It is still very early in the year of 2014, yet a number of films have already been released both on DVD and in theaters. So far, I have only viewed four, with three being nothing short of awful. Coincidentally enough, a film that I had doubt for due to a boring trailer managed to be far superior than the rest.
I would groan every time I was sitting in a theater, excited to see what films would be coming out in the new year, only to see Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit time and time again. After viewing the film, I still hate the trailer. It spoiled a few scenes that could have been pleasant surprises. Such as the fight between Chris Pine and Nonso Anozie's characters, which ended up being quite fun regardless.
The character of Jack Ryan has had quite the past in film history. This character created by Tom Clancy, has already been featured in films starring Ben Affleck, Harrison Ford, and Alec Baldwin. Chris Pine is the fourth, and holds his own in the role. It is likely that it will be the start of a new franchise.
Jack Ryan is a very patriotic young man, who witnesses 911 on television during a day of school. Deeply impacted by the terrorist attack, he decides to drop out and join the marines. However, while serving in Afghanistan, a serious accident renders Ryan unable to walk on his own. Temporarily of course.
Before his marine career abruptly ended, Ryan had sent papers revealing complex economic patterns to higher ups. It was ignored at the time, but did catch the attention of a CIA Agent by the name of Thomas Harper (Kevin Costner).
Harper visits Ryan at rehab, and offers him a job. He must go back to college, get his PhD, and than he will be hired to monitor financial transactions on Wall Street for the CIA. Once recovered, Ryan completes his studies, and ten years later, is working his undercover job as a broker.
He notices that the Russians are up to something sinister, and a man named Viktor Cheverin (Kenneth Branagh) is the source. Travelling to Russia with plans of auditing Viktor's special accounts, Ryan unexpectedly becomes a operational field agent when he is thrown right into the action.
To make matters worse, his fiancée Cathy Muller (Keira Knightley), who is under the impression that Ryan is having an affair, shows up in Russia. You better believe that she will be thrust into danger in classic action movie romance fashion.
The cast is quite wonderful. Good acting across the board, with director and cartoonish style evil villain, Kenneth Branagh, being the stand out. He is both cunning and charming to the ladies, yet unforgiving and merciless with the men. Kevin Costner was impressive, and I was sold on him being an actual CIA agent. His look, demeanor, and personality worked to perfection. Pines was believable as well, and had no weakness with being lead man material. It is a challenging task, and while his charisma is not sky high, I was never bored with his presence. Knightley being involved, and a key figure in these CIA missions did not look appealing. I thought the romance would be annoying, and slow everything down judging by the trailer. While it did lead to predictable scenarios, it was not half bad otherwise. They had chemistry, and were not a boring couple.
Overall, it is a well made film, and it does manage to be the top dog released in the first twenty days of 2014. As a spy movie, it is quite decent and I would be willing to watch a sequel. With that said, it is far from perfect.
The reason being is simply that you have seen the majority of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit before. The terrorist plot of wanting to put American in a great depression, and having them dependent on Russia is a great idea. The way the action sequences go, and the eventual climax is what has already been used. More than once. Countless times actually. The final fight, or big scenario to have the movie go out with a bang is so overused in action films that I face-palmed when I seen where it was going. In 2013, I seen both B movies and theater movies end in the exact same way. Even some superhero films have used this exact same ending, just done in a super powered way essentially.
I get that a lot has already been done, and repetitiveness is unpreventable in the modern world of film. It is just that an ending like this is so lazy and uninspired as this point. You know exactly what, how and where it is going to happen, with no potential for surprise.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit will not send you home with claims that it was the best movie you have seen in years. It still remains far more intelligent than your usual popcorn action flick, and is the standout of January 2014. If you are in the mood for a formulaic spy film, and have no expectations of watching something spectacular, this will be worth the price of an admission ticket.
