Review of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014) by Liam C — 10 Jun 2014

This is a movie that you go to the theatre to see. You know everything that's going to happen and how he'll get there along the way but it doesn't take away from the experience at all. It has it all, the opening scenes, the first kill, the potential affair scene, the final chase scene but it's all totally fine and utterly watchable.

I haven't seen any of the other Jack Ryan movies as I'm sure most people who saw this haven't but I wonder if I missed anything because of it, I like to watch all of the originals now before I see a new remake/ new incarnation but to be honest, by the looks of it, I doubt there's any secrets in here for people who have seen the others; it's a reboot in the fullest sense of the word.

The acting definitely helps elevate the film above it's admittedly safe story. Chris Pine was great as Jack Ryan, giving the naïveté to the character because of course! Of course he won't get everything right his first time, he's a desk man going out into the line of fire and he handles some of his first experiences the character goes through, amazingly well.

Knightley was great as the love interest and actually felt like a real character as opposed to being there just because 'it's what these films have', Costner was great as the older agent, he knows a thing or two and he's the hardened guy so nothing really affects him- not sure who else a COULD play that character to be honest.

Real standout here is Kenneth Branagh, he not only directed, but he played as the villain, he did a really good job here, was very convincing and sometimes the movie was just keep a shot on his face and it looked like he was about to strangle someone, the movie kept him in shadow for awhile too.

Kenneth is a very weird person, he makes masterpieces like Henry V, then does Thor and then this, it seems very strange but not at all bad, hell, you can't get much worse than that Frankenstein movie.

... Yeesh. All around though, it's pretty enjoyable, light entertainment yeah it's old school, in the very definition of the word, but it's good old school, it's the reason why you watch it.