Bourne: movie or book?

Question:  "Sounds interesting. I'd like to know which you like best, the Bourne books or movies and why."  (from Anonymous)

Answers:

Good question!  Because the books are so different from the movies, I've tried to keep them separate as I "judge" them.  However, since you asked, I like the books better.  There is, of course, more detail about what Bourne goes through, trying to figure out who he is and what happened to him and how much Marie really does for him and means to him.  The movies are good in and of themselves (duh, Matt Damon!), but the books really give more definition to Bourne and give you the chance to use your imagination to "see" what's going on (my favorite thing about reading books!).

If you want to continue the story, Eric Van Lustbader has written 4 more books:  The Bourne Legacy (Mar 2005), The Bourne Betrayal (May 2008), The Bourne Sanction (April 2009), and The Bourne Deception (June 2009).  I've read the first two, but have yet to acquire the last two.  Lustbader does a pretty good job of continuing the story, though I was upset at how he decides Marie should die, given how strong of a woman she is...

- E



While I have only read the first Bourne book (terrible, I know, but I got sidetracked and started on something else and completely forgot about them.  Though they are currently sitting on my bookshelf voicing obscenities at me for abandoning them.) I must admit that the book is by far better.  I will also admit that, had I read the book before seeing the movie I definitely would not have liked the movie.  However, as that is not the case I still absolutely love the movie.  I mean, it's Matt Damon, I can't help it.

As in all books the action is so much better because you put yourself in the scene when you read it, whereas, in a movie, the action is set in front of you, leaving nothing to the imagination.  Though, in the movie's defense, the action was pretty sweet.  Also the characters fit together better because they were really able to go in depth with each of them rather than just skim the surface as the movie did.  Also the book just makes more sense because it isn't as superficial as the movie (not in a bad way people, superficial in the true meaning of the word).

So, to sum up my rant:  the book was most definitely better.  Though I still have a soft spot for the movies because they are pretty much amazing as far as cinematic effects go.

- S