hey, turns out the movie's better without all the exposition

[@CinemaStix]

The copyright claim on this video is still under appeal, despite the delay and my best efforts. Which means it isn’t making any money. To support the work I do directly, please consider making a pledge at: www.patreon.com/CinemaStix Thanks everybody, Danny

[@xzanman]

But its still full of Ads. So turn off youtube Ads so they don't make any money. Midroll ads kill your videos so its a win all round.

[@CinemaStix]

@xzanman You have no control over ads or ad placement when the video’s monetization is going to someone else :(

[@blodpudding]

You originally had the Moby drop at the end, didn't you? 😊 What the world needs is a union for creators, KZbinrs, streamers, "influencers", whatever tiktok is... They're global multi billion dollar industries and the people doing the work i.e the content - HAS NO CONTROL OR SAY IN ANYTHING! I used to work in television, and damn the constant stream of excellent produced stuff you and thousands of other puts out every day, there wouldn't be enough money in the world if you got compensated like the unionized TV crews.

[@DesertNavy]

Joining now. As a cinephile you're a hero of mine.

[@StickNik]

@@blodpudding Abolish intellectual property rights lol

[@kinglouiethethird]

the gradual buildup in your version to the treadstone reveal at the end hits so much harder

[@CinemaStix]

Thrilled that came across!

[@mrFixEatSept-em1tb]

​ @CinemaStix and for anyone else who gets here, the book provides this progress, at least for the first half or so...

[@marshallmykietyshyn4973]

@@mrFixEatSept-em1tb Yes! They were my favourite books growing up and I was so disappointed with the movies. They made him just another action hero when he's really so much more.

[@SSGTStryker]

I couldn’t agree more. I absolutely love this movie. But the version described would have so much more impact.

[@PlasmoX]

I've seen this movie many times, but this edit has me on the edge of my seat. Props

[@robhogarth29]

I think these changes would have made Bourne go from a good action film to an all time classic film. Great work laying it out

[@memegazer]

Yeah but if you pay for the actors for the treadstone agents you are probably going to use them these are no doubt improvements in editing but all that extra sceen time was probably in part to justify the cost of hiring such recognizable names for some of those roles so they got more screen time and more opprotunity to act

[@robhogarth29]

@@memegazerif you have paid for Brian Cox you put him in the movie

[@plica06]

He wasn't as well known back then tho was he?

[@memegazer]

@ I recall recognizing him from other movies, well braveheart in particular I think him and Julia Stiles were kinda trendy at the time from other supporting roles They might not have been household names but I imagine they were fairly recognizable from other works

[@Dhnendndjdjjxn1]

The trilogy are all time classics now, think of the thousands of action films since 2001 to have been forgotten. They don't have a lot of competition now considering stuntwork has mostly been CGI and location shooting has died. Film KZbin is weird, like if the Bourne films aren't classic action films then literally nothing is

[@chris.shamblin]

This is closer to how the novel plays out for the first half or so. While there are many major differences between the film and book, everything Ludlum did with the book is designed to keep the reader solely in pace with Bourne's own understanding of who and what he is. When the novel eventually reveals to the reader (but not to Bourne) in the back half that what we think we know is wrong, it hits so much harder because now we follow Bourne with the knowledge that he is very wrong about his true nature. It creates two different types of tension as the story progresses, and it works incredibly well.

[@BramHeerebout]

You know, I haven't read the book but what you say makes sense because it reminded me also very much of the 1988 mini series version with Richard Chamberlain. I think what happened here is that it isn't so much the creation of a complete new angle for the movie as much as a reinvention of the original version 😅

[@P.T.S.E.]

Ludlum's book was an interesting take on one's nature and how it may differ from how we are reflected in other's eyes, but he does a bit of a cop-out at the end with the twist. Most of the tension in the book comes from the questions: is someone being able to be morally good and bad at the same time, or one's nature is distorted by the way they live, and if the circumstances that corrupted someone's nature were to be erased, would that absolve a person from their past crimes? But Ludlum decided to answer neither and made them irrelevant, as he made them to be based on a false premise. I don't know if that was because he did not want to make a stance and wanted to leave it up to the reader's decision, or because the concept of the hero was to be always morally good in that time. Although, after first watching the movie, I started to appreciate Ludlum's decision to pull the rug, as the answer they offered to those question was kind of lame, as Bourne turned out to be having no agency in deciding being good or bad. Which, I think, is not only an inelegant way to absolve him from all past sins, but also makes the stance that moral responsibility does not come from one's will, but from the circumstances that a decision or action was made in.

