January 28, 2005
Matt Damon's Bourne Ultimatum
Talking of Matt Damon and the Bourne movies, he's signed up for the third, The Bourne Ultimatum.
What I hope that doesn't mean is that the camera will be even more shaky, even more closed in on the action and even more difficult to follow. See the thing I found about the latter half of the The Bourne Supremacy was exactly that, you found it very hard to follow what was going on, and to be honest the action could have been taking place anywhere.
During the big chase scene you would see the back of a Policeman's jacket with the word Police flashing back and forth and all over the place, then it would cut to Damon's face as he bounded along with the camera jiggling some more, back to the Policeman, back to Damon, all close up wobbling shots. It was hard to tell if they were chasing each other and if they were even in the same city! In the car chase scene it was the same, fast cuts back and forth with close ups on the drivers faces, before you knew it the car had crashed. It crossed the NYPD Blue camera school line.
I know lot's of people liked it, some of my friends loved it, and I'm not against the NYPD Blue school of filming in fact I love that show, it was just way overdone here. Style over substance I'm afraid for me, there was a big failure to think of the audience and how it would look on a big screen.
Looks like more of the same though with Paul Greengrass returning after his Watchmen outing, and that could spell good or bad news for the comic adaptation. A return to familiar ground to recover his career, or just because he wants to write the next one? Also back is the same writer Tony Gilroy, so it will be a good story filming styles aside.
Posted by at January 28, 2005 08:03 AM
Comments
Posted by: Lilly at January 28, 2005 09:12 AM
Well for me it was the best blockbuster of the year bar none, way better than the first and the style worked because unlike in, say, Elektra, where the camera was close in for no good reason, here it just made the whole film, fights and all, BRUTAL and yet PG-13. The car chase was one of the highlights of last year.
As for his career? Greengrass said he'd be back on board if Damon was while promoting Supremacy.
This is the best movie news I've heard in ages.
Posted by: Tom Whitaker at January 28, 2005 10:50 AM
I found the camera style during some of the fight and chase seens jarring aswell. But I can understand their effect of tring to bring the audience from an omnipitent view to "in the passenger" seat so to speak. I think it worked in the overall context.
Posted by: Glen Penney at January 28, 2005 11:52 AM
With regards using tea handheld camera, I can understand if they had to do it in a film like "Saving Private Ryan", but I didnt see the point doing it in Bourne Supremacy?
Saying that, it was better than Bourne Identity. I have read the books and felt they massacred Ludlum's creation.
Posted by: Simone at January 29, 2005 07:31 AM
Count me in with the people that were pleasantly surprised at how good the "Bourne" movies have been. Glad to see that there will be a third film, too. Right now, I'll take Bourne over Bond.
Alter Ego Comics
Posted by: Marc at February 1, 2005 01:23 PM
Yes, beautifully stated Marc. I think that perhaps Bourne has stolen quite a few Bond fans!
Posted by: Justin at February 2, 2005 04:15 AM
i have just finished reading the bourne identity and have recently started on the bourne supremacy. Matt Damon is a great choice to play David.
Posted by: Delta 2 at February 2, 2005 08:23 AM
I loved the first two movies. I'm glad to hear Damon is back for the third installment. Tomorrow I'm off to buy the book. Any idea when the movie is due to come out?
Posted by: Dan B. at February 11, 2005 08:03 PM
I don't think the camera moving around during action scenes is a distraction. I think it enhances the emotion.... I've seen much worse! Can't wait till the 3rd... bring it on!
Posted by: Peta at February 14, 2005 03:42 AM
I suppose its down to personal taste re: camera movement, it just didnt work for me.
Posted by: Simone at February 14, 2005 08:18 AM
Does anybody know that the books are much more exciting than the films? Granted, good work was done for the films, but they pale in contrast to the books!
Posted by: bme at February 17, 2005 10:22 PM
The Bourne Supremacy was way better than the first one. Matt damon gave a haunting performance as jason bourne. i have read the first two books & the story was tampered totally in the film. completely different than what it was in the movie. But the movie was better than the book. No Doubt !
What really gripped me to this movie was the fast score given by john powell. hell! there were moments when i felt i was in the movie. Just amazing music. I Can't wait for the third one & then the fourth one maybe "the bourne Legacy"
Posted by: Varun at February 19, 2005 07:10 AM
I'm in heaven after hearing about the announcement of The Bourne Ultimatum movie :) :) But where is the source of this *Announcement* ??
Posted by: David at March 3, 2005 07:40 AM
David: His IMDB profile as linked in the post.
Posted by: Richard at March 3, 2005 12:56 PM
I finished the Bourne Identity and am almost done the Bourne Supremacy- then i will read the Bourne Ultimatum. Matt Damon is the Perfect character for Delta, Webb and Bourne.
Posted by: Jbourne2 at March 7, 2005 10:08 AM
Bourne - good. Chase scene - bad. The cheesy scene with daughter of people Bourne had killed - yuk! It's the worst scene I have ever seen in the movies. Maybe you all going to throw fecies at me, but I'll say that again - the scene was dumb.
