Bond and Bourne: What are the Similarities?

[Kristatos]

I don't know, she just seems so bland. I'm sort of kidding about not seeing the film because of her, but she is not my idea of a great actress.

Her blandness was the reason why I was so puzzled about her enraging you so much. It reminds me of a quote from Jeremy Clarkson saying that he couldn't understand the hatred that Cliff Richard seems to inspire, because "hating Cliff Richard is like hating a glass of water".

[Commander 0077]

CR : Bond also has amnesia. He forgot he was a naval commander. The Secret Service must have 'imprinted' his memory bank to accept being a SAS captain.

Bourne and CR Bond are missing a fashion sense. They seem allergic to tuxedos (I am assuming that Bourne has approached a tuxedo once or twice).

While both are involved in 'realistic' fighting, neither show the facial results that a real-world enounter brings -- such as a few simple punches to the face will swell a face for weeks.

Both drive bland cars. When Bond gets an Aston Martin, he junks it quickly (obvioulsy another allergy )

Their girlfriends are nothing spectacular.
Their villains are nothing spectacular.
Their plots are nothing spectacular.

The stunt action in both is good. Both can interchange with the other seamlessly. CR : it could have easily been Bourne in the restroom fight. Bourne : it could have easily been Bond in the fight with the bank guards.

[paco chaos]

I don't know, she just seems so bland. I'm sort of kidding about not seeing the film because of her, but she is not my idea of a great actress.

Her blandness was the reason why I was so puzzled about her enraging you so much. It reminds me of a quote from Jeremy Clarkson saying that he couldn't understand the hatred that Cliff Richard seems to inspire, because "hating Cliff Richard is like hating a glass of water".

considering that I'm one of the few Americans who even know who Sir Cliff is, I doubt you'll find too many of us that hate him, but the brits that I've encountered who hate him seem to dislike his squeeky clean image, kinda the way Pat Boone or Fabian haters existed over here.

[The Sweeney]

Their plots are nothing spectacular.

Considering it is based entirely around Ian Fleming's novel, you obviously don't appreciate the Fleming novels then.

CR : it could have easily been Bourne in the restroom fight. Bourne : it could have easily been Bond in the fight with the bank guards.

Agreed. This is where Bourne and Bond are similar - but there again, they should be. Both are elite, highly trained, super fit, secret agents working out in the field. I wouldn't have expected anything else.....

[Commander 0077]

Their plots are nothing spectacular.

Considering it is based entirely around Ian Fleming's novel, you obviously don't appreciate the Fleming novels then.

CR : it could have easily been Bourne in the restroom fight. Bourne : it could have easily been Bond in the fight with the bank guards.

Agreed. This is where Bourne and Bond are similar - but there again, they should be. Both are elite, highly trained, super fit, secret agents working out in the field. I wouldn't have expected anything else.....

Sorry for late reply, Sweeney.
Yes, CR was the first book, a mere squib. Bond was being introduced with a bland backdrop and 'realistic' villain. I have a very high opinion of the Bond books, especially after CR. I can't agree that the film CR was based entirely on the book, since the book 007 never did a lotta fantastic stunt work. In the very next book and the books to follow,
1. the Villain was always bigger than life. Mr. Big had a bloated head, was huge, etc. Drax had a garish face, etc etc.
2. The storyline was bigger than life. Bond did not inhabit a boring world. He went to Jamaica and met a naked girl on the beach (Dr No). LALD he meets an incredibly beautiful girl who is the assistant of a voodoo biggie... he goes to Harlem with Felix and there's electricity in the air. He goest to Japan into Dr Shatterhand's "Garden of Death"! (is that realistic, or what?).
3. Bond of the books was highly trained, but not formally as in an 'elite' unit; I get the sense that he was unusually gifted -- shooting, boxing / commando fighting (note his study on unarmed combat that he intends to submit to M). But Bond did not come from an 'elite' military unit. There were, I think, three double-Os in the office. One was an ex. Royal Marine; Bond's background was in the regular Navy. (again, to make Bond in CR Army SAS is unforgiveable).
But when Bond of the films fights --- just splats with no elegance, it's not Bond anymore. Check out the fight in YOLT with the sumo wrestler. It's fun to watch, not brutal. Yet, it's more exciting than watching a punch-uip in a bathroom. Bond of the books has usually fought in cool surroundings. When he fights in the toilet, then 'something' is missing that only Bond has, and that Bourne has in spades : ordinary surroundings.
IMO I want Bond to fight in the Vatican, and not a pig sty. In Fort Knox -- against an invincible baddie with a nuke ticking away -- and not the corner liquor store. I don't want Bond to throttle a guy until his eyes bulge out, his ears bleed, his intestines sagging forth and so on....
But I know there are some who vote that Bond should have 'realistic' fights. I'm just not one of them.