[@PhilipClyde]

The book is so good! I think it differs enough from the movie to be super enjoyable on it's own. It feels like it's own new thing but with the same premise. Definitely would recommend

[@nickmonks9563]

It's been a LONG time since I read the book (though I remember I knew how different it was from this film but still appreciated both), but I was having a vibe to that effect...like, "isn't this more like how the book did it" (at least in part?) Thanks for clarifying.

[@randorandom]

Damn, what a great 'fan version' this film would be. Reminds me of Steven Soderbergh's black and white Raiders cut with nothing but Trent Reznor's music and how I sometimes wish such transformative versions could somehow be allowed to co-exist (legally) with the original. Great video - AS ALWAYS.

[@CinemaStix]

Yes! Reminds me of that too. A small change that forces you to admire facets of the movie hiding in plain sight.

[@jesustovar2549]

It's a very interesting way to watch it but I would've still kept John Williams' music because I feel it fits perfrctly for an adventure movie set in the 1930s, the era of Errol Flynn films which music was composed by Max Steiner and Erich Wolfgang Korngold. The same can be said for Star Wars being inspired by Flash Gordon serials from the same age.

[@occult.thespians.society]

@@jesustovar2549I believe soderbergh removed the score because he wanted the viewer to really focus on the editing and cinematography moments that Spielberg had chosen for the final edit. He probably was afraid the iconic score would bring up old memories when the goal of the project was to view the film with fresh appreciation?

[@PhazerSC]

@@CinemaStix Are you removing all mentions to the actual Bourne fan edit that exists? Or is it YT removing the comments automatically? It was mentioned here, under this comment and I also left clues in a comment that has disappeared. It's fine if you're actively removing the mentions, just curious where they went :)

[@allocater2]

>I sometimes wish such transformative versions could somehow be allowed to co-exist (legally) with the original. They can... after 95 years.

[@HardwareLust]

Jesus Danny, your essays are usually freaking amazing, but this is just on another level entirely. It's a tremendous shame that work of this quality is being hampered by YT's utterly broken and exploitable copyright system.

[@RealAndySkibba]

Show, dont tell. Great video.

[@ElGato1947]

Exactly!

[@SyawishRehman]

Broooo! I wish I could watch this version of the movie!!! This is amazing!!!

[@CinemaStix]

Meeeee too. Watching it beginning to end was an awesome experience. I legit couldn’t have even told you where the cuts were, despite having just made them. It felt so seamless, scene to scene.

[@MumRah]

Same

[@muneeb-khan]

It exists, people have edited it online

[@jackpeterson6670]

@@muneeb-khan where?

[@SgtBaha]

just google "bourne identity no treadstone" and you should get helpful results

[@LodvarDude]

The version that we didn't know we needed. Until now. Stellar work, as usual.

[@tessiepinkman]

Wow, Danny. This shook me. The Bourne movies are a bit of a soft spot for me, but now I need this cut of the movie. NEED IT. It works so perfectly well! Thank you for the work you do. You are amazing.

[@doughnutfan92]

What a wicked concept. Someone write to the studio and get it made. I’ll say this about the original cut though: The CIA scenes do something for me that fits the film right in its time - that post 9/11, Patriot Act paranoia of the early 2000s. One of my favourite lines in the film comes from Conklin: Digging into Marie’s past, he makes a summary assessment of a harmless girl, assumes her to be a threat, and growls: ‘I don’t like her.’ The CIA oversight and activate-all-agents attitude frames the film in a pretty terrifying era of American policy, and makes the people on Bourne’s tail all the more terrifying.

