Jason Bourne disses James Bond
Matt Damon yesterday used the London premiere of The Bourne Ultimatum to roundly dismiss James Bond as a Martini-sipping imperialist misogynist, the BBC reports. Damon declared Bond "anachronistic when you put it in the world we live in today" and added insult to injury with: "Bond is an imperialist and a misogynist who kills …
Jason Bourne, because Bond is a cock.
And Julia Stiles, because my ex looked EXACTLY like her, and Eva would be ancient these days.
I watched a Bond film the other night. It reminded me why I don't watch Bond films. Such utter garbage. The Bourne films, on the other hand, kick ass, even if they do deviate from the books somewhat.
Both are, of course, absolute representations of real life where you snatch any available vehicle and survive at high speed a rain of bullets that wouldn't have looked out of place in a Rambo movie.
I think it's a bit cheap to diss other movies, especially since Daniel Carig has successfully pulled the whole Bond escapism back from succumbing to gadgetry.
I like both book series, I like both types of movies. I don't think they compare at all.
Re: Julia Stiles or Eva Green: why choose? :-)
The serial misogynist or the dedicated monogamist?
Methinks a Bondsman would rather go on a long stag with Eva Green and Julia Stiles. Virgin Territory to HeXXXXPlore. The Amazonian in Control.
Do I want to go to the cinema for "essence and truth" or "Frippery and Surface"?
It might come as a bit of a surprise to Messrs Greengrass and Damon but I go to the cinema to be entertained. The Bond movies are wonderful escapism, quite implausible and entertaining. The Bourne movies are equally unbelievable and equally entertaining.
I assume they are both sounding a bit bitter as there are only 3 Bourne novels, and they've just run out of material for the franchise!
As a final point : "looking at women coming out of the sea with bikinis on." doesn't sound like a bad lifestyle choice does it
James Bond of course. Jason Bourne....(JB)??? As usual the yanks copy something and then claim they've invented it again.
can we not have Eva Green AND Julia Stiles? together with Angelina and Kate as a quartet of pvc-clad goth vampiresses from the Dr Who discussion?
anyway, Bond is terrific entertainment. you don't need to think too much and get emotionally involved with the dilema and consence of the character - just sit back and watch the big set explosions and the funky gadgets
Bourne maybe a more realistic trained psychopathic killer, but not so entertaining. and thankfully it seems Bond films have the budget to afford a steadycam for the cameramen so that the audience isn't afflicted with motion sickness during the action pieces. honestly, at times it's hard to see any action on the screen in the Bourne films because the camera is jerking around so much
It has to be Julia Stiles. And the Bourne films are infinitely more entertaining than Bond films. It's just a shame they're suggesting three will the the end of it.
Oh and insert the obligatory "what is this, a tech site or a gossip rag" comments... ;)
Bond is a Martini-sipping imperialist misogynist. That is why we like him.
The lowest point on the Bond saga was when then they made it too PC.
And why on earth would you go on holiday with Bourne, a guilt ridden, dead-girlfriend obsessed bore? At least you could go on the pull with Bond :)
Who would you rather be, Bond or Bourne? No contest there, where's that martini...
Maybe Matt Damon should be comparing the whiny wuss he portrays as Jason Bourne to the mature Special Ops Assassin that was the Jason Bourne that Robert Ludlum portrays in the excellent trilogy he penned two decades ago.
I haven't seen an excellent trilogy so decimated by bad directing and acting since Daryl Hannah and co tortured Jean Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear a while back.
The only things that the movie and the books have in common are the titles. Even the characters are twisted to perversion. In the book Jason's girlfriend doesn't get killed off, instead she becomes a stabilising factor in his life and unlike the pathetic whiny creature played in the 1st movie is actually a really strong character that is forced to take care of herself and at the same time keep him from going crazy.
Of course when cast a Miss Prissy as your leading man you can't have a strong woman showing what a little boy he is.
Ahh shame his girlfriend got offed. "Can't look after his women, can he.... " Seems he has more in common with James Bond then he will admit.
Won't be rushing to see the third one.....
Although I like the films I don't really think Bourne is a memorable character he really is quite dull unlike Bond. They really are completely different films, I just think of the bourne films as very well made action films, thats about it. The bond films on the other hand....
And Bourne is a cock also....
Although of course the film portrayals are not as in-depth as the book descriptions.
Bond feels guilt, he gets depressed and morbid, but he tries to be professional. A professional killer has a limited life expectancy anyway, one who languishes in guilt will last no time at all.
It is because of this short life span that Bond lives the way he does, the most expensive cars, food, the most glamorous locations.
I agree with previous respondents though: moaning about another franchise at your own premiere makes the star and director sound very petty.
