In this thread Enola Straight pits Jason Bourne versus John McClane.
Now we’re starting Round Two. After Jason Bourne curb stomps John McClane he heads into battle against James Bond.
Here Jason Bourne takes down some Swiss policemen. (short)
Here Jason Bourne shows off his training. (short)
Here James Bond chases a bomb maker in Madagascar. (long)
So, who would win? Jason Bourne, American $30 million weapon? Or James Bond, British MI6 super agent?
Who would win?
I think they’d be just about matched physically. James Bond is much more charismatic, capable of easily infiltrating his way into situations and talking his way out of them.
Jason Bourne on the other hand seems more analytical.
What kind of encounter they’re in would matter a lot. Do they each have to track one another down in a city? In that sort of engagement I’d give points to Bond. Both dropped into the same building and told to have at it? I’d give the edge to Bourne.
In the end I’d rather have Bourne on my side in a tight spot.
Of course, I’m a bit biased…
Bourne. I mean, Bond gets captured and crap all the time. Sure, he gets out of that, but Bourne doesn’t let himself get caught in the first place. And he’s younger (movie-Bourne, I mean).
Honestly? With the way Bourne is presented, the only fair matchup is him versus Batman. The guy does not have faults, unless you count his conscience.
Jack Bauer!
How many times did Bond survive just because some villain went monologuing? It’s not even close, Bourne would snap his spine, 3 arms and six legs. Or something like that.
The real contest is Jason Bourne vs. Jack Reacher. Except perhaps not Jack Reacher played by Tom Cruise, which requires Reacher to lose eleven inches of height.
That was essentially my question: movie Bourne or book Bourne?
Either. I don’t know much about book Bond or book Bourne. So it’s up to you!
Well, as Mad magazine put it (to Oklahoma):
Oh-h-h-h-h Oh-seven is the greatest spy there is today!
Though the Empire’s gone, he keeps right on, so you’d better not get in his way!
(…)
We know in a fight he will win,
'cause he wins every fight he is in.
That said, the literary Bourne is a super man. The literary Bond just a well schooled fighter.
ian fleming wasn’t that well-schooled in combatives. bond’s only decent firearm was the walther PPK (he consulted with a firearms expert on that one.) and the character bond is a former navy man, middle-aged, with a tendency to drink and gamble.
bourne will kick his ass but bond gets the girl.
Bond is a spy. Bourne is an assassin.
If I want someone to charm his way in and steal the secret plans, I hire Bond.
If I want someone to open up a truckload of whupass, I hire Bourne.
Which is better? Seems to me it depends on the mission. What we have here is a team.
Admittedly I’ve only seen three Bond movies (the last Brosnan and the two Craigs), but in all three he’s clearly an assassin as much as a spy. He’s even described as such in the Brosnan tale, methinks.
“Licensed to kill” sure seems to imply Bond is free to kill anyone he thinks is in the way. Does that make him an assassin? Sure sounds like it to me.
That said, Bourne would kick his shaken-not-stirred ass.
Having watched the Bourne movies and the two latest (best) Bond movies fairly recently, I think Bourne would manage to corner Bond, but if it came to blows they’d have to call it a draw. Consider Bond taking out the hitman in Port-au-Prince in Quantum of Solace, then consider Bourne vs. the asset in Tangier. I’m pretty sure that unless one got in a lucky shot they’d wear each other out.
And then Morpheus shows up with a katana and a very fine suit.
Using movie Bourne and Bond (book Bourne isn’t quite the invincible superhuman of the movies, more of a highly athletic fighter whose skill set lies in his abilities to infiltrate, blend in and disappear): Bourne is tougher than Bond, as well as the rest of the planet. However, Bond beats fighters tougher than he is all of the time. Red Grant was bigger, stronger, and an insane, sadistic serial killer. Oddjob smiled as he shrugged off solid gold bricks thrown at him like they were cream filled Twinkies. Jaws bit through solid steel and was essentially bulletproof and damn near indestructible. If experience is a guide, Bourne will beat his ass proper for five minutes solid, then Bond will kill him.
it’ll look like that train fight in “from russia with love.” IMHO bond is basically not an assasin. he’s an agent for special assignments (in which killing may be necessary.)