[@Brian-rt5bb]

I agree, the panicking sociopathic bureaucrats are as much a part of the Bourne series as Bourne is. Watching these lizard-people assholes unravel as Bourne outwits them is a big pleasure of those films. "Jesus Christ, that's Jason Bourne"

[@cjstone8876]

It's already been made: THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR, with Robt. Redford, Faye Done-away, Max von Sydow, Cliff Robertson.

[@darktoster]

@@cjstone8876 excellent movie

[@doktormabuse4794]

@@cjstone8876 "It would happen this way: ..."

[@doktormabuse4794]

Yeah, Marie Kreuz briefing is one of the best scenes in the movie.

[@elliotkaufman8341]

"...confronts Clive Owen's cameo" HILARIOUS

[@NinjaPups]

Taking out the exposition is very clever. It really keeps you hooked a lot more than the original edit. Really great video!

[@jamesabernethy7896]

bourne identity is an amazing movie, this would make it even better. These videos addressing the different aspects of filmmaking are amazing. I love how gentle your pacing is, it allows us to soak in every aspect.

[@Megaloathyou]

That’s beautiful. Suddenly I absolutely need this cut

[@zetto156]

It truly sucks this video isn't monetized because this is one of your best and most insightful. Now I want to edit down the film and watch it this way

[@johnadlercathan]

The original in the series will always be my favorite. There's just something about it that feels so organic. The way it's shot, the settings, acting, and of course the whole premise for the movie.

[@dandeve]

Man! this is a much better movie! I have seen this movie sooo many times yet I was stilll able to imagine it as you spoke through the scenes.... Well Done!

[@roBLINDhood]

This was fascinating Danny!! I’m so glad you were able to make a version that YT let you post.

[@CinemaStix]

Well. It’s still not making any money. But I’m definitely glad it’s being seen. I couldn’t wait any longer.

[@zandresteven7983]

@@CinemaStix Liked and subbed. Best I can do for now. Good luck, this was amazing.

[@thedudeabides3138]

@@CinemaStixat time of writing, you have 70 THOUSAND views in a mere 13hrs. This is testimony to how good this essay is, well done Danny, and thank you.

[@joshmyers3085]

I love this idea of cutting or rearranging scenes to serve the same story but told a different way it completely shifts our emotions of characters

[@Goodjobgreateffort]

One of the best selling points is that the recut takes the film to 90 minutes. I want this video and your ideas to circulate and be discussed beyond this comment section because it works so well as a hypothetical illustrating what unnecessary exposition is. It leads to discussions about other films and how well those work. What if we had discussions between Charles Parnell and Tilda Swinton early in The Killer before Fassbender meets with each of them? Wouldn’t that dilute the pace and tension of that film as it exists? Although we’d lose the “Oh my GOD, that’s Jason BORNE!” meme, we remember that this line is fun and only ever became a meme because we intuitively feel is as a corny, stilted, awkward line of exposition. Great work dude

[@jeremymiller928]

That quote wasn't in the first film.

[@CapitalFProductions]

Damn this reminds me of the Nerdwriter video where they rearranged Passengers and it completely recontextualized the movie. What’s funny is that Bourne went through several rounds of reshoots and tons of backstage turmoil, which lead to Liman not staying with the franchise. Amidst all of that, maybe the easiest solution was just sitting there the whole time, nixing anything that isn’t Bourne

[@henzor]

I see you Nerdwriter fan! Was also the first thing I thought about haha

[@QC_Charlottean]

I just made an edit of Bourne based on this. Cutting everything but Bourne's perspective until Clive Owen appears. It's rendering now. I'll report back.

[@kimiko2547]

FHD UHD? Commenting so I can find your comment again.

[@KernitTheFont]

@@kimiko2547I’d be interested in this too!

[@Freelancer221]

3:16 Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? I'm german and when I first watched the bourne identity I watched it dubbed into german. In the meantime I switched to watching movies in their original language with german or english subtitles. It's been almost 23 years and I never noticed him switching from english to german and being surprised about himself because I never knew he spoke english in the first place.

