Review of The Hunt for Red October (1990) by Stuart K — 05 Aug 2013
Based upon Tom Clancy's 1984 novel of the same name, the first novel to feature Jack Ryan as well, and directed here by John McTiernan, then hot off the success of Predator (1987) and Die Hard (1988).
This is a very taut and tight thriller with a top cast which briefly started off a new action hero franchise, it was short lived, but it'll be revived very soon. In 1984, Soviet Submarine captain Marko Ramius (Sean Connery) commands the Red October, a high tech submarine which due to some clever modifications, is undetectable by sonar.
But, when the Red October is faintly spotted by the USS Dallas heading towards America, CIA analyst Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) deducts that Ramius is looking to defect to America, and learns that the Soviets are sending a fleet to destroy the Red October.
Commander Bart Mancuso (Scott Glenn) is able to get in contact with the Red October, and tries to get Ramius to state his intentions, and Ryan is sent on board as well, and it turns out Ramius has a secret agenda of his own.
It's a well made film, even if Connery doesn't even attempt a Russian accent, (he was a last minute replacement for Klaus Maria Brandauer), but McTiernan keeps the taut mood up and captures the feeling of the times this was set in, by the time this came out, the Soviet Union was crumbling.
This review of The Hunt for Red October (1990) was written by Stuart K on 05 Aug 2013.
The Hunt for Red October has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
