Latest news with #JasonBourne
Scotsman
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Hollwood star Matt Damon visits Edinburgh and Midlothian during break from filming The Odyssey
Hollywood star Matt Damon was spotted in Edinburgh and Midlothian over the weekend as the A-lister took a break from filming his latest film, The Odyssey. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Oscar-winning actor took a ride on the highly popular Alpine Coaster ride in Hillend, Midlothian and also popped in to an Edinburgh restaurant for a bite to eat. The Odyssey is an upcoming film written and directed by Christopher Nolan and set to be released next summer. Matt Damon portrays Odysseus, the Greek King of Ithaca, with the all start cast also including Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Tom Holland and Zendaya. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On Saturday, July 12, the 54-year-old took his family to the Midlothian Snowsports Centre to enjoy some 'high-speed thrills' on the Alpine Coaster ride. Hollywood star Matt Damon visited Edinburgh and Midlothian over the weekend, with the Jason Bourne star trying out the Alpine Coaster Ride in Hillend | Midlothian Council Writing on social media, Midlothian Council said: 'When you've starred in Jason Bourne and Ocean's 11, high-speed thrills are just part of the job. But even Oscar-winner Matt Damon couldn't resist the rush of our Alpine Coaster at Midlothian Snowsports Centre! 'Matt and his family took on our top attraction today — and let's just say, they enjoyed action-movie-worthy fun from start to finish! We loved having them, and if you haven't tried it yet… what are you waiting for? Book your ride now and get ready to feel like a star.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On the same day, the Good Will Hunting star also visited Locanda De Gusti, a Neapolitan restaurant on Dalry Road. Restaurant owners said: 'Casual Saturday in the office… just us, the team, and Matt Damon popping in for lunch with his family. No big deal. 'They were absolutely lovely, charming, and yes - somehow even more down to earth than you'd expect from someone who's been to Mars and saved Private Ryan. Safe to say the team's productivity went out the window for a minute, but hey - wouldn't you be distracted if Jason Bourne was asking for an Aperol Spritz! Good food, good vibes, and just your average day serving Hollywood superstar.' Reacting to the news, one said: 'Wow! No wonder he visited Locanda where the best chef in Scotland cooks!' Another added: 'This is fabulous. He has great taste by far the best restaurant in Edinburgh.'
Edinburgh Live
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Hollywood A-lister spotted in and around Edinburgh as locals praise 'down to earth' actor
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A Hollywood actor has been spotted in and around city over the weekend, as locals praised the 'lovely and charming' A-lister. Matt Damon, known for starring in films such as the Bourne franchise and Saving Private Ryan, stopped in at a Dalry restaurant and made his way to a Midlothian attraction. Those who met him said he was 'even more down to earth than you'd expect'. The actor is understood to be on a break from filming The Odyssey in Moray at the moment, and is enjoying what Scotland has to offer with his family. The long-awaited Christopher Nolan film stars Damon as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca. It also stars big names such as Tom Holland, Zendaya, Charlize Theron and Robert Pattinson. During his break, Matt was seen at Locanda De Gusti in Dalry as he 'popped in for lunch' on Saturday, July 12. He also made his way to the alpine coaster in Midlothian for some 'action movie-worthy fun'. (Image: Locanda De Gusti) Posting to Facebook, Locanda De Gusti said: "Casual Saturday in the office… just us, the team, and Matt Damon popping in for lunch with his family. No big deal. "Spoiler alert: they were absolutely lovely, charming, and yes - somehow even more down to earth than you'd expect from someone who's been to Mars and saved Private Ryan. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox "Safe to say the team's productivity went out the window for a minute, but hey - wouldn't you be distracted if Jason Bourne was asking for an Aperol Spritz! Good food, good vibes, and just your average day serving Hollywood superstar." Posting to Facebook, Midlothian Council said: "Which Hollywood star did we welcome today on our alpine coaster? "When you've starred in Jason Bourne and Ocean's 11, high-speed thrills are just part of the job. But even Oscar-winner Matt Damon couldn't resist the rush of our Alpine Coaster at Midlothian Snowsports Centre! Matt and his family took on our top attraction today — and let's just say, they enjoyed action-movie-worthy fun from start to finish! Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. "We loved having them, and if you haven't tried it yet… what are you waiting for?" Local residents were quick to comment. One said: "How amazing!" Another posted: "OMG, Jason Bourne!" A third said: "Wow, you're doing something right to attract Hollywood stars, keep up the great work!"