[@niceguy191]

They didn't dub another language into that section?? Seems like really poor localization

[@Freelancer221]

As far as I remember they did not. But that would have been weird as well. English became German but the Swiss policemen spoke German anyway. As it is Switzerland they could have made them speak French, I guess. But Germans were really lazy. Everything had to be dubbed into German. At least that is changing.

[@Tr1sh4Lynn]

@@Freelancer221Or they could have dubbed the Swiss-German using a different dialect, from like casual to posh, which would preserve their the surprise but have it all be in German.

[@spdcrzy]

I just realized this too! I missed that TINY micro expression because I've never had a screen big enough to notice it until now.

[@alyssamitchell8191]

11:34 You nailed why this was one of my favorite movies, alongside Spy Game, growing up and still is today.

[@gilly_the_fish]

The Bourne series are some of my absolute favorite movies, but I didn't realize I needed this version. Incredible work.

[@russschweizer8880]

Mr Boyd, what a gift you are to all of us. Dont ever stop. Thank you!

[@nerdock4747]

I maintain that this is also the correct way to do a Superman story. The audience should receive information at the same rate as Superman, because his character is so reactive. Oh and The Bourne trilogy is also literally the story of Wolverine, which I only put together yesterday. But Hollywood doesn't understand that the story can be the same, the writing good and we still like both.

[@matteorizzo]

11:07 No: and THAT, is a GREAT movie. Thank you for making this video.

[@BoxdHound]

Man, I'd forgotten how much I love this film and you took it to 11. Bravo, Mr. Boyd.

[@PixelTheMushroom]

The build up in your version was absolutely deliscious.

[@GaijinCartoonist]

I've always thought about the movie this way, and I am so glad you are showing it like this and calling attention to it. This perspective is why I follow you. Keep it up!

[@silvertip185]

It is one of my favorite films. If it had been made this way, it would have been one of the best films I've seen. I realize now, the exposition always annoyed me. Thank you for showing me a new way to see something I thought I knew so well, and realize it could have been so different and even better.

[@neneja]

Love that you got the video up, hope they let it stay up! Great video, some wonderful points made and I do believe it would be great to tell the story the way you pictured it.

[@desertpalmproductions9974]

Jesus, Danny - thank you. THANK YOU!!! This approach to presenting story and foregoing exposition is analogous to what I / we have been proposing and defending in the independent streaming series we have been developing for four years and is about to go into preproduction. If you had dropped this video years ago, it sure would have saved us some time and made us sound less like lunatics (LOL). I always enjoy your essays, but this one I am actually grateful for, for reasons beyond myself. Best regards.

[@f18a]

I'm a huge fan of the Bourne movies and (early) books. This is a stunning idea. The only downside is that I love those "CIA command center" scenes too! They were a load of fun, and fairly innovative for their time. But your version may have allowed the film to achieve even more popular success. Director's Cut? Boyle Cut? lol

[@joediamond7988]

the irony of this video is that it's all exposition in the way that it's voiced over

[@twiddlinbits]

The problem with invisible antagonists is that they present as a vague omniscient menace, and don't feel realistic, even if they are. Their existence needs to leak a bit to make them feel solid. For example, if I were making this version from scratch, I'd maybe add a line to the Clive Owen cameo. "How did you know we were here?" "I don't know. They probably tracked your financial histories. One of you was here before. Agencies can do that, you know?"

[@rantingrodent416]

There have been so many films that incorporate a nearly omniscient surveillance state in a modern setting that it seems like a pretty obvious assumption without any direct nods towards it. Regardless of whether you think it's realistic in actual reality, it's definitely realistic in a modern film setting.

[@twiddlinbits]

But that's not what The Bourne Identity was going for. It had workaday agents, using accessible investigative methods to put the pressure on. The high level conflict of the movie was their dueling competencies. The question is how do you skip showing their side without morphing them into a vague omniscient surveillance state?

[@kimiko2547]

@@twiddlinbits I feel the benefit of only seeing Bournes POV is that you don't know which omniscient shadowy organisation it is that is targeting him, so the big reveal is that who it is is unexpected. At least it could have been.

