52 replies to this topic

[JackChase007]

Although everyone knows that I love DAD as it is, I strongly believe that "Bourne" is the kind of movie that EON should be making with Bond. It's not so action-heavy, and overall, it was just a damn good film. It was an espionage thriller, the kinds of stories that Fleming wrote.

[urhash]

Amen to that, Jack.

Even though the scene where they activate all the Treadstone assassins is not what one would expect in a Bond movie, that was one of the coolest moments in the film. Having listened to the DVD commentary I can say Doug Liman's attention to detail really helped the film.

[Jriv71]

It's been a pleasure joining you all on CommanderBourne.net...

One quick question. Which Bond ending, with the exception of OHMSS (unless you'd already read the book), was NOT predictable. Someone earlier mentioned Goldfinger. You didn't know that Goldfinger would die and Bond would be OK and get the girl???
They're all predictable and I love them all for it. Leave DAD alone. Maybe the ending bothered some people because the first half was SO good. It couldn't possibly live up to it. It's true whoever said it, most people did in fact like the first half of DAD.
But there were 19 others to live up to also, to try and finish strong, with no Fleming material.

What the HELL do you people want?!?!?!

[JackChase007]

Originally posted by urhash
Even though the scene where they activate all the Treadstone assassins is not what one would expect in a Bond movie, that was one of the coolest moments in the film.  Having listened to the DVD commentary I can say Doug Liman's attention to detail really helped the film.

Thank you! Someone agrees with me. I don't know WHAT it is about that scene, but it is just so bad-a** and tough. I think part of that scene that helps is the awesome music (a great track) by John Powell. And while we can't imagine that kind of scene in a Bond movie, I could very well imagine such a scene in a Bond movie that were TRULY INSPIRED by a Fleming novel. For me, that movie feels more like a Fleming story than a Ludlum (the original novel had a different feel to it, but this was still a very good adaptation of it).

I still keep forgetting to listen to Liman's commentary. I really want to see what he has to say - especially on that horrible error that happens when Wombosi is assassinated. He's walking down the stairs, carrying his coat, gun in hand, with his advisor behind him. Suddenly, the guy and the gun disappear, and he is miraculously wearing the coat.

Man, I really cannot wait for The Bourne Supremacy...

This is a message to EON - DOUG LIMAN TO DIRECT BOND 21!!!

[mrmoon]

Just got the urge to say 'Die Another Day is so ****ing good' but didnt know where to say it so i'll say it here . Dunno why I just get these urges.

[JackChase007]

It is incredibly ****ing good!

[SeanValen00V]

The Bourne Identity , if people start talking about it as a Bond competitor, now that xxx is gone, DAD easily won over xxx, but now bond producers must be careful, I like it if Bourne is considered a Bond competitor, hopefully 007 producers will respond to the challenge, and you got Brosnan likely in his last Bond film, give him more to do, tell a good story that comes down to a slam bang ending and nice treats weaved into the story getting there.

[JackChase007]

Yeah - maybe EON can learn a lesson or two. Bourne was able to combine a well-told story with plenty of intrigue with an exciting, cool, entertaining feel. I think that that is the kind of movie that both Bond fans and average movie-goers can enjoy.

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by SeanValen00V
The Bourne Identity , if people start talking about it as a Bond competitor, now that xxx is gone, DAD easily won over xxx, but now bond producers must be careful, I like it if Bourne is considered a Bond competitor, hopefully 007 producers will respond to the challenge, and you got Brosnan likely in his last Bond film, give him more to do, tell a good story that comes down to a slam bang ending and nice treats weaved into the story getting there.

EON is on the record as saying that competition is good because it helps revive public interest in their genre. Barbara Broccoli said in an interview that EON likes the fact that Austin Powers and xXx are out there for that very reason. They want those movies to be successful and so were probably glad that "The Bourne Identity" and "xXx" both made enough money to guarantee follow-ups.
Hopefully the character of Dirk Pitt (from the Clive Cussler series of novels) will soon be a theatrical character so praised by EON.

[JackChase007]

Yes - xXx and Powers are only amateurs compared with the might of Dirk Pitt. Bourne is a great character however - ranking up there with Pitt and Bond.

[Vodka Martino]

Originally posted by urhash


Even though the scene where they activate all the Treadstone assassins is not what one would expect in a Bond movie, that was one of the coolest moments in the film.

And the music during that scene was sensational. Have a listen to it next time you see the film.
As to "The Bourne Identity" , it was a great film. However, let me add (as many of you have already) that you can't compare it to a Bond film. TBI was more character and story driven with a lesser emphasis on action. The Bonds are more comic strip. And there's nothing wrong with that. It's the reason we go to the movies;to get away from trains that run late, lukewarm coffee that costs too much and bad service in department stores. These things don't happen to "the other fella" (007, in case I'm being too cryptic).

Actually, here's a thought; "The Peacemaker" (George Clooney, Nicole Kidman). Now that was a good film. Well-paced, solidly directed, and only four main action sequences that I can recall, each with a little twist so as to make them different from similar scenes you would have seen in other films. This film was dismissed as average when it was released, but I think it holds up very well.
"The Long Kiss Goodnight" is another. Probably the best female Bond film ever made.

But I digress. To sum up, I think it would be great if EON gave the Bond films a little more edge and realism, but I'd say that for them these days, it's all about protecting their investment. If you said to EON : 'Hey guys, why not make a Bond film more along the lines of "The Bourne Identity" ? ' , I would say their reply would be : 'Cos we've been doing this for 40 years and we know what we're doing, dammit, somebody call Security, who let this guy in!!'
"More of the same" ,they said. Oh dear, let's wait and see.