The Irish Sun
09-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Tiny ‘Bali of Europe' town right by Africa has beautiful beaches and £20 flights from the UK
A BEACH town in the south of Spain has been compared to Bali thanks to its beautiful beaches and laid-back vibes. Tarifa is the most southerly town in mainland Europe , being less than nine miles from Africa. Advertisement 6 Tarifa is one of the most southerly towns in mainland Europe Credit: Getty 6 It is often compared to Bali (pictured) for its beautiful beaches and laid-back vibes Credit: Alamy 6 The area is popular with kite-surfers and wind-surfers due to the windy nature Credit: Alamy It is often named the kite-surfing capital of Europe thanks to its strong winds making it a popular sport there. Travel influencer California ". However, it is also often called the Bali of Europe thanks to its huge sandy beaches. Another influencer, Advertisement Read more on Spain Playa de Bologna beach is one of the popular beaches where you can also go hiking as well. Otherwise there is also Playa de Los Lances which is where you will spot most of the kitesurfers and windsurfers. Or the Bali-like beach is Playa de Valdevaqueros, which is home to the surfer-style Tumbao Beach Bar. Tourists also head to Waikiki beach bar, with Bali-like thatched umbrellas, or Aloha Bar for €3 cocktails. Advertisement Most read in Beach holidays Exclusive Near this is also the Baelo Claudia, a 2,000 year old Roman town now ruins. If you want to explore the Old Town, it is home to beautiful tapas bars, nightclubs and local shops. Exploring the Beautiful Costa de la Luz This is where the nightlife is as well, with many of the streets filled with both tourists and locals. But while it is very Spanish in its atmosphere, it is also easy to see Advertisement Puera de Jerez is the ancient entrance of the walled town, and where you can also visit the 800-year-old Castle of Tarifa. On a long walkway is also Isla de Tarifa which has some of the best views of the town as well. 6 It is so close to Morocco, there are views of Tangier Credit: Alamy 6 It is around one hour from Gibraltar Credit: Alamy Advertisement While there are a number of hotels and B&Bs to choose from there are also a number of campsites and caravan sites. For example, there is Via Villagio Tarifa, which has glamping pods right on the beach or Dunas Tarifa with palm tree cabanas and safari lodges. Tarifa is also easy to get to, being around an hour from Gibraltar by car. Or, if in Morocco , it is around one hour by ferry from Tangier which you can fly to from the UK for £20 with Ryanair. Advertisement Here is why you should Not only are new luxury hotels popping up, but it has even been used to film Jason Bourne, Mission Impossible and James Bond . What is a holiday in Tarifa like? Here's what one writer thought after visiting. Old town Tarifa after 11pm turns in to what, in Britain, we might class as a street party. There is a courtyard with bars all around it and seating in the middle which is so lively it almost has festival vibes. Poniente's lazy start to the day looks even better when you learn that the clubs don't even open until 2am so you'll be needing that lie-in. So if you go to Tarifa and find kitesurfing really isn't for you then you won't be short of things to do. They say if you can kite in Tarifa, you can kite anywhere. In the mean time, here is another And a Advertisement 6 Playa de Bologna is one of the most popular beaches Credit: Alamy
Time Out
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
A spy-themed immersive experience is coming to Covent Garden this month
Reckon you'd make a good 007? Always thought you'd ace that bit in Mission Impossible where Tom Cruise abseils into the CIA headquarters? Then you'll welcome the opportunity to test out your espionage skills at a new immersive experience arriving in London later this month. Opening on Friday May 30, SPYSCAPE London is described as a 'pioneering interactive museum and social gaming experience' where visitors are able to take part in a range of challenges designed with the help of experts from the fields of intelligence and espionage. The Covent Garden location will be the first overseas outpost for SPYSCAPE, which originally launched in New York in 2018, where it has welcomed over one million visitors to date. Designed specifically for London audiences, the 25,000 square foot venue promises to offer 'a new take on immersive activities, seamlessly blending the history, the art, and science of espionage and psychology in the modern world.' Created with the help of real life spy trainers from British Intelligence, psychology professors from Imperial College London and specialists from the CIA and Special Ops, the venue offers two experiences featuring a range of high-tech challenges designed to test players' mental and physical capabilities. SPYSCAPE is a narrative-led challenge where players get to crack codes, run surveillance and conduct lie detection tests all while learning about real hackers and spies throughout history and exploring rare gadgets. At the end of the 90-minute experience, those taking part will leave with a 40-page profile detailing their strengths across a range of everyday skills including empathy, perception, observation, analysis and risk-taking. Alternatively, visitors can opt for the 50-minute SPYGAMES experience, in which teams of two to five players compete across a series of cutting-edge gaming zones, with the chance to unlock some exclusive rewards along the way. Both experiences are located at 45 Wellington Street on the corner of Covent Garden Piazza, with tickets starting at £23. Feel like giving Jason Bourne a run for his money? Find out more and book your tickets on the SPYSCAPE website here. They've been expecting you.
