Jason Bourne vs. James Bond: Who's the More Super Spy?
Filed under: Action, Thrillers, Universal, James Bond, Remakes and Sequels, Hold the 'Fone, Daniel Craig, Summer Movies
James Bond -- when played by Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan and now Daniel Craig (and a bit less so when played by Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and George Lazenby) -- has long been the gold stanard by which all other cinematic spies have been judged. He's smooth, aloof, quick-witted and charming. Guys want to be like him and women with names like Pussy Galore want to sleep with him. But these days, 007 has some serious competition from a more reserved, grittier and -- dare we say -- more likeable amnesiac spy named Jason Bourne (Matt Damon).
When The Bourne Identity came along in 2002, it pretty much reinvented the action-spy genre, placing its hero, Jason Bourne, squarely in the real world (where things like Bond's invisible car do not exist) and dealing with the unheard of (in the Bond world, at least) issues of moral accountability, character metamorphosis and even vulnerability. Clearly influenced by his neophyte rival, a new Bond was born in 2006's Casino Royale, with Daniel Craig stepping into the tux of a more down-to-earth, relatable and gadget-free 007. Even so, the gap between these two men remains enormous.
From the cars they drive to the villains they battle to the way they fight to the women they bed, Moviefone compares the two most badass spies ever to grace a movie screen in a Jason Bourne vs. James Bond gallery. Check it out and then tell us: Who do you think is the more super spy?









Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
8-02-2007 @ 1:36PM
Donna said...
"dealing with the unheard of (in the Bond world, at least) issues of moral accountability, character metamorphosis and even vulnerability."
Ummm... the Timothy Dalton James Bond, the one everybody DISSES, dealt a little bit with those things.
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8-02-2007 @ 1:54PM
akilis said...
I'll take Bond even if I have to include the Brosnan years. There is only so much Bourne running and his amnesia plot I can take. It's the same plot running through 3 movies. Is someone actually going to shoot him and kill him, soon?
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8-02-2007 @ 2:22PM
Richard von Busack said...
Eh, neither. Matt Helm, man!
No, wait, even cooler: Triple X, he's cold-blooded! Who was a better XXX, Vin Diesel or Ice Cube?
Well, when and if Jason Bourne sticks around for 45 years in many adventures as our hero Commander Bond has, then we can talk about who is cooler.
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8-02-2007 @ 3:19PM
YouFaceTheTick said...
I'll take Craig's Bond - the only interesting characterization across all the Bond/Bourne films.
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8-02-2007 @ 3:19PM
Curt said...
Maybe they should do a Bourne vs. Bond movie. That'd be fricking awesome.
Though since that'll never happen, I'll weigh in that Bourne would kick his ass easily.
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8-02-2007 @ 4:40PM
Agent69 said...
Bond has no competition.
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8-02-2007 @ 6:59PM
Jon Eric said...
Is Bourne a spy? I thought he was an assassin.
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8-02-2007 @ 7:14PM
Freda said...
Bond is a man (at least played by Connery, Dalton and Craig) Matt Damon is still seems like a little boy.
I doubt many people would argue that a 77 year old Connery could crush a 37 year old Damon
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8-02-2007 @ 7:36PM
Michael said...
Bond got way too cheesy for me since Sean Connery's days. Roger Moore simply ruined the series for me. Now that Daniel Craig has reinvented Bond, I've got hope again. Problem is, the rumors on the next film are a return to camp. If that happens, they can kiss it all goodbye for me.
Jason Bourne all the way!
http://www.myspace.com/scoobarama
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8-02-2007 @ 9:45PM
jor capriocitylifeproductions said...
BOND WAS MAKING HIS BONES BEFORE BOURNE WAS BORN.ELVIS WILL ALWAYS BE THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLE AND BOND WILL ALWAYS BE THE ULTIMATE SECRET AGENT, JUST CONNERYS PRESENCE ON SCREEN OUTCLASSES AND TRANSENDS TIME. BOND, JAMES BOND
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8-03-2007 @ 12:02AM
pls said...