Prior to Casino Royale i would actually agree with him, Bond was a gadget-laden sexist mysogynistic dinosaur, a cold-war relic. Casino Royale changd all that with a vengence. Gone are most of the gadgets (no ridiculous invisible cars), the slickness, the slut in every port. In comes a load more realism to the franchise. He gets his arse kicked and almost dies, he falls in love, he suffers tragedy. Typically a Bond film would open with some big set-piece spectaular stunt sequence, CR opened with a brutal hand-to-hand fight in a bathroom. If anything the Bourne films are becoming more ridiculous as he can seemingly have the entire US intelligence network after him and yet he'll end up in their offices searching through their files :P
"It's about essence and truth"
Of course it is. Anyway the difference between the two films is that Bond has some comedic relief meaning it appeals to a wider audience. Got to say I prefer the Bourne films.
As for imperialism, I should point out the sceptics still use miles, gallons etc. so they're as imperial as the Brits ever were. Oh, I think I missed the point there.
And as for the monogomy comment, Bond wouldn't have lasted for quite so many films if you had to look at the same woman, no matter how beautiful, again and again and again and again and again - look at Brad and Jennifer... maybe.
James Bond is an icon, Jason whatshisname isn't. Will never be, as well.
"Both are, of course, absolute representations of real life where you snatch any available vehicle and survive at high speed a rain of bullets that wouldn't have looked out of place in a Rambo movie."
Well anonymous coward, let me fill you in on a few things. Bourne has been shot. Twice. First on the failed attempt on Mumbosi, second time by an assassin in Russia. In the second scenario, he ran through the streets of St. Petersburg, stole a few bottles of vodka and some rags from a shop to use to tend to his wounds, and kept going.
He also gets bloodied and bruised in hand-to-hand fights. What're Bond's fights like? Jab jab, swing, it's over.
Is it that James Bond fanboys are as bad as Apple fanboys?
I fell asleep during the first Bourne movie, while every Bond movie has entertained me from start to finish. Funnily enough, I hear most punters go to the cinema to be entertained.
Until Bourne gets his lower regions beaten with knotted rope you can't really use the fight argument.
Both are highly unrealistic franchises, the difference is that the Bourne trilogy started later and so never had to live up to its legacy. Most Bond fans enjoyed the grittier films such as On Her Majesty's Secret Service and Casino Royale. Casino Royale raised the stakes, and unfortunately whilst the books are fantastic, the Bourne films look like all too much Hollywood candy floss in comparison.
...to compare the 2. They are completely different.
I have to say that I liked the Bourne Identity. Mainly for the mini car chase (I like minis). But another thing is that it got me reading the books, and they are AWESOME! The film is nothing like, except for the vaguest outline of the story. But still a fairly good film.
Bond, on the other hand, is a parody. It is not meant to be realistic, it is taking the weewee out of itself. Yes, Bond is a misogynist. It's funny. Yes it's unrealistic, but it's funny. Bond is meant to be entertainment, not a documentary.
<TONGUE IN CHEEK RANT>You know, I wasn't quite sure about Matt Damon, but now I can clearly see him as the character portrayed in Team America. He is a whiny, self-obsessed idiot, and to criticise another, completely different film series like that is just stupid. He should just stick to shouting "Matt Damon, Matt Damon!", it would be more pleasant on our ears.</TONGUE IN CHEEK RANT>
From what Ive read so far, its the Bourne posse that are acting like rabid fanboys.
I saw Matt Damon in Team America and he wasn't that eloquent!
It's only a f****n film.................jesus dancin h christ!!
We like James Bond cause he kicks the ass of every country that isn't the uk.
Jason Bourne on the other hand is busy destroying his own country...
I like both the Bond franchise and the two Bourne films I've seen.
However, unless it's in the script, Matt Damon should keep his whining mouth shut, because whenever it opens all I hear is "Maaaatt Daaaaamonnnnnnnn....."
Neither of them would be any good on a stag night. They are not guy's guys. Bond would have more money than you, and he would attract more women than you, and he would be better than you at everything. He dates from a time and a mindset whereby heroes were our superiors. He would resent your presence and probably let you take a bullet meant for him. He would tut-tut at your incompetence and your inability to understand all the fine wines, and whether it is red or white wine that goes with fish.
Whereas Jason Bourne would probably try to not get you killed, or at least he would feel remorse if he failed, but he's not a barrel of laughs. He would mope around listening to the Arcade Fire and worrying. He belongs to an age in which heroes were like us, but faster and fitter. I don't want to go on a stag night with a morose loner.
Of the ladies, Eva Green is clearly psychotic, and will draw a man into no end of trouble; Julia Stiles is boring and mumsy.
Instead, I would much rather go on a stag night with John Steed. It would be an orgy of polite debauchment.
