MovieChat Forums > The Bourne Supremacy (2004) Discussion > What makes Bourne so compelling,compared...

What makes Bourne so compelling,compared to other action film characters

posted 12 years ago by Alchemyst2
11 replies | jump to latest

What makes the Jason Bourne character so unique and compelling to you, compared to other male and female action film genre characters, whom you also admire ?

[–] smobe12 12 years ago

I don't know but I did not give the Bourne trilogy a chance when any of the movies came out and now I think they are amazing!

I think what makes these movies amazing to me is the action isn't cheesy and pointless. There is real story behind the action and the first book is amazing (I just started reading it).

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] sanddragon939 12 years ago

I think one of the appealing things about Jason Bourne is that he is a character who acknowledges the essential paradox of most 'action heroes' and action films in general...the fact that the resolution they offer to violent conflicts is...more violence! Bourne, as a character, understands and questions the shaky morality of this dynamic. And he also admits the fact that an outright renunciation of violence is not a viable option when your very survival is at stake. This is a man who is prepared to kill the moment he sees a potential threat intrude on his and his girlfriend's peace but this is also a man who can barely look himself in the mirror after strangling someone in self-defense, and who is constantly haunted by memories of his past as the assassin he no longer wishes to be.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] kaskait 12 years ago

Why I found the character so fascinating is the fact that many times in the series his elite training is in conflict with his emotions.

He gets what he needs to do done but inside he is falling apart.

[–] mooncalled2 12 years ago

For me, what makes Jason Bourne so compelling compared to other action film characters is the notion that having to kill a child broke his conditioning. I love that. But it's ultimately what Matt Damon brings to Jason Bourne--via his incredible acting range and talent--that makes the character so compelling.

[–] DeadlySinner 11 years ago

I like that he is methodical. He does only what he needs to do to get the job done. He doesn't try to look cool or say any one liners. In fight scenes, he only tries to disable his opponents as fast as possible. He is also resourceful. He is able to improvise strategies on the fly, using the items he has on hand.

Required reading for theater patrons:
http://tinyurl.com/shutheeffup

[–] kranky-randall-470-646459 11 years ago

^ Bingo.

[–] ribby45 11 years ago

OP -

Less is more.

He makes the viewer work hard - you have to assemble him from bits & pieces.
No exposition.
No quirks.
No tongue-in-cheek.

Just doing the business.
And getting the business done.

Also he's really classy - dreadful word, but I can't think of a better one, sorry!

[–] desifir667 11 years ago

its a fun film

[–] bruno-mailly 7 years ago

Bourne is (for the most part) believable and cliché-free.

In comparison, most modern blockbusters are just flicks to me, no more believable than theater no matter how realistic or good the special effects.