 content and viewer discretion advised. All in all, if u like Matt Damon and you like action/spy films, give this one a go! I haven’t seen the other four yet but I’ll soon review the them!
catybaack
catybaack Adult
August 28, 2022
age 13+
i liked this movie it was very good but also very graphic
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE BOURNE IDENTITY is the first in a trilogy of movies that made Matt Damon an unlikely action star. Based on a book by Robert Ludlum, the movie is a tightly knit wonder of intense, heart-pounding action and mystery, with the perfect amount of romance tucked in for good measure. After fishermen pull a body out of the ocean and remove two bullets and a strange device containing a Swiss bank account number from his body, the man (Matt Damon) awakens in a state of amnesia. After a visit to the bank uncovers a cache of money, fake passports, and a gun, the man struggles to recall his past. When confronted by law enforcement, he finds he has incredible combat skills (not to mention wall-scaling abilities). As he attempts to put the clues of his past life together, he pays a young woman named Marie (Franka Potente) to drive him to Paris and they both become embroiled in the mystery of his true identity, which has links to the CIA, an African politician, and a handful of European assasins who seem to be out to kill him.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (9 ):
Kids say (95 ):

What makes this thriller so good is Damon's ability to merge the physical with the emotional; he's strong, skilled, and smart, but he's also generous, honest, and tender. The scene when he dyes and cuts Marie's hair is incredibly intimate, made even more potent by the near silence of the scene. In fact, for an action movie, The Bourne Identity is remarkably quiet. Neither lead character talks much, but both command the screen nonetheless. Potente (of Run, Lola Run) is an edgy choice of a love interest because she's sexy in an offbeat way, not a typical American movie star type -- which gives the movie a refreshing touch of realism.

Aside from the characters, the fighting scenes, which incorporate a martial art called Krav Maga, among others, are especially watchable. Augmented by the miracles of filmmaking, Damon moves so fast while beating a foe to a pulp that one almost expects him to break into a slow-mo Matrix moment (but thankfully, he doesn't). Teens will want to gorge themselves on the fighting scenes, so even though the violence is tamer than many R-rated action movies, some reality checks and moderation are, of course, in order.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in The Bourne Identity. What was unique about the fighting style in this movie? Did it seem more or less violent than what you've seen in other films? Do you think Matt Damon's movements were exaggerated by special effects? How did seeing people killed affect you? How would those feelings be different if you witnessed these things in real life?

  • Talk about the government's role in political violence. How is it portrayed in the film, and do you think it's realistic? Do you think there really are agents like Bourne out in the world?

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