[@cjstone8876]

Perhaps you've seen THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR? The no-expo version of TBI you describe is, essentially TDOTC. Redford is isolated, picks a woman at random to throw the killers off, has the initial contact with an assassin, limited "what's happening with his handlers" scenes, von Sydow hunting him, etc. If you haven't seen TDOTC (which would be hard to believe), see it.

[@bananasandbass]

This makes way more sense. Since the whole point of the first movie is, he doesn't know who he is... why would they show all of that already from the agency's perspective. "*meanwhile back at the farm where they know everything about him*" Revealing the information slowly would greatly serve this film, but my guess is that they expected the audience to be not as patient to learn all this. Having great reveals needs a proper build up.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Genius. As you say, it's already a really good movie - but this would have elevated it to great.

[@roystoncharmaine]

If you could also tone down the shaky-cam during the fight scenes, this would be a perfect action thriller.

[@CinemaStix]

It is too bad about that. Because the fight choreography in this movie is legit.

[@fearingalma1550]

@@CinemaStix I honestly think the shakycam is an inescapable part of what make The Bourne Identity work. The camera is figuring things out just as Bourne is. Where it pays attention during the action scenes, and, in particular, the sequence in the apartment before the assassin comes through the window is a perfect example of this. We are absorbing information as Bourne is, his body is moving without thinking, and the camera follows this quick point of view to sieze on what movements his *body* is making, while we the audience, and Bourne the character, are struggling to keep up with what's happening. This feels like a deliberate stylistic choice on Doug Liman's part, as he is an arthouse indie director and is used to communicating to the audience in unconventional ways. By contrast, the sequels under Paul Greengrass' control proceeded to amp up the shaky camera and completely miss the intended narrative point of the perspective. They're still excellent films, but the fight with Desh in Ultimatum is an excellent fight that can still give people motion sickness very easily from the violent shaking present. It's quite unfortunate that we didn't get to keep Liman on board as director. I feel like Supremacy and Ultimatum would have turned out very differently if the studio hadn't been dead set on interfering constantly and making the entire production a slog that killed the director's passion for the material systemically.

[@MobiusCoin]

This isn't the Greengrass ones, you're remembering Supremacy and Ultimatum. It's pretty subdued in this movie.

[@merlinthetuna]

@@MobiusCoin I was gonna say, just watching the kitchen fight again, the shaky cam is fairly restrained and appropriate for the feel in Identity. Identity is a little too cut-happy, but that's an editing issue more than a shooting one. It's noticeable even in the No Papers scene, where the camera isn't shaky at all, but we don't really get a look at the blows impacting. Some of that is probably due to the framerate shenanigans they used to sell his preternatural fighting, but still: kind of a bummer, especially since the film does show some of the more martial arts-style shooting that the Matrix helped bring into mainstream American cinema.

[@doktormabuse4794]

There is no shaky cam in this movie.

[@DR-oy4hv]

You keep knocking these out of the park. Now I need to make or find an edit of THIS movie. Well done, sir. Thank you.

[@Wispmage]

I just watched this on a whim last night, so your timing is pretty uncanny. And I definitely agree that it would be more tense and impactful with the changes you outlined. Keep up the great work!

[@UnderTheRugAgain]

This is a great idea for anyone who hasn't seen the film yet! Bourne's experience alone is so much more random and chaotic when you don't have the CIA exposition. Removing that perspective all together would undermine the full weight of the story, But I 100% agree this is a take that should be made.

[@jmcyclist2859]

Quite possibly one of the most significant critiques/video essays ever on KZbin. Fantastic take, incredibly well analyzed and presented. A masterwork of movie commentary. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@Knickerson]

That’s a great vid essay, Danny. We’d miss out on performances by Chris Cooper, Brian Cox and Julia Stiles, but man, the focus on Franka Potente’s character is terrific.

[@SirDavidAsher]

The greatest treat is when I don’t click on your video and it auto plays in my queue. I say to myself, “oh, what is this, ah, yes. I will watch this with great enthusiasm”. I love your breakdowns and commentary.

