Which action movie franchise has been the most influential in the 21st Century?

The answer is surely Bourne.

When the Bourne Identity released in 2002 it changed the landscape of action movies and its impacts are still felt today. During the 1980’s and 1990’s action movies were led by huge marquee stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis. They were filled with muscles, explosions and quips by their superhuman heroes. Whilst the likes of Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Director Michael Bay continued that trend of outlandish out of this world explosive action with The Rock and Armageddon. Jason Bourne gave us gritty and grounded. The hero had a purpose and their violent actions were a means to an end, whilst the enemies that they faced were nuanced with shades of grey. Daniel Craig’s entire Bond era was shaped by Bourne, Mission: Impossible changed directions and found itself mimicking the format and even the likes of John Wick can consider some of its close quarter combat sequences shaped by Bourne.

Bourne’s genesis bizarrely is from a series of spy novels from a much earlier era. Robert Ludlum’s spy thrillers were released in 1980 (Identity), 1986 (Supremacy) and 1990 (Ultimatum). However there is very little of these books that have found their way into the film. The character of Jason Bourne/David Webb and his amnesiac status caused by his actions within a shady CIA programme called Treadstone are ultimately the only elements retained. The books were very much of their time and focused on the real life assassin Carlos The Jackal. The book series’ success has grown and grown through the years also. Ludlum only wrote the original trilogy. Later Eric Von Lustbader would release a title called “The Bourne Legacy” in 2004 and go on to write a total of eleven novels before hanging up his typewriter. Only for Brian Freeman to take up the mantle of Bourne author and go on to write another eight novels (at the time of writing at least!). But do not fear, you do not need to read twenty-two novels to help with the film franchise, as they bare little resemblance to each other!

In terms of creative continuity Bourne has a number of returning collaborators. Although the only one that I believe is unbroken for all five films is Moby’s “Extreme Ways” appearing in the final credits for each film. You know you have seen a Bourne movie when this song plays.

The original trilogy featured Matt Damon as Bourne, Tony Gilroy as lead writer and John Powell as composer providing a large amount of continuity. The only major change in creative control being that original film director Doug Liman was replaced with Paul Greengrass for the second and third features. This was as a result of some creative clashes and delays on the original film.

From this point things change some what. The fourth movie was an effort to expand the universe and as a result does not even feature the character of Jason Bourne on screen. This resulted in Matt Damon, Paul Greengrass and John Powell all moving off of The Bourne Legacy. Jeremy Renner became the new lead, Tony Gilroy stepped up to the director’s chair as well as writing and James Newton Howard took over the score. However the result had a very mixed reception.

Which meant that for the fifth film Matt Damon, Paul Greengrass and John Powell all returned but now at the expense of Tony Gilroy.

All of which is to say that whilst the original trilogy felt very cohesive the latter two movies felt slightly out of place. Which begs the most important question… which is best?

Before I jump in, if you want to read my non spoiler reviews for any of the series then please do so at the links below. Otherwise feel free to wade in and be prepared for spoilers as I will assume you have seen these films from this point on.

• The Bourne Identity
• The Bourne Supremacy
• The Bourne Ultimatum
• The Bourne Legacy
• Jason Bourne

5. The Bourne Legacy (2012)

The only Bourne movie to not feature Matt Damon as Jason Bourne was always going to struggle, but given that this film was directed by Tony Gilroy, who at this point had written every Bourne movie makes it a tough pill to swallow. Gilroy is probably more famous now for writing Rogue One and Andor so this relative failure never impacted his imperious writing talents.

Pros:

• On paper the plot revealing a larger conspiracy that happens in parallel to the Bourne Ultimatum is very clever
• When the action finally kicks in it is very good

Cons:

• No Matt Damon as Jason Bourne
• The “I need my medication” aspect of the story falls flat
• Unsympathetic lead protagonists
• Best action sequences are saved till last by which time you may have checked out mentally

4. Jason Bourne (2016)

Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass return with a whole new group of shady CIA agents for Jason Bourne to turn the tables on.

Pros:

• Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass back together after the Legacy misfire
• The Greek set piece taking in motorcyle chases, a protest and another brutal sniper shot to rock Bourne’s world just like in Supremacy
• The Paddington set piece is intense
• The final car chase in Las Vegas is brutal

Cons:

• Did we really need this re-tread sequel?
• Computers are scary – “Use SQL to corrupt their databases…”. Oh dear!
• They killed Nicky!

3. The Bourne Identity (2002)

The original film that started it all and influenced the likes of Bond and Mission: Impossible has every right to be argued as the best, but for me Liman’s effort laid down the groundwork that Supremacy and Ultimatum perfected.

Pros:

• The trend setting original film that introduces us to Bourne and the major themes of every film in the franchise
• Matt Damon lends character and nuance to his action hero
• Franka Potente’s Marie is not your average love interest in an action movie
• The car chase in Paris
• Hand to hand combat sequence where Bourne improvises by using a pen

Cons:

• If you are being picky every action sequence here is improved on in Supremacy and Ultimatum

2. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

Ultimatum delivered such a good ending to the trilogy that it made the belated Jason Bourne film feel redundant despite its superb action sequences. Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass enjoyed themselves so much on 2004’s Supremacy and 2007’s Ultimatum that they would do some more action thriller work together in 2010’s Green Zone before returning to Jason Bourne in 2016.

Pros:

• The clever writing that inserts a lot of Ultimatum’s story inside the same narrative as Supremacy
• The action sequences here have been perfected
  • The cat and mouse escape attempt in Waterloo Station
  • The Tangier sequence that begins as a motorcycle chase, becomes a foot chase along rooftops and followed by a scene where Bourne leaps through a window culminates in a brutal hand to hand fight
• Julia Stiles character Nicky gets to be in the field with Bourne
• A truly satisfying ending to a superb trilogy

Cons:

• Depending on your preferences – shaky-cam

1. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

I think Supremacy perfects the Bourne formula. The personal element where he loses Marie but is able to learn from her helps him to regain his humanity, whilst Kirill provides the film with a villain that shows us what Bourne could have become were he not to have suffered from amnesia.

Pros:

• The personal Bourne story that provides him with a level of redemption
• The introduction of Joan Allen as Pamela Landy – A CIA agent that perhaps Bourne can trust
• Karl Urban as a focal villain of Bourne’s rage
• Julia Stiles’ character Nicky starts to get a larger role in the franchise
• The Goa chase sequence that ends with Kirill’s sniper shot killing Marie and forcing Bourne’s hand
• The cat and mouse chase in Alexanderplatz, Berlin
• Possibly the franchise’s best car chase in Moscow

Cons:

• Depending on your preferences – shaky-cam

So what are your thoughts? Are my Bourne’s in the correct order?