Epoch Times
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Jason Bourne's Virtues
Action movies should be perfect vehicles to show virtue, at least according to Aristotle. In his 'Poetics,' he indicated that drama is the imitation of the deepest kind of action, action that proceeds from moral character. The first three films of the 'Bourne' franchise are actioners in this sense. Together, they are about one great action, a flawed man becoming a good and a great man. In the first movie, Jason Bourne rejects vice and orients himself toward the good. In the second, he faces and does what he can to remedy the evil he has done. In the third movie, he is particularly marked by magnanimity, putting his skills and sorrows at the service of others. As a whole, these movies offer hope in virtue's ability to help conquer the greatest of odds. Prudence and 'The Bourne Identity' The queen of the cardinal virtues is prudence, because it's the virtue by which human beings can know, in a practical way, how to do good. While it's as common to associate prudence with evil masterminds and cowards as with good and wise people, prudence really has nothing to do with evil. Evil is self-destructive; smart evil people just destroy themselves cleverly. Socrates and Plato say that the only real evil does is to the doer's soul. The Bible states: 'The wicked fall into their own nets.' In 'The Bourne Identity,' a practical man becomes truly prudent by seeking good and avoiding evil. It begins with the title character floating unconscious in the Mediterranean Sea. Upon being rescued, he has no memory of who he is. He's pursued by the police as he attempts to retrieve his identity. He ultimately discovers that he was a black ops agent, who has assassinated dozens of targets while working for a CIA program called Treadstone. Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) has no idea who he is, in "The Bourne Identity." Universal Pictures This discovery creates a crisis: If amnesia doesn't change a person's moral character, Bourne will probably return to his old life. However, his final revelation proves the most critical: He had a change of heart before he lost his memory. A rejection of evil, though not remembered, has set Bourne on a new trajectory. Bourne exemplifies prudence because his actions are ordered toward the good, whether the lower good of self-preservation and self-defense early in the movie, or the higher goods he comes to embrace, such as preserving and defending the lives of the innocent. While bloody, the final confrontation at the movie's end illustrates his pursuit of higher goods, most importantly his intention to relinquish his former life as an assassin. To do this, given his inability to remember his past, he needs more knowledge, and the only way to get it is to meet his evil former employer under very dangerous circumstances. All of his actions require not only the intention to do good, but also the know-how to accomplish it. Classical and Christian authors, from Aristotle to Thomas Aquinas, have written many lists of what these 'sub-virtues' or parts of prudence are. Bourne exemplifies many, such as his quick thinking when he's called upon to defend a family against a sniper with a much better gun, perfect lines of sight, and a stronger position. Related Stories 2/4/2025 10/22/2024 Movie poster for "The Bourne Identity." Universal Pictures 'Circumspection,' the awareness of dangers and how to address them, is the unassuming name of the virtue that inspires the action sequence near the beginning of the movie: Bourne, about to be arrested in a U.S. Embassy, incapacitates his would-be captors, then calmly and deliberately escapes from a group of soldiers. Justice and 'The Bourne Supremacy' 'The Bourne Supremacy' opens with a debate about prudence and resolves itself by means of the next cardinal virtue, justice. Justice is a virtue that is about relationships with other human beings. It can be summed up in Aristotle's 'giving to others their due.' At the beginning of 'The Bourne Supremacy,' Bourne and his girlfriend Marie are attempting to escape from an assassin. They begin to argue while fleeing. Bourne maintains that their future is predetermined: They must continually fly from and fight against the organization that is pursuing them. 'We don't have a choice,' he says. Marie counters: 'Yes, you do.' Immediately after this, Marie is shot. Bourne and the viewers never learn what she was going to suggest. Nevertheless, the rest of the movie is about Bourne making good choices. Since they are choices having to do with others, the film is fundamentally concerned with justice. Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is being tracked by nefarious agencies, in "The Bourne Supremacy." Universal Pictures Moreover, the plot is initialized by the injustices perpetrated by CIA director Ward Abbot, who orders the assassination attempt on Bourne to cover up his own corrupt activities. The two strands of Bourne's pursuit of justice and Abbot's of injustice weave around each other through the whole movie. As Bourne learns more about his past life, he finally remembers his first kill for Treadstone, and the two strands are resolved. On one hand, Bourne's pursuit of justice occurs on multiple levels. On the other, Abbot gets his just desserts. The principles behind Bourne's choices are nothing if not of prudence and justice. One notable example occurs when Bourne has CIA officer Pamela Landy in his crosshairs, ready to retaliate for Marie's murder. However, before he shoots, he realizes that he might be mistaken about whether Landy was involved. He quickly pivots to a different plan that involves gathering more information. Whether it's right or not to take justice into one's own hands, it's surely unjust to take an innocent life while trying to do so. Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) has second thoughts about sniping someone, in "The Bourne Supremacy." Universal Pictures As the movie continues, justice comes more into the foreground. In a beautiful and surprising scene near the end of the movie, classical virtue, embraced by ancient philosophers like Aristotle and Cicero, merge with the Judeo-Christian virtue of repentance. When he's finally able to remember another set of assassinations he performed in his old life, he risks his life to travel to Moscow. He finds the daughter of the victims and apologizes. Bourne has met the challenge of Marie's final words; whatever outside pressures may be, there is always a choice, and Bourne repeatedly choses justice, however difficult. Fortitude and 'The Bourne Ultimatum' The 'Bourne' films confirm one thing: the heroic and admirable nature of fortitude, which is the willingness to encounter danger as long as it is right to do so. 'The Bourne Ultimatum' particularly revels in this virtue. The word 'fortitude' comes from a Latin word meaning both 'bravery' and 'strength.' Picking up in Moscow right where the second film ended, 'Ultimatum' starts with Bourne's next task, which is to recover the memory of how he was recruited and trained for Treadstone. He must also expose the remaining corrupt CIA officials who managed the program. Avoiding capture, fighting off other black ops agents, and saving a girl along the way, Bourne succeeds in both goals. In one of the bloodiest fight scenes in the Bourne trilogy, Jason Bourne fights against evil enemies, in "The Bourne Ultimatum." Universal Pictures The movie features a fight scene in Tangier. It's the longest and one of the most brutal in the series, and therefore, in addition to Bourne's incredible physical abilities, it requires incredible perseverance and patience. The scene helps viewers consider the interconnectedness of the cardinal virtues. Prudence, justice, and fortitude are connected hierarchically. Prudence dictates the aims both of justice and fortitude, and taking risks, the arena of fortitude, is only virtuous if the goals are just. Bourne pursues and fights only for the sake of a prudent and just motive: saving his friend's life. Justice isn't always meted out in an official capacity; there are far more informal opportunities to do right. Shutterstock Finally, the movie ends with Bourne showing magnanimity, the crowning part of fortitude. His aim turns out to be not only learning more about his past, but also performing a great deed for the public good: exposing the illegal and immoral activities of a corrupt government organization. While doing so, he refuses to kill an assassin who had tried to kill him. Similar to the end of the second film, classical and Christian virtues come together in an act of mercy. First, it's something like justice: Bourne, as a former assassin, recognizes that he isn't the one to judge this man. It's also an example of the virtue of forgiveness. Virtue Strengthens, Evil Weakens While Bourne's material disadvantages are overcome and play an important part in the viewers' delight, it's more important to realize how much the movies make of Bourne's one advantage: his virtues. The Bourne movies set up virtue in a high-pressure laboratory experiment: one man against a well-connected, wealthy, all-seeing organization with almost endless advantages. All the advantages, that is, except virtue. While the protagonist possesses an incredible array of skills and abilities as an assassin, it's undeniable that he becomes more powerful as he begins to renounce this life. Once merely an instrument, a mere 'asset' of the CIA sub-organization Treadstone, he triumphs over the CIA and all its resources because he decides to live virtuously. In spite of his former employers' repeated assumptions, his decisions and actions can't be predicted because they are the actions of a free moral agent. Nothing is more predictable than evil. That's the way that Bourne is almost always a step ahead of his enemies. He knows the kind of treachery they will attempt. He's familiar with their reliance on manpower, technology, and procedures over prudence and reason. Bourne, on the contrary, repeatedly risks his life for the right to live according to prudence and reason. In doing, so he fully accords with Aristotle in his great work on the virtues, the 'Nichomachean Ethics.' Aristotle indicates that no happiness is possible without living according to reason, and that living according to reason isn't possible without the virtues. The cover page of Aristotle's "Nichomachean Ethics." PD-US The Bourne movies are excellent vehicles for thinking about and learning about human virtue. Of course, they have been praised for their acting, plots, cinematography, and fight choreography. Their realism has also been highly touted. Perhaps their realism exists because they are informed by a deeper reality: the principles that perfect human beings. What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