[@joshuasiden9957]

Whoa. I just watched Bourne Identity two nights ago, after maybe 5-6years, and the whole time I was thinking this same thing!!! It starts so hard and intriguing, but all the mystery is subsided as soon as you meet Conklin. It’s so wild to me that you only just posted this after I just had this same revelation. 🤯

[@jacobb-c7946]

i love the bourne films despite there short comings, this idea is something I'm very interested In trying. brilliant video as always!

[@mikegiesbrecht309]

Excellent work. I was in suspense the whole time, wondering how you would wrap it up. In the end, you really picked the perfect time for everything to converge.

[@wwend]

I am now desperate to see your version! Thanks for the thoughtful and thought provoking analysis of one of my favorite films.

[@asperafilms]

Don't tempt me, I might actually go ahead and do this cut...

[@newkkl]

Please, and send us all a coded messsge of where to get it 😂

[@voizeguy]

Yes. I can feel your temptation. Do it.

[@asperafilms]

@@newkkl I actually did. Not sure yet where to upload, probably mega or something.

[@pyrrhrick3339]

@@asperafilms Well if you find somewhere please let us know dude! Id love to see it!

[@asperafilms]

Message me ;)

[@rithwick]

This is a wonderful video essay. Well written, narrated and a great insight that really works. I guess Bourne without exposition would be a great Blu Ray addition. Thanks for the effort.

[@jamesgillum9604]

this is such a compelling version, I've never actively seen the movie just clips, but honestly this is what I expected the movie to be like - it's hard to think there are any separate perspecitves in between

[@ThePauseMenuVlog]

This is an amazing take on the movie and completely changes it for me narratively. Thank you so much for this edit and the effort you used to make it. Cheers

[@OutOfMySystem]

Interesting idea and loved the video. My favourite scene in the whole movie is Conklin batting the gun away when Bourne asks him if he's Treadstone. Everything coming out of Conklin's mouth afterwards is going to be the truth.

[@eddric]

one of my favorite videos so far. really good perspective and way to explain the arch of the story of what could have been

[@Ephergie]

Absolutely brilliant... from now on I will chapter skip with impunity when re-watching this great collaboration between Doug Liman, Matt Damon, et al. Another fine CinemaStix production.

[@LukiAnderson]

Haven't see Jason Bourne, but the way you just described your cut had me on the edge of my seat. Great video!

[@thelorryist551]

That's a superb take, one of the best YT videos I've seen in a while. I would've liked to watch that movie.

[@Doomgutt]

That’s actually so good, I’ve never seen the movie but I loved this version and am already disappointed by the exposition in the original. Thank you! 🔥

[@w.l.5468]

Worth the wait, after all the hassles with YT copyright-slapping you, Danny! Solid essay. I definitely like your version better and esp. with Brian Cox et al scenes out. Chris Cooper can stay; he's golden. And oddly enough, more of Matt Damon like this, makes him actually more like-able. Superb video!

[@ngonzale3]

This is fantastic. This also reminds me why I enjoyed David Mamet’s Spartan. As little exposition as possible. It unfolds before Val Kilmer’s perspective and so it unfolds before the viewer. Its one of Kilmer’s best films and an underrated gem.

[@jameskrause4606]

That was profound. What an eye-opening look into this kind of editing. Thank you!

[@ronanthebadbrain]

I'm absolutely convinced. Great work piecing this all together.

[@Seemlypseudonym]

I’m sure the setting is what evokes this for me more than your treatment of the source material, but it does give it a very lean French thriller-type feeling - they missed a trick here, even if it would have denied us Chris Cooper and Brian Cox acting together

[@ankulaypoulay60]

Holy $h*t man, your work is always amazing but this time it's an absolute score. You are completely right and lay your explanation so well. I believe that this version of the movie would absolutely be better. Great job, please, keep going!

[@njruss]

I love this concept. In the era of Netflix, what would be a great premise is to release two movies at the same time. I.e. The Fugitive - Movie 1, Harrison Ford’s perspective. He is on the run trying to find the one armed man. Movie 2, Tommy Lee Jones perspective. There would be 4-5 scenes maybe that cross over, perhaps different camera angles, but the same scene. Each could have “how the f*ck” moments, like when at the courthouse etc, with a crescendo in each movie to provide that final hook/twist. I guess to an extent this is what Tarantino did in Pulp Fiction, except they were 7 different TV shows, when pulled together, overlayed and becomes a movie.

