James Bond Is Dead, Long Live Jason Bourne

[Goldeneye]

http://culturemob.com/blog/james-bond-i ... son-bourne

James Bond Is Dead, Long Live Jason Bourne
by D.R. Scott September 23, 2010

Goldfinger, Oddjob, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Jaws, Dr. No, and other scoundrels have tried to kill superspy James Bond but failed. However, because of MGM’s financial problems, it’s going to be a group of some anonymous bean counters working in the accounting department who will send 007 into a permanent retirement. Ironic, isn’t it? Only in the bizarro universe of Hollywood can a franchise that has made over a billion dollars throughout the years lose money.

As much as I enjoyed Bond’s adventures in the past, I’m finding it hard to care. Although it sounds like heresy, I’m more interested in what’s happening these days with Jason Bourne than James Bond. It didn’t used to be that way.

The last I heard, there’s going to be a fourth Bourne adventure, and for an espionage junkie like me, that’s great news. When I was a kid, I stayed glued in front of the TV and watched The Man from U.N.C.L.E., I Spy, Get Smart, It Takes A Thief, Mission: Impossible, and Secret Agent. When I was old enough to go to the movies, it was the usual suspects: The Spy Who Came In Out of The Cold, The Icpress File, In Like Flint, and of course, all of the James Bond movies. The cool, elegant, and deadly Mr. Bond was my hero.

But when Sean Connery stepped away from his signature role as Ian Fleming’s secret agent, the movies weren’t as good anymore, and they got worse. The thrill was gone. After years of hoping things would improve, I reluctantly realized that the relationship had run it’s course, and I knew it was time for me to see other spies. At first, I believed Jack Ryan would turn out to be something special, but Alec Baldwin turned out to be a one night stand when a dull body snatcher named Harrison Ford came along and spoiled everything. Ben Affleck? Are you kidding?

Then Jason Bourne came into my life.

Loosely based on the Robert Ludlum novels, Bourne is an amnesiac who discovers that he is a super-soldier programmed by the United States government, and the more he finds out about his life, the less he likes it. The cold war is over, but the bad guys trying to kill him aren’t vodka-drinking Russians or Islamic terrorists or HYDRA. It’s his own agency.

What’s more, the Bourne movies have successfully evolved from the old, rusty cliches of the spy genre without losing its potency. Women aren’t objectified, no Rube Goldberg gadgets, and death isn’t treated as the punchline of a sick joke. Bourne lives in a world where a secret cabal within the American government lies, tortures, and kills in the name of “patriotism”. It’s Political Correctness with balls, and I love it.

Bond is dead to me. Long live Jason Borne.

I’m sorry, James, but we’ll always be friends.

[katied]

Is Greengrasshole directing the new Bourne movie?I might see it if so.

[Kristatos]

The Bourne movies are entertaining enough, but I can't get as excited about them as this blogger seems to be.

[katied]

There would have to be a lot less shaky cam for me to see it. Two hours of that is asking for a migraine.

[Kristatos]

There would have to be a lot less shaky cam for me to see it. Two hours of that is asking for a migraine.

Think of all the great iconic moments the Bond films have given us: Bond's introduction in DN, Ursula Andress's first appearance in the same film, Odd-Job's hat and Jill Masterson's death in Goldfinger, Blofeld's lair in YOLT and so on. Now try to think of a similar image from a Bourne film. I don't know about you, but I can't. I enjoy them while I'm watching them, but none of them has left any lasting impression in my mind. All I can remember of them is a generic blur of people running along rooftops or being chased by cars.

[katied]

Yeah. Sucessful they may be, but iconic?please.

[Kokopelli]

The Bourne Identity had a good car chase the rest of those movies blur together. Not unlike how Casino Royale and Quantum are blur of nonsense mixed with a action scene here or there. Tomorrow Never Dies has one of the coolest villain's lairs in Bond that state of the art stealth ship. When it came on screen it was a treat reminiscent of the old Connery adventures where the bad guys still had a sense of menace.

[MichaelZWilliamson]

It can't be iconic without an Evil Genius laughing, "BWUAHAHahahahahaha!"

Long Live Austin Powers

[CaptainLewis]

The main difference between them is that the Bond films are fun and that is something Borne will never be able to touch.

That and Bourne has all the warmth and depth of a glass of water.

[katied]

I'd rather Matt Daaaaaaamon did more non-Bourne movies.I'm kinda intrigued by that one that's out right now.

[Capt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

I do like Bourne, but the series may struggle without Damon. I'm not sure Bourne could turn into a cult institution that lasts for 40 years with numerous iconic and memorable moments like Bond.

Then again it could be argued that Bond is dead after Barbara Broccoli's ghastly reboot and selection of Craig as Bond: the reviewer may be correct. Hope fully it will be resurrected soon.

[MichaelZWilliamson]

My offer still stands to be Bond. I'm Brit born, have real military and technical experience (not as much as Lazenby, but more than any of the others), and I have some limited but real acting experience and screen credits. Also, I look awesome in a tux.

I could be my own Q, too.

[carl stromberg]

My offer still stands to be Bond. I'm Brit born, have real military and technical experience (not as much as Lazenby, but more than any of the others), and I have some limited but real acting experience and screen credits. Also, I look awesome in a tux.

I could be my own Q, too.

Are you a friend of Barbara? That's the main qualification for Bond nowadays.