JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT
By: John ’Doc’ Strange
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Keira Knightley, Kenneth Branagh
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for sequences of violence and intense action, and brief strong language)
Selig Rating: FULL PRICE
Runtime: 105 Min.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is the fifth installment in the Jack Ryan saga based on the Tom Clancy novels. Chris Pine takes up the Jack Ryan mantle. Attending the London School of Economics, Ryan watches the attack on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, on TV’s at school.
Following the attack, Jack drops out of school just short of earning his doctorate to join the Marines. Instead of taking the desk job that his brilliance could have earned him, he opts for a combat posting. While serving in the Middle East, the helicopter transporting Lt. Ryan and two of his men is downed by a rocket.
Despite serious spinal injuries, Jack saves both of his men from the burning chopper. What follows is several months of rehab where Jack meets the love of his life, Cathy Muller (Keira Knightley), a medical student involved in his case.
Jack is approached and recruited by Cmdr. Thomas Harper (Kevin Costner) of the CIA. His task is to infiltrate the banking industry to watch for money being moved by terrorist organizations. He spends the next ten years at this task while living with beautiful Dr. Muller.
Jack stumbles across a series of hidden accounts belonging to a Russian firm that contain huge amounts of American dollars. When he takes the data to his superiors they send him to Russia to investigate. Sending him, I might add, over his strenuous objections. He tells them more than once that he is an analyst not a field agent. Too bad, no one else has the right cover and the knowledge to know what the data would mean.
Enter the Russian bad guy, Viktor Cherevin (Kenneth Branagh). Kenneth takes every role granted him and makes it his own. Victor is no exception. He oozes his hatred of America as he follows orders from the Russian rulers to hurt our country in retaliation for a vote taken in the UN.
As with all of the Jack Ryan films, this is an ACTION film. The action is intense and the story is surprisingly tight, which shouldn’t be surprise when you see that the director is Kenneth Branagh. His recent film, Thor, was an action rollercoaster as well.
This is a film I can recommend. Chris Pine brings a passion to this role equal to the role of Captain James T. Kirk (Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness).
Jack Ryan was previously portrayed by Alec Baldwin (The Hunt for Red October (1990)), Harrison Ford (Patriot Games (1992) and Clear and Present Danger (1994)), and Ben Affleck (The Sum of All Fears (2002)).
Movie Site: http://www.shadowrecruitmovie.com/
The Selig Rating Scale:
FULL PRICE – Excellent movie, well worth the price
MATINEE – Good movie
DOLLAR – OK movie
CABLE – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
FREEBIE – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn't paid for it.
COMMERCIAL TV – Commercials and cutting to the allotted time will not hurt this one.
FORGET IT! – Bad. If you see this one, do yourself a favor and keep it to yourself.
GET YOUR TORCHES – BAD! – Burn the script, the writer, the director and maybe even the actors!