[@EGRJ]

They did something like this with the series Kaleidoscope. The episodes were listed in a random order, except for the climax, which was always listed as the last episode.

[@GnJs6PackTraining]

Love this movie! Your idea makes it next level!

[@eugenemihailukov8611]

man this is legit the one of the best cinema-based videos i've seen on youtube. this would have been an oscar worthy movie imo. I wonder what would writer/director think about this cut

[@Cinnder]

Awesome treatment! Of course the studio would have given it all away in the trailer, as usual. If we're going to re-cut this film, can we add a line in the diner where Marie responds to 'Guy is 215 pounds' with 'What's that in kg?' 🙂

[@marshallmykietyshyn4973]

To be fair, she's Canadian and we use lb as well

[@stevecarter8810]

​@@marshallmykietyshyn4973who's Canadian? German actress Franka potente or her character Marie Helena Kreutz?

[@Cinnder]

@@stevecarter8810 Yeah I thought both actor and character were German. Which makes me surprised Bourne, with his ability to adapt quickly to cultures, didn't say kg in the first place.

[@marshallmykietyshyn4973]

@@stevecarter8810 The character, Marie. She’s French Canadian. At least in the books. Can’t remember about the movie.

[@Caligari87]

Nah, the actual weight doesn't matter, it's that he knows it. She doesn't need to hear it in kg to understand that.

[@DrMorganstien]

Wow this is amazing, so sorry about the monetary situation, very nice of you to still show us!

[@marshallmykietyshyn4973]

This is something the book does really well. If I remember correctly, you aren't introduced to any of the CIA perspectives until Bourne figures out for himself that he's an operative. You go through the ride with him. Robert Ludlum did a terrific job of sharing with you the agony of a good man who follows a trail that seems to indicate he's an international assassin. You live and die with Bourne in the book. It's extremely well done imo, although I haven't read them in over a decade now. Unfortunately, the movies barely capture any of that struggle. They're not even the same story. The main antagonist from the three books isn't even in the movies. I know they need to adapt books for film, but these changes are so drastic, I wish they would have just called the movies something else. They were my favourite books as a teenager and I was so disappointed when I watched the films. They're good for what they are, but imo they aren't the Bourne series.

[@xenidus]

One of the biggest disappointments in the movie adaptation was always the way the love interest got involved. Let's just say in the book... she isn't a willing participant, and her character in the movie is crazy dumbed down. In the book she brings a bunch of actually necessary skills that end up helping them both survive and reveal the mystery.

[@marshallmykietyshyn4973]

@@xenidus Yes I love that part of it! She’s not just along for the ride. She’s actually important and helps him as much if not more than he helps her. And ya they way they meet is muuuuch more intense and creates a way more interesting dynamic than „hey be my Uber“.

[@dayontwari7982]

Yeah, this is basically the book Bourne. Film Bourne is really a reimagining of the book. And to be honest, it's better that way. You can't cram the first book into a single film and stay true to the story. If they wanted to adapt book Bourne, then the better format would have been a series, not a film, even if it was a trilogy.

[@marshallmykietyshyn4973]

@ I personally don’t agree with that but to each their own

[@tccandler]

A world class action film... made even better. Well done.

[@AlSynk]

I think it's time for a rewatch. Thanks for bringing this legend to our attention again

[@dragonmudd]

What a cool take. While walking through this hypothetical version I found myself, oddly, reminded of Total Recall (1990)

[@mcrazza]

You've absolutely sold me on this version. This should be officially released as a special on a collector's edition BD for the 25th anniversary in 2027.

[@err_go]

So I just watched your suggested cut of The Bourne Identity (never seen the original) by skipping. I loved it. Thanks!

[@EligatorEric]

That was great. I've always loved your perspectives and have watched your videos for years. Loved this one.

