Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Three and a half stars because Jack Ryan is above average, although not by much. It's actually an old Bond movie. In a new coat. And without James Bond. The fact that it looks so ordinary, mundane and unoriginal, and that not much surprising happens in it, can be a plus for some as much as a minus for others. Personally, I was most annoyed by the (next) bomb, which again had that necessary timer with a digital display... It's become such a cliché that I can't help but laugh whenever I see it (especially when remembering the excellent The Sum of All Fears). However, Branagh's meticulous direction and Doyle's excellent music, the acting performances, and the dialogue scenes that are perhaps more interesting than the action scenes (not that the fight in the apartment isn't awesome) are unquestionable. (2014-02-01)

The new Ryan does credit to the thrillers of twenty years ago. Which might of course be hard to digest for today’s viewer. Branagh has come up with a relatively untraditional way to destroy America which makes some sense, but those who didn’t graduate in economics won’t be care. It’s maybe a shame that the action scenes are so ordinary, but all is made up for by Keira Knightly’s huge, beautiful peepers. Costner makes the most of his comeback, Pine as Ryan super cool. Rattled or heroic – he’s on top of his role. (2014-05-11)

The new Jack Ryan wants to be Ethan Hunt and Jason Bourne, but he won’t even get close to Peacemaker. This spy thriller made in 2014 does not have a single action attraction, interesting location or unexpected twist. Obviously, there should have been respect and fear of the main bad guy, when even a scene involving an attempt to hack his computer would create suspense. But it doesn’t work. It is clear to the viewer that such a cookie-cutter scenario would not dare hurt Jack’s sweetheart. For Kenneth Branagh, it was a simple and lucrative Hollywood job, where he got money for both direction and the role of the villain, and that’s all. Let’s move on. (2014-01-31)

It's a shame how much effort they put into making Jack Ryan resemble his genre relatives. In close combat like Jason Bourne, in villainous plots like James Bond, and in dragging his partner into it like Ethan Hunt. But when these three parts are added up, there remains a pleasantly old-fashioned spy ride that has no problem standing on its own feet, yet never finds its own face even for a moment. And that is even more unfortunate given that Chris Pine is always fully successful in the role of the hesitant hero. (2019-02-12)

This central almost-married couple wants to be as witty and genuine as the one from MI3, but they can’t. The action wants to be as intense and raw as in Bourne series, but it's not it. Kenneth Branagh is having a lot of fun, that's true, and Kevin Costner as a mentor, how else, right? Well, there's nothing more to say about this overall average thriller with poorly executed action scenes. (2014-08-09)