It is a spy thriller. A European adventure of intrigue and intellect. Matt Damon stars as Jason Bourne in this new offering by Doug Liman (Swingers, Go), based on a Robert Ludlum novel. In the film’s opening, Bourne is rescued unconscious from the Mediterranean Sea by French fishermen. He has two bullets embedded in his back – but his mind is blank. Whatever happened to him caused him to lose his memory; his only clue is a capsule implanted in his skin containing a number to a safety deposit box in Zurich.

Upon traveling to Zurich, he opens the box – and discovers a horde of passports, money, and weapons. Desperately trying to piece together the clues and figure out who he is, he finds himself the object of a deadly chase from unknown pursuers. But he is not helpless; his instincts take over and show him to be capable of great speed and agility. He is as surprised as we are to see it – and increasingly disturbed as he discovers how dangerous he is.

Bourne employs a gypsy named Marie (Frank Potente, Run Lola Run) to drive him to Paris, where his few clues seem to lead, and the game is on. The film guides us through Zurich, Prague, and finally to Paris – wonderful backgrounds for the action. There’s a story to tell, and nothing but a grand theatre would suffice.

Frank Potente shines continually, her character above the usual eye candy in such films. Her command of foreign languages - the fact that she is German herself – provides a convincing performance that most American actresses couldn’t give. It’s touches like these that propel the film ahead of its competition. And while there are many character stereotypes throughout the movie – the unstoppable assassin, the inexperienced dispatcher (played by Julia Stiles), the less-than-principled CIA officials – they are all so well written and played that the sin is forgivable.

Interestingly, silence is used many times throughout the movie for dramatic effect. Doug Liman skillfully avoids the easy clichés and mid-fight banter that turn so many action movies obnoxious. One scene in particular stands out: after a car chase through the alleys and streets of Paris (arguably one of the best car chase scenes out there), Bourne drives into a parking garage and stops the car. For a full 30 seconds, he and Marie simply sit there without a word – calming down, remembering to breathe. A clever line would have spoiled it. Whoever said “silence is golden” had it right.

In short, it’s one of the summer’s better movies, shining in the shadows cast by such hyped hits as Men in Black II. It’s a thriller based not on high-tech gadgets but instead on the human mind and physical training. With all this behind it, The Bourne Identity is not to be missed.