[@palmelasan8561]

this was an amazing video, i couldn't agree more, such a good analysis, thank you mate, this is actual art

[@WCGOLD27NZ]

Love this version, much more suspenseful and in line with how Tony Gilroy writes and directs his characters. He got his chance with Andor. Just a pity hardly anyone saw it, despite it being my favourite Star Wars story outside the OG episodes and Tartakovsky’s Clone Wars.

[@mariacargille1396]

Absolutely a new top five video from you, Danny. Just wow! I'm fascinated by ths possibilities of this alternate cut, and this from someone who had no investment in any Bourne film before this what-if. Wild.

[@adrianlopez3373]

I rewatched this movie with my gf who had never seen it and we both came to the exact same conclusion that this video presented. Thank you for the succinct breakdown! I hope someone makes a fan edit.

[@alexroselle]

this different version was also suggested by the "Kill James Bond!" podcast a year or two back in their episode on "Bourne Identity", but I really like that you came up with this and laid it all out, scene-by-scene. P.S. For anyone who may not know, Tony Gilroy is also the showrunner for "Andor" and you can really appreciate his skill in both cases.

[@honestgoat]

Bro, now I'm actually disappointed that this isn't what we got. You're right, it would have been a perfect way to watch the movie. In fact, we wouldn't have just been watching a movie, we would have been going on a journey with Bourne to discover who he is. We would have been right there beside him, learning as he does. Great video dude. As always.

[@SadThrash]

This was so heckin' cool! If a fanedit for this arrangement isn't already around, I may just have to make one.

[@RonaldFulcrum]

This is a really good video. I hadn't thought about the film this way before, but now I would absolutely love to see a cut like this.

[@JosephGallagher]

I'll download it and trim it, this needs to exists

[@Mark-db1ok]

What a great idea! And they should definitely include this as an option on some special edition. Great video sir!

[@Bociety]

Gray video, great essay. I only do I want to see this version, but I wish I could watch this version without having seen the original version just to experience it. Bourne Identity is one of my favorite movies and it is because of that element A protagonist who doesn’t know who he is and his figure figuring it out. Thank you for this video.

[@derekhammeke2531]

Love it! Devils advocate to this is the lore and mystique of “Bourne.” One thing I love, and more so in the sequels, is hearing everyone fear and search for him. So when we do cut to him and getting ready to fight it’s that much more intense because treadstone office guys have been talking him up to the audience the entire time. Almost like the stalker in the woods who everyone is frightened about but we don’t see him. In Bourne series we get both sides.

[@philwaters9751]

Nice one, and very well put. I've noticed some aspects of the Gilroy style before, and though I don't think it's either, novel or unique, he/they do it really really well. I tend to think of such plot structures as railway lines heading in the same direction that cross on occassion and sometimes run together for a while before again separating on the way to the terminus. However the Gilroys have a knack for the lines being coherent if traveled appart so to speak, as you've illustrated here. But they also seem to have a great touch at having key scenes do both in terms of the emotional journey of the two lovers, and the wider exposition. One of my fave's is from the Bourne Legacy, where they argue in the car after the house rescue. It could easily be just a couple who fancy each other having a tiff on a road trip after missing a turnoff after a map/direction missread or something. Yet within the logic of the movie, it conveys all the info both they and we require to move the story to the next station( and a lot more too)... xxx :-)

[@RTKdarling]

You know you've done a great job with a video essay when it makes me want to rewatch a movie I've seen a dozen times. Great Analysis

[@haberschnack]

I really like the movie and listening to your direction idea makes me want to watch it now in your version. What a thrill it could be! Thank you!

[@blinkingmanchannel]

Good analysis. I was just explaining to my daughter about character development is the MOST important element of story telling - starting and ending with Shakespeare - but that’s my “Academic Dad” side. I thought these movies were great and now imma rewatch them! The kids are old enough! ❤👍🍿

[@mjwaters1985]

I’m in for this. It’s like the original cut is an over-expositional trailer in comparison.

[@henryisnotafraid]

Up until this movie, I had only ever seen the actor playing Marie in a movie called Run, Lola Run. Highly recommend.

[@GarfieldRex]

This way, the movie doesn't even change, it is an extremely well done movie.

[@benjaminforman8901]

God, I love this! The only problem I see is the length of the film. How long would this version be?