Good Morning, World
Wednesday, September 9, 2015 at 9:26AM Howdy folks, it's Jason from MNPP here -- over at MNPP I do these posts pretty much every day that are titled "Good Morning, World" or some variation thereof (click here for some NSFW-ish examples) where we take a look at a moment of actorly exposure, morning-themed, in a movie. You know, something to wake us up, get us going, in the day. Well this morning I was just now staring at the first picture of Matt Damon on the set of the next Bourne movie, which just began shooting yesterday, and I felt incredibly bright and bushy-tailed, I tell ya what. So here's that!
First day of principal photography complete and happy to report, BOURNE is back! #Bourne2016 pic.twitter.com/ncIILnGKWr
— Frank Marshall (@LeDoctor) September 8, 2015
Here's the sitch though: I have never seen a single Jason Bourne movie. Not one! Not even the one (ones?) with Joan Allen. I love Joan Allen. I adore and worship Joan Allen. So this post is two-fold: 1) Wowza look at Matt Damon (do you think him and Ben Affleck are in some War of the Pecs?), and 2) Yell at me to watch the Bourne movies... but give me some good reasons. Yes you can just say "Joan Allen," I will accept that answer.
Bourne, Joan Allen, Matt Damon
Reader Comments (21)
LOL at the shade of that tweet. Everybody is glad that Jeremy Renner silliness is over with (although I'd much rather prefer the entire franchise be done with - do we really need a fifth one?)
FUCK ME RAW, DADDY
just watch the first one. three reasons: matt damon, franka potente, clive owen
Glenn Dunks: I LOVE the third one as a pure raw action fest but...no, we don't NEED a fifth one of these.
JA: She's in the second and third movies. And, though not the title character, she is, pretty much, The Hero. (Allen is most of the reason the franchise got better in the second and third movies and there's NO reason to continue it past Ultimatum really. Damon's Bourne got his happy ending. Leave him be.)
The firs one in the best- and Mr Damon still looks hot shirtless...
Wow, Damon has *really* gotten back into shape, between this and The Martian.
It would be really interesting to watch the Bourne movies for the first time in 2015, because they are THE quintessential 2000s action movies - so dark and broody and burdened with so much post 9/11 angst. All three are terrific action movies (as long as you can stomach Greengrass' shaky cam/fast cutting style), but the whole "these movies hold up a dark mirror to society" thing gets more and more foregrounded to the point where it almost capsizes Ultimatum entirely.
But you should totally see them! Great action, peak Damon hotness, Joan Allen kicking ass - there's a lot to love here.
This franchise is stuffed with boring entries. Better off watching one of the Daniel Craig Bonds.
Watch the first three:
Par is right the first one has three reasons- Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Clive Owen.
But the second has Joan Allen and some wicked action scenes with a relentless Karl Urban.
And the third has Joan Allen, David Strathairn, and Albert Finney - all three are great support.
Daniel Craig's Bond basically rips off Bourne in so many ways, better to watch the original.
LadyEdith: I kind of like the first Craig Bond more than any of the Bourne films. (The third comes close for being so relentless, though.) Yes, the first Craig Bond borrows a lot from Bourne's staging when they ramp up into action scenes, but they ALSO do a lot to build up the old school glitz and glamour atmosphere between the action and thriller beats that has ALWAYS kind of been Bond's biggest advantage and Skyfall (though still better than the previous movie) was unfortunately forced to sideline that completely, which I'm guessing is why Mendes wanted to come back for another go round. Bourne has it's charms, sure, but it can't REALLY compete with Bond firing at all cylinders.
I am so excited for La Rampling. This Oscar nod must happen.
I'm not much of an action fan myself, but the first three Bourne movies are probably the best action movies of the last 15 years. You can always try the first one to see if you like it? And they seem every so slightly more realistic than the Bond movies.
Ouch, posted this in the wrong thread.
I like the first one- best thing in it Franke Potente
I love the second one especially that bleary messy Moscow chase scene with Karl Urban (also Joan Allen's CIA hair)
The third one is kinda forgettable
The fourth one is ok- it has a couple of brilliant setpieces but also at one point Rachel Weisz has to say "of course I understand I'm a thrice certified [fancy science qualification]"
There's a weird narrative telescoping that's going on with the last two that's kinda interesting but also clunkily done in that there's a lot of expositioning as to where the story is at any one point.
All in all, I would recommend but Joan Allen is really only in the 2nd one.
I strongly recommend the second and third Bournes, not only because of Joan Allen, but she's a big part of it (in addition, they are tightly made Greengrass films). To me the third Bourne is much more a Joan Allen and David Strathairn film than it is a Damon film. Oh, and it features a minute or two of Daniel Bruhl, and who doesn't want more Daniel Bruhl in their life?
svg: What KILLS Legacy is the dive into goofy sci-fi ("he's gonna run out of green" is kind of an ACTUAL LINE in The Bourne Legacy) in an overall aesthetic that clashes with it.
The first one is surprisingly emotional for an action movie.
Karl Urban in the second one brings incredible tension.
And the third one...well, there's some cool rooftop/alleyway action chase scenes, but for me Joan Allen is sort of embarrassing to watch. The franchise feels pretty thin at this point.
(But I actually like the Jeremy Renner installment, especially the scenes involving Rachel Weisz.)
Consider me BOURNE AGAIN!!!
SVG: Allen is actually a huge part of the third, to the point where I would call her a co-lead.
Overall, see these films. Maybe they won't feel as fresh now because so many movies have replicated some sequences and ideas, but these films are still amazing.
Steve- oops! In my defence, I did say it was forgettable.
I think the first three are all pretty great. Not mentioned so far, the third one also has the great sequence with Paddy Considine in Paddington Station.
1. If you've ever liked Matt Damon anywhere else, he is 10x better in these films.
2. Best recent action franchise - each Damon film has at least 2 brilliant set pieces
3. GREAT fast sense of pace
3. Franka Potente is just wonderful in film #1
4. This series knows how to cast it's government agents! - Chris Cooper (awesome in film 1), Brian Cox, Joan Allen, David Straitham, Albert Finney, etc.
Ranking:
1. The Bourne Identity (A+)
2. The Bourne Ultimatum (A+)
3. The Bourne Supremacy (B+)
4. The Bourne Legacy (Renner addition - B)