James Bond v Jason Bourne Who is the Best
Who is the ultimate spy movie action hero James-Bond or Jason-Bourne ?
There are a lot of parallels between Matt Damon’s character Jason Bourne and, the latest to play 007, Daniel Craig’s James Bond but who is the ultimate ?
Matt Damon takes on Daniel Craig
Parallels
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Both characters originally started life in books, Bourne was created by Robert Ludlum and first appeared in The Bourne Identity in 1980. 007 was created by Ian Fleming and made his first appearance in 1953 in a book called Casino-Royale.
Both authors have always been credited with background knowledge and experience of the security forces which has given a more believable edge to the books and an educated eye for detail.
Ian Fleming genuinely did work for British Naval Intelligence, indeed is credited as having masterminded Operation Goldeneye, a plan to defend Gibraltar during the war.
Robert Ludlum however has always denied any actual involvement with the CIA though clearly there is a great deal of inside knowledge and detail that has come from somewhere.
How they Differ
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This is when things get less clear cut. Most people will be familiar with the characters from their screen roles rather than the original books. Both characters are considerably different to their literary incarnations, though in fairness Jason Bourne is closer to the original than James Bond is.
The latest Bond film has seen a change in the character, a grittier more ‘realistic’ interpretation, much closer to the books. I believe a great deal of the change was brought about by the Bourne franchise and it’s success - Bond had to change or die !
Whilst similar, they are fundamentally different. Bond is on the inside and their top man, Bourne is an outsider - disavowed.
Matt Damon’s character is far more down to earth, no expensive cars or suits etc.
This gives him more realism and credibility. Bond has less credibility but then it is the movies and do we want or expect realism ?
My Opinion and My Verdict
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I suppose I have to come down on the side of Fleming and 007 given the company name and all that has gone on around the books and the genre but …
I have to say, I have enjoyed The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy hugely, certainly more so than most of the Bond films ! The Bourne Ultimatum is the third and final, according to the star himself, part of the trilogy whereas one must presume the Bond Franchise will continue ad infinitum.
So …
Daniel Craig has saved the day for me, done a great job but, and it pains me to be disloyal, I believe the Jason Bourne films to be better !
Watching them I believed that all of the things that happened could have happened to various people in various places over the years - that gives them the edge for me
Am I Right or Am I Wrong ? Who is Your Favourite ?
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Related
Gemma Arterton
A Retired Bookdealer said,
August 13, 2007 @ 3:38 pm
Bond .. “Big Yawn” - Never been much of a fan.
I think the character Jason Bourne is much more believable.
Verdict = The Jason Bourne Films are Better.
Well worth watching, I may even watch one this evening.
Witches of Eastwick said,
August 13, 2007 @ 7:30 pm
Rod,
That’s him, that’s him… the one in my bedroom, full size too! Sorry, got carried away a bit…
Now then back to business, yes we agree the Bourne films would probably win but the lure of the DC is hard to resist for a bunch of stay-at-home old witches! In all honesty we haven’t read any of the Bourne books, perhaps we should, so bung those onto our draft list of things to read will you Rod.
WoE
p.s. Who else thinks Rod (with a bit of youthful makeup) looks like the Zach Braff character in Scrubs? Something tells us that he should wear a doctors outfit for the next photo-shoot. If it’s global, his rating might go up.
Rod said,
August 14, 2007 @ 8:28 am
WoE
DC still is the man - certainly if measured in terms of traffic to this site - beat all the “hot chicks”
RC
Brix said,
August 15, 2007 @ 1:48 am
Most definitely Jason Bourne. If you ever wanted true survival skills, then Bourne is the man of the day. James Bond is way over the top with too many gadgets. Bond movies are the ones that I really enjoyed as a kid, but Bourne movies are the ones that I enjoy now that I am an adult. Also, given the nature of how much of our personal information is out in cyberspace, it’s does a guy’s heart good to see someone who could literally go off grid and re-emerge at will, even if it’s just in the movies.
Rod said,
August 15, 2007 @ 8:36 am
Brix
thanks for the comment
That really sums it up perfectly for many I suspect, a very good point !
Cheers
Rod