Just my two cents...with interest.

Vodka Martino

[Kristian]

Agreed. Die ANother Day was like Dr. Seuss. The Bourne Identity was like Tchekov in comparison.

Oh, goodie, goodie.... Die Another Day grossed $160 million. Wow, that means we'll get another Dr. Seuss spy movie just like the one before it.

Can't wait for those Bourne movies. Bond is a shadow of his former self.

[kevrichardson]

Originally posted by Kristian
Agreed.  Die Another Day was like Dr. Seuss.  The Bourne Identity was like Tchekov in comparison.  
Oh, goodie, goodie.... Die Another Day grossed $160 million.  Wow, that means we'll get another Dr. Seuss spy movie just like the one before it.
Can't wait for those Bourne movies.  Bond is a shadow of his former self.

Okay , who is Tchekov ??? "The Bourne Identity" was not that good. "Dr Seuss spy movie", DAD ??? . Yes it's true MGM/EON will give "us Bond fans" another one.

[Kingdom Come]

For a critic to almost compare the two films - is a critic not work reading!
I didn't like bourne identity. As far as I know it did much less that was expected. I found it had little pace.

[JackChase007]

I damn well love both films.

[Turn]

Originally posted by JackChase007
I damn well love both films.

It's nice to see somebody out there feels this way. I haven't seen Bourne, so I can't judge it, but there's no rule that says you have to pay allegiance to one or the other. Don't Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson always say they like the competing spy movies because they help Bond films?

[JackChase007]

That's what I remember hearing, whether it was on this very thread or not.

Bond films are great because they're so much fun to watch. "Bourne" was a very thrilling movie with some of my favorite actors (in rather small roles, however), which I feel is a good example of what the Bond movies SHOULD BE.

[simon70]

The Bourne Identity was, IMHO, much better than DAD.

The Bourne Identity was full of suspense - something of a prerequisite for a thriller. DAD has as much suspense as a trip to the post office.

I reckon that DAD is the biggest threat to the Bond franchise since the MGM/UA wrangles of the early 1990s.

[Dr Niles Crane]

I am a Ludlum fan. I am opened minded. I am a nice guy. I had never seen The Bourne Identity, but I suspected it would be quite clever - was I wrong or what.

The most un likeable characters I have ever seen - I am still not too sure if Matt actually had a character: the man was a brick - literally. At least Pierce has mastered the odd facial expression. And that bit at the end where we find out he refused to kill the black guy because of the children has to be one of the stupidest things I have ever seen in a movie. Personally I was left wishing that he had drowned in the first scene.

That irritating woman: Made tracey from AVTAK look like Laura Croft from Tomb Raider.

After third time the chick had bad acting hysterics - screaming "Whyyyyy?" - after someone tried to kill them I was proposing she must have a tragic disease involving short term memory loss or early alzeimers.

And the really annoying "drive a truck through them" plot holes.

* The entire CIA American force in France consists of Alley McBeal? Spying on your allies is a well respected tradition in intelligence circles and do you know how many American NATO bases there are in Europe just bristling with cultural attaches?

Where did these people get their espionage information from? The back of a cereal packet.

* Yes - many people say the US senate ain't the brightest, but I am sure even an oversight committe might notice a 150 million hole in the budget (each Treadmill guy cost thirty mill)?

* And on that reasoning they managed to blow about 120 mill trying to kill Bourne. If only someone had had the idea of picking up the phone and trying to get in touch with him? Or perhaps they hated his character as much as the audience did?

And the plot?

All I remember was a repetative sequence - he looks meaningfully off into the distance wondering about his identity, someone tries to kill them, the girl has hysterics and screams a bit, he dribbles on for a bit about how she isn't safe with him, looks meaningfully off into the distance and the cycle starts again in a different location.

It had to be one of the most boring, yet irritating movies I have ever seen. What is happening to Hollywood?

[KMHPaladin]

Originally posted by DLibrasnow
Hopefully the character of Dirk Pitt (from the Clive Cussler series of novels) will soon be a theatrical character so praised by EON.

I believe Cussler finally got the creative control he wanted after seeing what a disaster Raise The Titanic turned out to be, so we should be seeing a Pitt movie (can't remember which book, though) in the near future. I've been a Pitt fan going back the better part of a decade, so I'm kind of antsy about movie adaptations. It better be good .

[JackChase007]

The first Pitt movie will be "Sahara", which will be followed by "Inca Gold" and my favorite, "Night Probe".

[KMHPaladin]

They've already got 3 planned, eh? Guess I'll have to do some browsing and find out more. I'd vaguely recalled Sahara being the movie planned, it was one of my favorite books. The boat action with the Calliope and the desert fighting at the Malian fort should be great if they film it right.

I did a bit of quick searching and saw that Tom Cruise was in talks to play Pitt. I think that would be a fantastic mistake. He is absolutely nothing like what I think anyone would envision Pitt to be. Harrison Ford may be a bit old, and I think I'd see Han Solo or Indiana Jones rather than Dirk Pitt. Brad Pitt might be able to pull it off, I don't know. But, I tend to agree with what Cussler said in an interview a few years ago, it would be nice to see a no-name actor make the role his just like Sean Connery did for Bond (gotta bring in the Bond angle here ). And, I think casting for people like Giordino, etc. is going to go to established Hollywood stars with little relationship to the books. Oh well, too early to tell.

[stamper]

Wow, that thread was premonitory. I mean, no one is going to say today that the first couple of Bourne, had zero impact on CR.