Jack Ryan : Shadow Recruit
Posted by Itheliving 11 years, 9 months ago to Movies
On old time radio they used to ask "who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?" The Shadow knows. Now The Shadow has a new helper on the scene to fight evil in the hearts of men. He will always be known, but not on old time radio, as Jack Ryan : Shadow Recruit. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1205537/?ref...
Jack Ryan : Shadow Recruit / Rated PG-13 for violence, sex, bad language in two languages, smoking, drug use and money laundering in two currencies.
The late Tom Clancy created the fictional character Jack Ryan. His first appearance was in the novel Hunt for the Red October in 1984. This novel was made into a movie in 1990. Alec Baldwin played the title character but was over shadowed by his co star Sean Connery as the Russian submarine commander. Two more Jack Ryan movies followed with Harrison Ford taking over the role. Ben Affleck made the last JR film, till now, in 2002. The character has also appeared in other novels and his ultimate rise in the executive ladder was epically dramatic.
Now the character is receiving a reboot. The new film is not based on a Clancy novel but on a screenplay that was rebooted itself into a Jack Ryan start up story. Chris Pine (AKA Capt. Kirk of the Enterprise) is Jack. Also in the story are Keira Knightley as the love interest. Kevin Costner plays the Naval Officer/CIA boss who recruits JR into the spy ranks. Kenneth Branagh plays the Russian bad guy and also directs the film. Did they have to pay extra for multi tasking?
The story concerns JR’s emotional change following the 9/11attack, his military enlistment and service to his injury in Afghanistan then his discovery by Costner. JR is also a PHD in Economics and an overall smart guy. It’s not long before he spots a big scheme by the Russians to completely destroy the US economy and stage a spectacular terror attack. It’s all up to Jack Ryan to outsmart them and save the day. Branagh, who usually directs Shakespeare movies has moved on to films like Thor, Iron Man 2 and thrillers to make up for the financial shortcomings of the last couple of films by the Bard. His work here is adequate but not remarkable.
As a suspense thriller this is as good as it’s predecessors except for The Hunt for the Red October. They still are trying to work their way out of the Sean Connery shadow. Branagh’s next directing project is a big budget version of Cinderella with Cate Blanchett as The Lady Tremaine, Helena Bonham Carter as the Evil Stepmother and Lily James of Downton Abbey as the glass slipper less runner.
Branagh is very good in JRSR as the Russian nasty business man and plotter although his motives are never quite clear to the audience. Chris P. is peppy, smiling and smart when he needs to be. Kevin Costner is now into senior roles and he does fine here. Oddly KC was the 1st actor chosen to play Jack Ryan in The Hunt for the Red October. He turned it down and the part went to Baldwin. Instead Costner choose to make Dances with Wolves. Sean Connery was not allowed to be in the film.
Rated 2.9 out of 4.0 reasons to ask that why are the Russians still the bad guys? Did they forget about the North Koreans?
Jack Ryan : Shadow Recruit / Rated PG-13 for violence, sex, bad language in two languages, smoking, drug use and money laundering in two currencies.
The late Tom Clancy created the fictional character Jack Ryan. His first appearance was in the novel Hunt for the Red October in 1984. This novel was made into a movie in 1990. Alec Baldwin played the title character but was over shadowed by his co star Sean Connery as the Russian submarine commander. Two more Jack Ryan movies followed with Harrison Ford taking over the role. Ben Affleck made the last JR film, till now, in 2002. The character has also appeared in other novels and his ultimate rise in the executive ladder was epically dramatic.
Now the character is receiving a reboot. The new film is not based on a Clancy novel but on a screenplay that was rebooted itself into a Jack Ryan start up story. Chris Pine (AKA Capt. Kirk of the Enterprise) is Jack. Also in the story are Keira Knightley as the love interest. Kevin Costner plays the Naval Officer/CIA boss who recruits JR into the spy ranks. Kenneth Branagh plays the Russian bad guy and also directs the film. Did they have to pay extra for multi tasking?
The story concerns JR’s emotional change following the 9/11attack, his military enlistment and service to his injury in Afghanistan then his discovery by Costner. JR is also a PHD in Economics and an overall smart guy. It’s not long before he spots a big scheme by the Russians to completely destroy the US economy and stage a spectacular terror attack. It’s all up to Jack Ryan to outsmart them and save the day. Branagh, who usually directs Shakespeare movies has moved on to films like Thor, Iron Man 2 and thrillers to make up for the financial shortcomings of the last couple of films by the Bard. His work here is adequate but not remarkable.
As a suspense thriller this is as good as it’s predecessors except for The Hunt for the Red October. They still are trying to work their way out of the Sean Connery shadow. Branagh’s next directing project is a big budget version of Cinderella with Cate Blanchett as The Lady Tremaine, Helena Bonham Carter as the Evil Stepmother and Lily James of Downton Abbey as the glass slipper less runner.
Branagh is very good in JRSR as the Russian nasty business man and plotter although his motives are never quite clear to the audience. Chris P. is peppy, smiling and smart when he needs to be. Kevin Costner is now into senior roles and he does fine here. Oddly KC was the 1st actor chosen to play Jack Ryan in The Hunt for the Red October. He turned it down and the part went to Baldwin. Instead Costner choose to make Dances with Wolves. Sean Connery was not allowed to be in the film.
Rated 2.9 out of 4.0 reasons to ask that why are the Russians still the bad guys? Did they forget about the North Koreans?
'nuff said.
Nobody in Washington would listen to him.
In Tokyo... they did.
With a former senior KGB guy in charge who has delusions of restoring the extent of former Soviet power, the Russians are a natural opponent. The difference is that under current incompetent American leadership, the cold war could have a different ending this time around.
Wow, what a different and original theme for a villain.