Who's cooler in 2008? Is it James Bond, 007 on Her Majesty's Secret Service, or Jason Bourne, Delta One of Operation Treadstone? Both fixtures in the world of espionage and adventure fiction, their cinematic personas became irreversibly intertwined in recent years as films based on the characters were inspired by and in competition with each other.
Matt Damon's Bourne franchise is a 21st century hit with its intense action, brooding plot and humorless hero. But, there would be no Bourne if not for decades of Bond movies seeding the public with a love for big-screen spies.
Daniel Craig's Bond (above) replaced Pierce Brosnan in the hugely successful Casino Royale -- a movie clearly influenced by how Bourne updated the genre. Now, the shorter, tighter Quantum of Solace seems even more Bourne-like.
It seems you can't have one spy without the other these days. That shouldn't stop us from wasting time debating who's cooler. We'll take a look at their similarities, pros and cons. Then, it'll be up to you guys to fight it out in the comments section below. You're all licensed to kill (verbally).
Similarities: Bond and Bourne are both highly trained spies in the service of their individual governments. They kill people -- often. Both are bad luck for women, as several of their significant others end up dead. And, both are pains in the backside to their bosses. While Bond gives M fits, Bourne tends to kill his superiors.
There. We have how they're alike out of the way. But agreeing and finding common ground is no fun for a movie geek-driven debate like this. What are Bond and Bourne's strengths and weaknesses as characters? We start with the elder statesman:
James Bond
Pros: Agent 007 has exceptional luck and a seemingly impossible database of skills. Whether it's flying a jet fighter or speaking Japanese, he can handle it. Seemingly irresistible to women, he can often gain information or escape from danger with only his testosterone-charged charms. While his methods irritate his superiors, Bond takes his duty seriously and is fiercely loyal to his country and MI6.
Cons: Despite his sense of duty, Bond questions his career choice throughout Ian Fleming's books and occasionally in the movies -- often regretting his status as a professional killer despite his obvious aptitude for the gig. He has also been known to put personal interests and emotions (such as a need for revenge for the death of a lover or fellow agent) before his responsibilities to M.
Jason Bourne
Pros: His instinctual fighting skills are lethal, and he's trained to use a myriad of weapons. An expert in infiltration, escapology and obfuscation (he gets in, gets out and hides well), Bourne is impossible to find if he wants to stay in the shadows. Once a soldier and a spy, he maintains a strong sense of right and wrong.
Cons: Often confused by clouded memories and depressed, Bourne seems like a self-absorbed hero. He often fights just for himself -- to restore his own memory and past. There is rarely a greater call to duty in his hunt for those who made him what he is. It's not the great desire of a true hero to be left alone, but that seems to be Bourne's greatest wish.
There you have it -- an attempt at crib notes for the Bond vs. Bourne controversy. Now, it's up to you. Is Bond a protector of freedom, or a tool of Western imperialism? Is Bourne the silent hand of justice pitted against rogue intelligence agencies, or is he an embittered, blood-thirsty head case?
Discuss. But, if you are captured or killed, the secretary will disavow any knowledge of this post.
Sorry. Wrong spy reference.
Image courtesy Sony, MGM
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