By Robert Ludlam released in 1980
Ludlam's widely acclaimed spy novels have spawned a trilogy of $200M+ movies, but how it did this is a mystery to me. It was also apparently voted (by someone who votes on these things) to be the second greatest spy-novel of all time. If this is the second greatest, maybe I just don't dig spy novels.
The book opens upon a scene so familiar in literature it has almost become an art form unto itself: a man is injured and unconscious and when he awakens, he has complete amnesia. As he tries to piece together the clues of his life and find out who he is, he stumbles across more than a few disconcerting abilities. Apparently, in his forgotten life he was a super-assassin. Bumbling around Europe, he is trying to escape from... somebody and trying to get... somewhere to learn... something. He doesn't know what. But, nonetheless, he is being chased and attempts are made on his life multiple times a day. It is certainly exciting and fast paced.
The disappointment with this story is a simple byproduct of time. Ludlam began writing this story in the late 1970s and it was published in early 1980. The spy game- or at least the way we view it- has changed significantly since that time.
In the novel, Bourne spends a great deal of time tracking down calling cards and waiting around at payphones. He picks locks. That's right, regular old, brass-key locks. Nobody in the story has implemented biometric technology and magnetic key-cards have yet to be invented.
Now, don't get me wrong. I like a nice period piece as much as the next person, but in this context, time is not kind to the story. It seems the story is just old enough to be rusty and out-of-date, but not old enough to be a classic. The novel was published in an unfortunate decade for a technologically driven piece: the technological world experienced a seismic shift over the next ten years, and the landscape of Jason Bourne's escapades is left behind.
Not only is the technology out of date and annoying to sift through, but the cultural norms of a 1970s Europe are difficult to sympathize with. Jason has intimate relations with Marie, but only because she is there. There is virtually no tension-filled build up to the sex, it is just expected that a post-feminism woman will fall into bed with any rogue that drags her out of a hotel lobby as a bullet shield. The cigarettes, the talk of burgeoning fashion designers and the emergence of a global economy all make the story feel stale.
The story certainly had potential, but needed to be polished around the edges. The second greatest spy novel of all time? I would hate to read the third...
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| stardustrtrailers.com |
The Movie: The Bourne Identity (DVD)
Starring Matt Damon released in 2002
Rated PG-13 for violence and language
Matt Damon needed no introduction before playing Jason Bourne. He was already an Academy Award winner and America's golden boy from "Ocean's Eleven", but this was the beginning of cementing in pop culture: nobody will ever forget that Matt Damon is Jason Bourne.
"The Bourne Identity" was released in the same year as the James Bond picture, "Die Another Day", and reminded the public what they were looking for in a spy-thriller. "Die Another Day" was widely panned as being a commercialized load of crap; it was more important to show Halle Berry in a bikini and promote more than 20 product placements within the film than it was to actually do any spy-work or kill any bad guys. "The Bourne Identity" relied on none of the modern James-Bond trappings: he fought with his bare hands, the girl was as normal looking as any movie star could be, there was tension and suspense and a plot.
While the story was changed drastically from the novel, I think the changes were good: refreshing, even. The director (Doug Liman) had been a fan of the novel since high school and stayed true to the characters, the purpose and the overarching story while making it relevant to a 21st century audience.
Marie's character was changed; modernized and given a hippy-dippy make-over, making her a contrast to the sleek, automated, techno-fancy world that Bourne is careening through. She becomes a partner to him, not just a sex partner, but somebody he comes to actually trust.
The details of the story are polished and updated. Bourne's backstory is streamlined and shifted to reflect the current political climate.
The story, the fighting and the chase scenes may not be what one would call "realistic," but in comparison with the crap that was 007 the year this came out (ejector seats being used to flip a car over?????), it's pretty awesome. And I swear to you, my neck hurts every time I watch Jason Bourne in a car chase. It's just so freaking tense.
Plus, nobody plays a jerk quite like Chris Cooper.
Bottom Line:
While the film and the novel are vastly different, and I know the fanboys are gonna kill me for this, I'm going to say that in this particular instance, you should watch the movie instead of reading the book.
