Is Matt Damon's "Bourne Identity" and other similar action movies the reason why 007's Jame's Bond isn't as fun anymore?

Action heroes such as James Bond aren’t supposed to be taken too seriously says Pierce Brosnan, who memorably played Bond for three installments of the mega film franchise before Daniel Craig took the reins in 2005.

The reality, Pierce says in a new interview with The Rake magazine, is that Bond plays in an unreal world, and the films should reflect that.

“When I played [Bond], you have to let the audience in that this is a fantastic joke. What I am doing here, jumping off a motorcycle and catching up a plane, is completely preposterous,” he said.

“I knew there had been a seismic shift, and little did I know I was going to be part of that in the curtain falling on my contract,” he added, citing films like Matt Damon’s "The Bourne Identity" as a reason why Bond perhaps had to change, but not in such a serious direction.

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“I knew they had to make adjustments. They had strong competition and they haven’t reinvented it, but given it a much more muscular, dynamic twist,” Pierce said.

Craig is down to play Bond once more in the November 2019 release of the 25th installment of 007, which doesn’t have a name as of yet.

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Who should take over as the next Bond? There’s lots of chatter lately that Idris Elba would be a fantastic first black Bond. Brosnan favors British actor Tom Hardy, who’s starred in a bunch of films including the upcoming "Venom" in October.

"I think Tom Hardy could be a good Bond. I'd be happy to see him do it. You need an actor who can put a bit of wiggle into it -- that's what makes Bond,” Pierce said earlier this year.

Times have certainly changed! Check out Pierce Brosnan as James Bond:

What do you make of the new Bond films? Were they better back in Brosnan's day? Let us know what you think in the comments section, below.