The fact that the film is quite “realistic” only enhances the fantasy rather than undermines it. The audience is encouraged to identify with a man who is impossibly resourceful (physically, mentally, intellectually). To caveat the above, let us concede the following: The film is still pure fantasy fulfilment. Something I might have considered a contradiction in terms prior to its arrival. In contradiction to this the Bourne series represents something akin to the ‘liberal’ action film. However, enjoyment of these films is almost always spoilt by the inevitable glorification and aesthetizisation of violence and guns, the degrading representation of women, the insistence on having the hero deliver smart ass remarks and one-liners, and the rest of the political and ideological staples which have come to define the genre. These genre movies typically act as a vessel for tapping into omnipotence fantasies, allowing identification with a hero who is impossibly industrious, who has a level of physical capability with which he is able tangibly to manifest dominance over his environment and adversaries. The differentiating factor lies in the film’s ideological content as much as its obvious technical proficiency.Īction films tend to offer appeal to a particular demographic which is primarily male (particularly young men). The release of The Bourne Ultimatum in 2007 saw the completion of “the most exciting thriller series ever to come out of Hollywood” set a new standard for intelligent action cinema. By Leon Saunders Calvert Volume 14, Issue 6 / June 2010 9 minutes (2007 words)
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