I know that I haven't done any movie reviews recently besides last months Matrix article. I just haven't been at the movies very much, and there have been no new releases that have caught my attention. So here is something that is in wide release that I decided was as good as anything else for a review. Enough talk from me, let's get to it, shall we.
Jack Ryan is a character that is the focus of a series of Cold War political-espionage-thriller novels, that began with The Hunt For Red October, written by the late Tom Clancy. I am not terribly familiar with this franchise, at all, but my father is and he has told me that they are intricately written, detailed and engaging books.
Jack Ryan is a character that is the focus of a series of Cold War political-espionage-thriller novels, that began with The Hunt For Red October, written by the late Tom Clancy. I am not terribly familiar with this franchise, at all, but my father is and he has told me that they are intricately written, detailed and engaging books.
Before we get to the movie, I will attempt to explain the character. It is very complicated, short version: In the books, Jack is an economics student that becomes a marine, retires after a helicopter accident, and then becomes a stock broker that marries a medical student. He later gets a position with the CIA during a trip to London and the rest is history.
The character has been portrayed by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, and Ben Affleck in previous attempts to film the books. My father has also told me that the Ford versions are really good. I haven't seen any of those versions and I don't have time to do so. Because of this, I will not be comparing this newest film to any other version of the character, it will stand or fall on it's own merits.
The character has been portrayed by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, and Ben Affleck in previous attempts to film the books. My father has also told me that the Ford versions are really good. I haven't seen any of those versions and I don't have time to do so. Because of this, I will not be comparing this newest film to any other version of the character, it will stand or fall on it's own merits.
Said latest effort, rather than adapt a specific book, positions itself as a prequel to a 21st' century version of the Jack Ryan lore. John Ryan, Jack is an alias in this version I think, it isn't terribly clear, is an economics student that decides to join the Marines after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the rest of the origin story is unchanged from the books except that he now joins the CIA because he notices an agent watching him at the rehab center. A decade after he joins, he uncovers a Russian billionaire's plot to topple the US dollar and issue in a second Great Depression. Really.
This movie, is not very good. Sadly, it is the first time I have to give a negative review of a film on this blog. Now I don't think that anyone sets out to make a bad film, and it isn't abysmal, but this movie is a flat, un-engaging, bore that feels like it was conceived in the same way that The Amazing Spider-Man, which was not amazing, got green-lit in 2012. An attempt at taking a once successful but now relatively obscure franchise and giving it a movie to try and cash in on it's fan-base. It is therefore fitting that just like the Spider-Man reboot, which felt like it was trying to turn the Spider-Man franchise into a Twilight clone, this film feels like a weaker version of the Jason Bourne movies.
The new Jack is played by Chris Pine, who you might remember is playing Kirk in the J.J. Abrams Star Trek** reboot films. He, is not terrible, but his performance is flat* and he stutters quite a bit. Kevin Costner as the CIA agent that recruits Jack, is also unengaging. The rest of the cast, I didn't bother to look up their names it doesn't matter, are completely forgettable. On the way home from the theater, my father said something like this. "Come to think of it, why is Chris Pine even doing this part? Sony clearly wants to start a franchise with this movie, and he already has Star Trek for at least one more installment."
The only three real action moments, I hesitate to call them set-pieces, really make it sink in how badly this movie wants to be The Bourne Identity. The problem is that it is an unleavened version, poorly shot handheld cinematography, middle of the road, terrible editing, and uninspired choreography.
I have one more thing to say before we go. It is a common saying that the worst thing you can do as a storyteller is insult your audience, I disagree. In my opinion, the worst thing you can do is fail to engage your audience. An insult is not a good thing by any means, but you at least care about it.
In conclusion, this film is terrible, if Sony really thinks that Jack Ryan can be a franchise in a post-Bourne, and post-Skyfall world, then they have greatly miscalculated their odds. If this movie bombs, then I am not terribly hurt by that. Unfortunately, the only other material for action flicks right now is either The Legend Of Hercules, which I haven't seen but I have heard is abysmal, and Lone Survivor, which I also haven't seen but audiences seem really divided on. If you really need an action flick this weekend, save the money and just go rent The Bourne Identity.
Have a nice day.
Greg.B
*Two uses of "flat" in the same area of text. Good buttery God I need to get a thesaurus.
**Hey look at that, another once mighty franchise that got a big budget movie rebirth.
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