Get Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

CUSTOMER REVIEW



First, let me note that there are some spoilers in this review and let me state that it is a very good movie. However, when you see this movie, you will quickly note that the time here doesn't add up and this is more like a reboot of the series than a prequel and as soon as you see the movie, you will likely agree.



Again, I had the pleasure of being invited to this screening and I wasn't going to pass it up being one of the few movies that interests me at the present time.



ACTING



This is really a strong point for the movie!



Chris Pine (Star Trek Reboot) does a great job in the role of Jack Ryan and I'm glad the forgettable Ben Affleck only got one shot at the role (Only thing ladies, Chris Pine's less than perfect complexion shows up big time under these cameras).



Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Carribean) as Cathy was the most memorable iteration of the character in the series and they made a really good choice here.



Kevin Costner (JFK) plays the part of Thomas, the preceptor to Jack Ryan and in typical fashion, Kevin's cool, calm, and collected character works well as the seasoned vet for the CIA who never seems to panic in any situation.



Kenneth Branagh (Thor) plays the Russian Financier who appears to be the leader of a movement in the Russian underworld struggling to help bring Russia back to the center of the world at the expense of the United States, it becomes clear that he is only a piece of the puzzle as the movie progresses but, he does a convincing job as the main villain in the film.



STORY



Again, stop reading if you don't want details...



The movie is set in a post 9/11 world (This is a big reason why this is absolutely not a prequel) and Jack Ryan is pursuiting his doctored at Oxford University in England (Isn't this where all super spy's go?) and we're shown the events of 9/11 unfolding as the crowds flock to the Television sets on the Campus. After 9/11 Jack Ryan enlists in the Marines where he gets deployed to Afghanistan.



Predictable Events unfold that lead to Jack's Helicopter being shot out of the sky and his role in the war is over. In a military hospital, his spine is stabilized and and he begins therapy where he meets Med Student Cathy (His future wife) and she agrees to have dinner with him, "the day he runs completely out of the hospital".



While in the hospital, Thomas is introduced and we see him watching a very promising analytical mind in the form of Jack Ryan. He later offers Jack a job in the CIA working for Wall street where they will analyze financial data to prevent another 9/11 from ever happening again and Jack accepts.



In the midst of all this, the Russians protest a Turkish Pipeline and force a vote at the UN Summit but, the USA refuses to let Russia have a monopoly on Natural Gas in the far east and votes to approve the pipeline (Conspiracy theorists have long said such pipelines are why we are in the middle east). Russia considers the vote for the pipeline as an act of economic War and sets in motion a plan to destroy the US Economy.



While working for a financial company, Jack notices transactions where details aren't fully available, he's sent to Moscow to audit the firm responsible for these billion dollar trades as he suspects they're propping up the US economy to short another market.



One thing leads to another and Jack is made an active agent while on duty in Russia and that's all I'm going to say about the story as there's still a lot left to see and I don't want to ruin it for you.



CINEMATOGRAPHY



While sharp at times, blurry at others, there were times when the cameras appeared to have a hard time focusing and it was slightly disorienting to me for all of 5 minutes or so but, overall they did a good job with everything else.



The scenery, on the other hand chosen was gorgeous and if this was truly Russia then it shows the more beautiful locations and it was overall very nice to look at.



CONTENT



Rated PG-13



Nudity = None I recall

Gun Fire = a handful of scenes coming later in the movie not a ton.

Car Chases = 1 Pseudo chase

Fights = 3 or 4 tops

Cursing = very little



CONCLUSION



At times, Jack Ryan seems a little too unrealistically smart with a knack for being in the right place at the right time but, the Movie itself was very good. If you're assuming that this movie is a suspenseful thriller with twists you might find in a Bond movie, it isn't! What this is a very good action movie that delivers in a big way and it is a great way for Hollywood to start off the new year!



Highly recommend seeing this movie even if you're not a fan of the Tom Clancy Novels.