Superpower Film Scale: 3/5
1: Villainous Waste
2: Careless Bystander
3: Hero unaware of powers
4. On the verge of greatness
5. Heroic film
Standout acting heroes: Kenneth Branagh & Kevin Costner
Read more at: http://thycriticman.com/
I would groan every time I was sitting in a theater, excited to see what films would be coming out in the new year, only to see Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit time and time again. After viewing the film, I still hate the trailer. It spoiled a few scenes that could have been pleasant surprises. Such as the fight between Chris Pine and Nonso Anozie's characters, which ended up being quite fun regardless.
The character of Jack Ryan has had quite the past in film history. This character created by Tom Clancy, has already been featured in films starring Ben Affleck, Harrison Ford, and Alec Baldwin. Chris Pine is the fourth, and holds his own in the role. It is likely that it will be the start of a new franchise.
Jack Ryan is a very patriotic young man, who witnesses 911 on television during a day of school. Deeply impacted by the terrorist attack, he decides to drop out and join the marines. However, while serving in Afghanistan, a serious accident renders Ryan unable to walk on his own. Temporarily of course.
Before his marine career abruptly ended, Ryan had sent papers revealing complex economic patterns to higher ups. It was ignored at the time, but did catch the attention of a CIA Agent by the name of Thomas Harper (Kevin Costner).
Harper visits Ryan at rehab, and offers him a job. He must go back to college, get his PhD, and than he will be hired to monitor financial transactions on Wall Street for the CIA. Once recovered, Ryan completes his studies, and ten years later, is working his undercover job as a broker.
He notices that the Russians are up to something sinister, and a man named Viktor Cheverin (Kenneth Branagh) is the source. Travelling to Russia with plans of auditing Viktor's special accounts, Ryan unexpectedly becomes a operational field agent when he is thrown right into the action.
To make matters worse, his fiancée Cathy Muller (Keira Knightley), who is under the impression that Ryan is having an affair, shows up in Russia. You better believe that she will be thrust into danger in classic action movie romance fashion.
The cast is quite wonderful. Good acting across the board, with director and cartoonish style evil villain, Kenneth Branagh, being the stand out. He is both cunning and charming to the ladies, yet unforgiving and merciless with the men. Kevin Costner was impressive, and I was sold on him being an actual CIA agent. His look, demeanor, and personality worked to perfection. Pines was believable as well, and had no weakness with being lead man material. It is a challenging task, and while his charisma is not sky high, I was never bored with his presence. Knightley being involved, and a key figure in these CIA missions did not look appealing. I thought the romance would be annoying, and slow everything down judging by the trailer. While it did lead to predictable scenarios, it was not half bad otherwise. They had chemistry, and were not a boring couple.
Overall, it is a well made film, and it does manage to be the top dog released in the first twenty days of 2014. As a spy movie, it is quite decent and I would be willing to watch a sequel. With that said, it is far from perfect.
The reason being is simply that you have seen the majority of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit before. The terrorist plot of wanting to put American in a great depression, and having them dependent on Russia is a great idea. The way the action sequences go, and the eventual climax is what has already been used. More than once. Countless times actually. The final fight, or big scenario to have the movie go out with a bang is so overused in action films that I face-palmed when I seen where it was going. In 2013, I seen both B movies and theater movies end in the exact same way. Even some superhero films have used this exact same ending, just done in a super powered way essentially.
I get that a lot has already been done, and repetitiveness is unpreventable in the modern world of film. It is just that an ending like this is so lazy and uninspired as this point. You know exactly what, how and where it is going to happen, with no potential for surprise.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit will not send you home with claims that it was the best movie you have seen in years. It still remains far more intelligent than your usual popcorn action flick, and is the standout of January 2014. If you are in the mood for a formulaic spy film, and have no expectations of watching something spectacular, this will be worth the price of an admission ticket.
Superpower Film Scale: 3/5
1: Villainous Waste
2: Careless Bystander
3: Hero unaware of powers
4. On the verge of greatness
5. Heroic film
Standout acting heroes: Kenneth Branagh & Kevin Costner
Read more at: http://thycriticman.com/