I know it's just me, but I'd like to see a retro, black and white, Bond movie, set in the period when the boooks were written. Like the Third Man, but with more girls and guns.
I totally agree.
"Matt Damon!"
"MATT DAMON!"
Those South Park boys really do seem to have modern celebrities nailed!
Oh, and Bond wins hands-down every time - the character Damon portrays would have been slotted by the 'feds ages ago....so would Bond (by the Russkies/Chinese/North Koreans/etc/etc/etc) but who would have had the best life up until that point?
And Jaclyn Smith was a fair bit of allright too. :-P
What? "essence and truth"? Jeesus, what a pompous pronouncement.
FFS do me a favour.
The Bourne stories are three enjoyable yarns wrung from a single, simple plot idea and strung out over enough pages to ensure the paperback editions will pay for a nice condo in Florida.
The Bond books are full of neatly detailed observation, delicious dialogue, sardonic humour and a natural cinematic sweep that has led to their surviving even their worst filmic interpretations.
...who sits on the back of luxury yachts, anchored off (for instance) the Cote D'Azur ,sipping on cocktails and such like?
Brian Cox is possibly the Bourne's only redeeming feature but things going bang and sneaky people getting duffed up in slickly choreographed fight scenes is always entertaining.
I invite Matt to watch Casion Royal, though, as is seems like he hasn't watched it. As for calling Bond a misogynist, M already called him that ages ago (misogynist dinosaur) and wasn't that how Fleming wrote the character ?
Anyway, has anyone else noticed that no other country seems to keep making movies about how their government is always shafting, lying, experimenting, kidnapping, imprisoning, framing, scapegoating and patsying their electorate or is it just me?
I always felt Potente was a girl's girl, anyway, so I am available if she wants to drop by. Any Bond girl she wants to bring along will be OK by me, too, although I am too much of a lady to name those I'd prefer...
Brian Cox is possibly the Bourne's only redeeming feature but things going bang and sneaky people getting duffed up in slickly choreographed fight scenes is always entertaining.
I invite Matt to watch Casion Royal, though, as is seems like he hasn't watched it. As for calling Bond a misogynist, M already called him that ages ago (misogynist dinosaur) and wasn't that how Fleming wrote the character ?
Anyway, has anyone else noticed that no other country seems to keep making movies about how their government is always shafting, lying, experimenting, kidnapping, imprisoning, framing, scapegoating and patsying their electorate or is it just me?
It's just publicity!
He slates the world's best known secret agent to get more people to go see his movie film! MATTTTTT DAMON!!!! Sorry I couldn't help myself!
James Bond rocks! Matt Damon will never have anything on Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Craig and even Roger Moore, well actually not Roger Moore!
Give it a few years and Matt Damon and Ben Affleck will be staring in.........
The Hardy Boys!!
>>Instead, I would much rather go on a stag night with John Steed. It would be an orgy of polite debauchment.
How very true, "Ashley Pomeroy".
And that Emma Peel!!
My dad can beat up your dad.... he knows Karate.
Oh.... hang on.... I thought I was back in school for a minute..... my mistake.
It seems that Matt Damon gets very "shaken" when "stirred" up.
Harry Palmer was much better. And probably more fun on a stag weekend.
The irony of this article was that the BBC article was about how Bourne compliments Bond and includes the full quote from Bourne, stating that there is "a place for both" in the modern world.
Bauer would be about to land a 747 on them both.
Matt Damon is an uncharismatic, wooden lump. "I can Method act a zombie". The Bourne films were mediocre in direction, script and style. At least Bond has humour.
Have you seen Team American World police??? " Maaaatttt Daaaaamon
That guy is a friggin' spanner if ever I've watched one.. Albeit with a significant financial advantage over my good self... He is however a glas one spasmo tool!
How many times has, or will, a family member say to you "what Bourne movie is on" during Xmas or New Year?
Run along Damon.
Bourne rocks in this department. Bond used to but since Casino Royale I wouldn't get in the car with him. He's the only person (real or imaginary) who can get an Aston Martin to flip over JUST BY TURNING LEFT. At least he's not driving a German car anymore. That was pretty damn silly too.
<Excuse me while I put my flame suit on>
CR was crap. James freakin Bond playing Texas Hold'em? That just killed the whole sexy mystique of Bond and was an obvious sop to American audiences who think that lottery is some form of poker. Face it Bond and his adversaries would never play a game brought up by cowboys.
I understand that Bond is a national hero and therefore a religious icon for the UK. A beautiful reminder of when England thought it ruled the world. And I think Damon understood this as well and hence was taking the piss. The man knows how to start a flame war.
Oh and all of you mentioning Team America (a truly kick ass movie) should see this:
http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/stone%20explains%20dumb%20damon%20puppet