Besides that - would gladly watch third movie. :)
Posted by: Vlad at March 7, 2005 12:51 PM
I LOVE these Bourne movies. I really didn't mind the camera work in Supremacy. Maybe it was a bit much but it actually gave the movie a different sort of pace than the first movie which I think was necessary. However, it would be a mistake if they did it that way again for Ultimatum. Hopefully they'll do the Bourne Legacy after Ultimatum!!! Good Will Hunting got Damon in the door but Bourne will be his legacy.
I do, however, have to agree with the post about the scene where Bourne tells the girl he killed her parents. It just didn't fit and it was awkward, badly done. Otherwise I loved the movie. They do such a good job of making you feel like you're there and they really capture the feelings that spy/espionage movies should have.
Posted by: Todd at March 10, 2005 03:54 PM
i loved both films, i cant wait for the third, the cameras were kind of jarry but thats the way it was supposed to be, i dont know about you but it made me think i was in the scene instead of watching it on a screen, it gave the film alot more flavour (not that it needed it). i loved Matt in it too, they could not have cast a better guy for Bourne. I SO CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE THIRD MOVIE :D
Posted by: clare at March 15, 2005 12:20 PM
The Camera work was fine. We can't please everyone.
Please understand the screenplays are different than the books. It is impossible for a screenplay to campare to the depth of the book and hold an audiences attention. This has been a complaint in adaptations since the beginning of time.
Many people were brought to the books from the movies and have a seperate appreciation for the films and the books.
Keep an open eye and an open mind, were working as hard as we can.
The Bourne Conspiracy
The Bourne Legacy
The Bourne Ultimatum
The Bourne Supremacy
The Bourne Identity
Matt
Posted by: Matt at March 28, 2005 12:37 AM
The camera seemed better in the DVD version compared to the big screen so they must have changed it. At this point they pretty much have cut away from the books completely but that is fine because the Bourne character I think has been well shaped. Also I think that this new storyline leaves more strings to pull for future movies as previous conclusive ties have been severed (mary and conklin). I hope to see a colder assasin Identity in the future bourne, someone who simply gets the job done with no apology. For action I can get by with 24 (spectacular) until Ultimatum comes out but I still can hardly wait.
Posted by: matt at April 19, 2005 01:08 AM
AS A HUGE FAN OF MATT, I LOVED BOTH FILMS, BUT I DO HAVE TO AGREE WITH SOME PEOPLE THAT THE CAMERA WAS SHAKING A LOT. BESIDES THAT I LOVES EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT BOTH MOVIES.
Posted by: Armine at June 2, 2005 10:54 PM
I LOOOOOVED BOTH BOURNE MOVIES!!! I THINKED I WATCHED THEM LOKE 7 TIMES EACH. I CANT GET ENOUGH OF HOW GOOD MATT PLAYED IN THEM. HE GAVE AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE.I ACTUALLY DIDNT MIND THE CAMERA MOVEMENT, BUT I THINK THAT THE LIGHTING SHOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER THAN IT WAS ESPAECIALLY IN THE END OF "THE BOURNE IDENTITY". OTHER THAN THAT EVERYTHING ELSE WAS PERFECT.
BY THE WAY CAN SOMEONE PLEASE E-MAIL ME AND TELL ME IF IT IS FOR SURE THAT MATT WILL DO "THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM"
LOVE YOU MATT, YOUR A BABE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Armine Kazaryan at June 4, 2005 09:53 PM
I just finished reading Ludlum's Bourne Ultimatum. I enjoyed the books, I loved the first two movies, and I'm eager for the third movie, as a lot of us are. November '06 is it?
As far as the differences between the books and the movies-- it's to be expected-- to keep the pace flowing, the audience interested. All who worked on bringing these stories to the big screen did a great job--- keep up the good work for Ultimatum. The severed ties from the adaptations have really got me guessing on the path the third movie will take... but I can't wait to find out.
If you haven't read the books--- go see for yourself, they're worth a read.
Posted by: Byron at July 24, 2005 02:10 AM
hey i loved your 1st movie the bourne identity, matt damon really suites the spot to be jason, i noticed his birthday was coming up so happy 36th birthday. And Matt you are sooooooooo HOT!!! :)
Posted by: ISABEL at September 21, 2005 11:56 PM
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
Wikipedia notes that in the Ultimatum, Bourne seeks the help of "his old friend, Conklin". Conklin's dead in the movie (Identity), but was he killed off in the book too???
Anyone know if the Ultimatum is in production???
Posted by: jack at September 29, 2005 09:06 PM
Richard, I wholeheartedly agree with you about the jarring clips. Especially when he would flash back to the street signs and then to the hotel room visuals as he drove fast. Very frantic. I kept waiting for him to pass out and crash the car so he could awaken just seconds before the gov't or police arrived and he could stagger away on foot for yet another impossible to survive set up. Ugh. But, I also agree that the chase scene was wonderfully shot. I saw a special on PPV about he making of the sequel and I understood the scene a lot more before I watched the movie. I guess that made the difference for me. Oh, and they showed the making of the house explosion scene. Completely wild stunt planning went into that one, too.