With his "American boy-next-door" persona, always in T-shirts and jeans, Matt Damon has easily captivated the hearts of Taiwanese movie fans in just a four-day visit of Taiwan. Thousands joined the Taiwan premiere of his latest film, The Bourne Identity, on Thursday night, and hundreds of them have followed Damon for the past four days -- from Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to the National Palace Museum -- and then waited for him at the Far Eastern Plaza Hotel.
Taiwanese media hasn't missed the chance to embrace this Hollywood golden boy and make him feel at home. The first step was to teach him to say a few Mandarin phrases to greet his fans. Then TV reporters presented him with a cup of pearl milk tea, asking him to drink it right in the middle of the interview. There were also female reporters asking Damon to give them a hug on behalf of their audience.
This kind of media zeal is no less than what it was when Tom Cruise came to visit Taipei. No wonder Damon teasingly told his audience "Da jia hao, I'm Tom Cruise!" on the night of the Taiwan premiere.
PHOTO: NIAN KENG-HAO, TAIPEI TIMES
In response to the warm welcome, Damon expressed his appreciation several times at the premiere and press conference. "I will definitely come back," he said, adding that he'd tell his buddy Ben Affleck that he's "got to come to Taiwan!" Indeed, in his short visit, the 32 year-old actor and screenwriter has shown a kind of natural stardom with his constant smile, openness and cordiality under the unblinking gaze of the media.
Talking about his first action film, The Bourne Identity, Damon said the script was the main aspect that drew him to the role of a CIA special agent. "The script is always important to me," he said. Damon said he's always been an action film fan and had felt that many action films look all too similar in style and plot.
"I love the stories of novelist Robert Ludlum and Doug Liman is an independent filmmaker that I like a lot. The combination of the two makes a very different action film."
In order to portray Jason Bourne, the CIA agent in this spy thriller, Damon said he took three months to train in martial arts, boxing and weapons use. As a agent who loses his memory, Bourne discovers he posses superior fighting skills, sharp and precise observation and a cold heart for killing, but somehow cannot remember his name or what he has done. While searching for his identity wandering around the European cities of Zurich and Paris, he finds that there are always people trying to kill him wherever he goes.
This cool and tightly-paced film also has the impressive acting of Franka Potente, who played the wild girl in the stylish German film Run Lola Run. Together with Damon, they begin a breathtaking flee from the police and the CIA, which includes a long, fascinating car-chase.
The Bourne Identity has so far grossed more the US$100 million. For his part, Damon has also lifted his salary up to the US$10 million mark.
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