I pre-purchased my ticket to Jason Bourne which opens on Friday. This is the fourth movie based very loosely on the Robert Ludlum suspense novels. I’m watching the Blu-ray box set to prepare for the new installment in this spy series. Matt Damon plays Jason Bourne, a CIA agent with memory loss. Doug Liman directed The Bourne Identity (2002), The Bourne Identity is my least favorite movie in the series because Damon muddles around much of the time and then springs into sporadic action. Paul Greengrass directed The Bourne Supremacy (2004), The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) and now the new Jason Bourne (2016). Tony Gilroy co-wrote each film except for Jason Bourne. I’m a big fan of Paul Greengrass’s work. I first noticed Greengrass with his skilled direction of United 93 (2006) (he won the BAFTA Award for Best Director as a result and also received an Academy Award for Best Director nomination). I also liked Greengrass’s work on Green Zone (2010) and Captain Phillips (2013). Both The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum are fast-paced thrillers that I really enjoyed. Damon and Greengrass were reluctant to make another Jason Bourne movie, but they were convinced that the character had more story to explore. Have you seen the Jason Bourne movies? Do you have a favorite? GRADE: The Bourne Identity: B; The Bourne Supremacy: A-; The Bourne Ultimatum: A.
I’ve seen one or two! Entertaining but not at all realistic!
Bob, realism was never Robert Ludlum’s strong point. The movies carry that over.
I read THE BOURNE IDENTITY in 1988 but never felt the need to read another, though it was entertaining for what it was. We’ve seen all the movies (plus the Jeremy Renner fourth movie) and are looking forward to the new one. Greengrass and Damon have been an excellent team. Damon surprised me at how good he was in the role. And the second and third films in particular make good use of the New York settings.
PS – for the first time in a long time I had to retype my information just now.
Jeff, I read all the Ludlum “Bourne” books. The series has continued with a different writer.
The original three Bourne novels by Ludlum are:
The Bourne Identity (1980)
The Bourne Supremacy (1986)
The Bourne Ultimatum (1990)
The continuation novels by Van Lustbader are:
The Bourne Legacy (2004)
The Bourne Betrayal (2007)
The Bourne Sanction (2008)
The Bourne Deception (2009)
The Bourne Objective (2010)
The Bourne Dominion (2011)
The Bourne Imperative (2012)
The Bourne Retribution (2013)
The Bourne Ascendancy (2014)
The Bourne Enigma (2016)
There was also a 1988 TV adaptation of THE BOURNE IDENTITY with Richard Chamberlain as Bourne and Jaclyn Smith, Anthony Quayle, and Denholm Elliott.
Jeff, I missed the TV adaptation. I’ll have to track it down. Richard Chamberlain as Jason Bourne is a strange casting choice!
I’m not sure that I’ve watched all of the previous movies. I’ve enjoyed the ones I’ve seen, but they are not “in theater” ones for me. I remember being surprised at the choice of Matt Damon for Bourne, until I saw him in action.
fyi i also had to input info, though auto fill came up after the first letter
Maggie, I was surprised by the Matt Damon choice, too. He didn’t strike me as an “action hero” type actor. But he proved me wrong!
Haven’t read any, haven’t seen any. No reason not to have, other than jet didn’t get around to it, like so many things in life. Hope you enjoy the new one when you see it.
Rick, I’ve seen the trailer for JASON BOURNE and it looks terrific!
I am with you, George, and looking forward to JASON BOURNE. I like the series and I am a fan of director Paul Greengrass. I first noticed Greengrass when his 2002 film BLOODY SUNDAY, about the violence in Northern Ireland, showed on cable.
Elgin, I forgot about BLOODY SUNDAY. That was a thriller!
Rachel Weisz. All I needed for LEGACY to be my favorite, though not superb.
Todd, I’m a fan of Rachel Weisz, too!