Boooourne is an assassin, Cia etc.Love his movies.
Bond is the classical Spy and always be.I have hopes for Daniel Craig to be another unforgetable Bond.
Borne.Bond shouldnt be compared in any way.
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8-03-2007 @ 12:05AM
mario said...
No friggin competition ... James Bond all the way! Bourne will run crying if he ever even looks at bond the wrong way ... bourne is a sissy ... little school girl compared to bond! nuff said!
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8-03-2007 @ 4:51AM
Coolio said...
Well when came to Jason Bourne I had watch & seen his movies. I found more interesting then the Bronsan era Bonds Because I didn't like Pierce Brosnan.I was Bond fan with Sean Connery,Roger Moore & Timothy Dalton over those years. Now Daniel Craig has debut the role now I'm a Bond fan again. I think now nobody will do better then James Bond again.
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8-03-2007 @ 6:51AM
Hummer said...
Bourne character gives us something we do not see in real life, he gives us retribution for lack of a better term. He dispenses swift sure justice to those who need it and spares those who are innocent which is not what we see in the real world. We see police corruption, political corruption,and the bad guys win and they win and they win. We do not hear of multiple law enforcement officers offloading drug planes to distribute drugs. It used to be one could go to the press and a hard nose reporter would expose corruption. Now the press covers up corruption as well. Bourne gives us justice and I hope to see more of his justice in future films. As a side note THE SHOOTER is another justice dispenser that hopefully will have future roles. The shots he makes are not technically feasible but the equipment he uses is well researched and first rate.
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8-03-2007 @ 7:15AM
jim said...
C'mon guys, there's no comparison here. But if you
insist, comparing Bourne to Bond is like comparing
Julia Roberts to Kathryn Hepburn. No contest. I own
every Bond movie that starred Sean Connery because
he is the best Bond. Those who chose Bourne over
Bond are obviously young people who have never had
the pleasure of knowing what a real spy is. The last
Bond film with Daniel Craig was number 21 and 22 is in production. Do you honestly think there could
be 21 Bourne movies? I think not. Nuff said.
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8-03-2007 @ 7:24AM
Jo said...
I enjoy Damon & Conary in any film. But Connary as Bond is the ultimate entertaining spy, a classic.
Here I am caught in the middle, one almost old enough to be my father the other young enough to be my son. I'll go with the still suave, romantic, emotionally unincumbered Connery. Give Damon another 25 years and then ask the question.
Actually I would love to see them both in a John Grisham movie. I just love his books.
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8-03-2007 @ 7:53AM
CT said...
You have got to be kidding me, this Matt Damon whomever is NO WAY CLOSE to THE ORIGINAL James BOND.
and I am 37 years old.
He is too ugly, not tall enough, not sexy enough, needs a better voice that is sure to win all of our hearts, inluding not just woman but some gay guys too! not to leave out the gay woman either!
am I right or what people?
yes i am.
he (matt whomever)
has that really to me a strong nasty boston accent, to which we all remember from previous movies. DO NOT LIKE IT.
James Bond like? NO NO NO NO and Heck NO
the movie will flop and you can take that to the bank, the idiots whom put tons of money into this movie.
what in the world were you thinking? obviously NOT.
you should ask some of us real people in this world not the ones with those rose covered glasses or whatevers you call them now a days. stupid movie that just will go by the wayside. oh you may get a few mill in a first week or so at the box office, but who is going to remember it?
you all need to ask some us real people what we want to see.
ct.
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8-03-2007 @ 8:08AM
jdkd20 said...
BOND WINS EVERYTIME! NO CONTEST!!
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8-03-2007 @ 8:10AM
Karen said...
BOND WINS EVERY TIME, THERE IS NO CONTEST!
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8-03-2007 @ 8:11AM
jdkd20 said...
BOND WINS EVERYTIME! NO CONTEST!
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