7. Jason Bourne
As Seen In... The
Bourne Movies (2002-2007) Maybe it's somewhat unfair to put Jason Bourne on this list, given that he's lost his memory for much of the series, is considered something of a "government tool," and is kind of emotionally repressed, 'cause that's what happens when you agree to take part in a shady program that turns you into a terrifying shaky-cam fight monster with unbeatable hand-to-hand combat skills. But here's a character who "leads" a massive motion picture franchise, though I'm pretty sure any actor aside from Matt Damon could've stepped into this role and the movies would have been pretty much the same. That's to say, Bourne is just an empty shell - a superman who defeats everyone he comes up against like some kind of robot, and moves on to the next scene whilst that
dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun music plays over the top. I know Jason Bourne is an "enigma," but he's also the lead character in three movies. Do we feel like we know this guy? Do we ever really learn about his character in ways that feel rewarding? Is our journey with Jason worth all the effort? For the spectacle, sure - these movies are action cinema defined - but for the character? I don't think so. He's kind of non-describable, in the sense that I'm struggling to come up with ways to describe him. The major problem is that the plot renders him without a personality, and I like characters with personality. Sue me (please don't).