[The Sweeney]

Yes, CR was the first book, a mere squib. Bond was being introduced with a bland backdrop and 'realistic' villain. I have a very high opinion of the Bond books, especially after CR. I can't agree that the film CR was based entirely on the book, since the book 007 never did a lotta fantastic stunt work.

The first half of the film is nothing like the novel, the second half is. I guess there was never enough material in the CR novel to fill a 2 hour movie.

But I know there are some who vote that Bond should have 'realistic' fights. I'm just not one of them.

Fair enough.

[Count_Lippe]

I like the Bourne films a lot!

I think they're much better than all the recent Bonds, but on the other hand you can't really compare Bond to the Bourne movies, it's not the same thing!

But the Bond producers definitely were inspired to some extent by Bourne for CR!

You can't say exactly this and that comes from Bourne, but you just notice it now and then when watching CR.

This is not surprising in any way, Bond has often been inspired by other successful movies over the years, from the 70s and onwards.

[Captain Nash]

Another good post C_L. You're on fire today.

[Commander 0077]

I like the Bourne films a lot!

I think they're much better than all the recent Bonds, but on the other hand you can't really compare Bond to the Bourne movies, it's not the same thing!

But the Bond producers definitely were inspired to some extent by Bourne for CR!

You can't say exactly this and that comes from Bourne, but you just notice it now and then when watching CR.

This is not surprising in any way, Bond has often been inspired by other successful movies over the years, from the 70s and onwards.

Yes, you're righton that, my dear Count.
Also, note this fellow Bourne (Matt Damon). Just an ordinary looking guy. Not to take anything away from him. Pleasant face. Someone you see every day. But not someone you say, "Whoa! Cool super agent!"

And the same can be said for DC. Except that some could say that Damon is better looking.

Bond is not supposed to be played by an ordinary-looking guy. Otherwise, just about anyone can portray him.

[Capt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

Bond is not supposed to be played by an ordinary-looking guy. Otherwise, just about anyone can portray him.

You've hit the nail on the head there.

[The Sweeney]

Bond is not supposed to be played by an ordinary-looking guy. Otherwise, just about anyone can portray him.

You've hit the nail on the head there.

I would hardly describe Craig as ordinary looking.

[stockslivevan]

Thought I'd bring this back up since the film was already released and new threads are being made.

I still stand by my opinion that Bond and Bourne hardly have similarities besides great action.

[Jedi007]

James Bond? Newly assigned OO-Agent who has no problem with getting his hands dirty to get the job done, has a sense of humor, plays cards, drives Astin Martins, grew an affinity for tailored suits since the Casino assignment and always gets the job done.

After all those films, Bond is still a new recruit to you.

There's definitely no similarities between Bourne and Bond in terms of character. The film Bourne is nothing more than an amnesiac ex-agent who wants to forget about it. Bond is a spy who has enough class and taste to socialize with the rich and famous, and does only what he is told to do; he's a British government dog.

[Jedi007]

I would hardly describe Craig as ordinary looking.

Yes, he's unordinary looking.

[stockslivevan]

James Bond? Newly assigned OO-Agent who has no problem with getting his hands dirty to get the job done, has a sense of humor, plays cards, drives Astin Martins, grew an affinity for tailored suits since the Casino assignment and always gets the job done.

After all those films, Bond is still a new recruit to you.

CR started a new timeline, that's why I mentioned newly assigned. However you could just take that out for the old timeline and everyting else is the same.

There's definitely no similarities between Bourne and Bond in terms of character. The film Bourne is nothing more than an amnesiac ex-agent who wants to forget about it. Bond is a spy who has enough class and taste to socialize with the rich and famous, and does only what he is told to do; he's a British government dog.

Jedi, I never thought I'd say this but you've impressed me with a good post here.

[james stock]

i dont think there is any comparison for Bourne and Bond as stated in previous posts, there have been many spy pictures before Bourne such as Jack Ryan, Matt Helm, flint, xxx and none ever eclipsed Bond because he set the standard to copy a copy is an absolute folly long term

[stockslivevan]

On a side note: I would rather copy Bourne than XXX, we all know what happened after that incident...

James Bond: "The name's Bond... X-TREME BOND!"
Bartender: "Would you like a Vodka Martini, shaken, not stirred, Mr. Bond?"
James Bond: "No, I'll have the Mountain Dew... CODE RED."

[carl stromberg]

Surely Craig is just like Vin Diesel? He looks like him.

Craig should shave his head and have a few tattoos for his next Bond to complete the new look.

[007]

[Captain Nash]

Wow you guys never fail to come up with somev kind of response.

How do you do it?
Genius.