JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT DVD (2013)

SYNOPSIS: In Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, the origin story of Tom Clancy's most iconic character. The thrills are non-stop a CIA recruit Ryan is caught in a dangerous web of intrigue spun between his unsuspecting fiancee, a shadowy government agent and a ruthless Russian criminal. Ryan must quickly evolve from analyst to full-fledged operative to stop a devastating terrorist plot against the United States. 

MOVIE REVIEW:

When Pine signed on the role of Jack Ryan, it’s a sign that he is going to be a huge star. Well, just look at Harrison Ford. He was in a little space movie called Star Wars and he has also played the character of Jack Ryan in Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger. Pine to young moviegoers of course is Captain Kirk in the Star Trek movies. Now do you see the similarities?   

In this latest incarnation of the renowned Tom Clancy’s character, the young Jack Ryan (Pine) begins his career as a Marine fighting in Afghanistan post 9/11. After he is critically injured in a heli-crash, Ryan is recruited by a CIA officer, Thomas Harper (Kevin Costner) at the rehab center. His job is to be a covert CIA analyst working at Wall Street. Several years passes (he even have a doctor girlfriend, Cathy (Keira Knightley), Ryan’s office job suddenly becomes a field one when he is sent to Moscow to investigate a number of suspicious funds controlled by a Russian tycoon, Viktor Cherevin (Kenneth Branagh). All hell breaks loose when Ryan realizes Cherevin is out to stage a terrorist attack on American soil and also crashed the global financial market.

Let’s just say that Chris Pine is as credible as Ford in the role of a young Jack Ryan in this instance. His character is a mix of intelligence, possess more than passable combat skills and most importantly, he places equal importance in his love for his country and loved ones. The late Tom Clancy created such a believable character and the man sure churned out a series of electrifying Jack Ryan novels. It’s a pity his material is not really adapted here and the final product comes from a Adam Cozad and Hollywood’s favorite script doctor David Koepp.

The proceedings of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is liked a prepackaged microwave meal. You manage to satisfy your hunger pang but you never really like the smell of it in the end. The entire spy outing suffers from a formulaic treatment despite the fact it’s packed with compelling ideas and setups. Kenneth Branagh manages to keep everyone awake not because the pace is taut and tense; it’s his portrayal of the evil Russian Viktor Cherevin that makes you realize didn’t the Cold War was over long time ago already. The car chase in the middle is lethargic and the ticking bomb finale, which took place in downtown Manhattan, has been done umpteen times before. Even Keira Knightley as Ryan’s girl seems entirely disposable.  

The production is slick and it’s always good to have Kevin Costner around in a movie. The performance of Pine largely saved the predictable thriller. But comparing to the Bourne trilogy and the last Bourne outing, Jack Ryan deserved better. How about referring to Clancy’s novels for a start?

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The Commentary by Director Kenneth Branagh and Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventurais a well-spoken, smart commentary track that discusses many aspects of making the thriller.

Jack Ryan: The Smartest Guy in the Room is a brief, standard 13 minutes making of feature.

5 short Deleted and Extended Scenes (including an alternate ending) with optional commentary by Director Kenneth Branagh and Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura is also included. 

AUDIO/VISUAL:

Images are clear and details brimming in the visual department. As expected, the Dolby Digital 5.1 provides listeners an impressive atmospheric experience filled with loud dynamic sound effects liked gunfire, explosion etc. 

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee