I do have a soft spot for Tom Clancy (RIP) film adaptations – the Jack Ryan character started off as a realistic CIA analyst-turned-field-operative, but when Hollywood got their hands on him, Ryan became more like a superhero. Still, I have a great deal of affection for Harrison Ford’s turn as Jack Ryan in Clear and Present Danger and Patriot Games. Alec Baldwin was a good Ryan too in Hunt for Red October, but I LOATHED Ben Affleck’s Ryan in Sum of All Fears. I was glad when Affleck didn’t get another chance to do another Ryan movie. But I wasn’t sure what I thought of the idea of Chris Pine taking over the franchise.
Don’t get me wrong, I kind of like Pine even though I think he only gets hard for ditzy D-list lingerie models. So, he has bad taste in women. But he’s pretty cool in other ways, right? RIGHT? So, I don’t know what I was expecting from Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. But it wasn’t this, the first trailer:
That’s Keira Knightley as Cathy, Jack Ryan’s doctor girlfriend/wife. Throughout the Ryan series, Cathy is a pretty strong character, a woman with her own medical career who doesn’t give up that career when she starts having kids. But it seems like producers wanted to use Keira more in the story – and perhaps this is why Keira took the part in the first place – so they’ve made her an integral part of the plot by having her drop everything to fly to Russia to be with Jack?
As for Kenneth Branagh as the “bad guy/Russian”… sure. His Russian accent doesn’t sound that bad to my ears and it’s interesting to see Branagh take more of these character parts in big Hollywood films. Branagh is the director too, which is interesting. Oh, and Kevin Costner as Jack’s CIA mentor? Traditionally, that role has always gone to an African-American actor (James Earl Jones, Morgan Freeman), so it does seem like a conscious “choice” to go with Kevin. Still, Costner’s comeback is really happening, huh? He’s doing it like Branagh – character roles in big Hollywood movies. It’s interesting.
As for Chris… well, it seems like they’ve twisted the Jack Ryan character so he’s no longer “the everyman spy” and more like a Jason Bourne-type character. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good spy film and Chris can work those stunts and I’m sure I’ll enjoy it. But it doesn’t really feel like a Jack Ryan film.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I will probably watch this because I love Keira. My favourite Lizzie Bennet.
Me too! I was about 12 or 13 when I finally rented the movie–and after that I badgered and bugged my parents for months until they ordered the dvd for me. And then I watched that movie almost every weekend for about a year. I LOVED Donald Sutherland–and the music, at the end, when Darcy is walking towards her in that field. God.
Woah! I did the same thing! When I was in uni, I watched P&P every night! Hahaha.
I read P&P for my English class when I was 12, and it was the first book I read in English. I’ve seen the 1980, 1995 and 2005 version, and I like the 2005 version best. I also prefer awkward Darcy and Matthew is hotter than Colin ( do not kill me for saying that 😀 ). However, the 1980 actress looked exactly how I imagined Lizzie when I read the book, but she just didn’t have the spark.
Speaking of period dramas, can any of you lovely ladies recommend one?
Jane Eyre 2006 version with Toby Stephens and Ruth Wilson
Wuthering Heights 1994–with Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche
Scarlet Pimpernel, with Ian McKellen
Sense and Sensibility–Emma Thompson
Thank you, Virgilia, but I have seen all of them. Anything else?
@Virgilia Coriolanus …
Rent the A&E “Pride and Prejudice” production (1995) with Colin Firth and then let’s talk.
The Bennents in Jane Austen’s novel were not as … ‘rustic’ … as they were portrayed in the Keira Knightly film (they looked like bumpkins!), nor would any young lady of Austen’s time be as forward as Knightly’s ‘Elizabeth’ was in the film.
I’m in. He looks pretty distressed when having to fight (that’s very Jack). I used to read the books too (geek!). Remember it’s not that Jack couldn’t fight (hello, he was an ex-Marine!) it’s that he didn’t until he had too.
Chris is cute, Keira’s accent is cute, I’m in.
You’re right, it just doesn’t feel like a Jack Ryan film. Chris Pine just strikes me as a bit too dumb to play a clever character.
How bland is he? Love her though
I like the guy who plays as the Russian President–can’t remember his name.
And I liked that speech that the crazy pro-nazi guy gave, something like “Hitler didn’t lose the war because he was wrong, he lost because he was stupid. You don’t take on Russia and America together, you make Russia and America fight each other, destroy each other”.
Although I think the movie looks pretty good, I do agree – it does not feel like a Jack Ryan film.
To me there will always be only one Jack Ryan film – The Hunt for Red October.
No way! It’s great, but so was Clear and Present Danger. Willem Dafoe as Clark?! So awesome.
@Anna.
YES! Alec Baldwin’s Jack Ryan was the best portrayal of him and The Hunt for Red October was *by far* the best Clancy adaptation.
My brother’s foot is in that movie. Not really. He was on the USS Houston which is the sub they used for the USS Dallas and Rob (big bro) is behind the ladder as Ryan is lowered into the boat (the sailors had to assist on all stunts involving the boat) The actors used the officers rooms while on board – Scott Glen used in Rob’s.
That’s my Hollywood moment for you.
This looks like every old school bond film with Russia as the enemy. I got bored 30 seconds into the trailer.
Actually the Russia thing may turn out to be an unintended stroke of genius. The way the USA and Russia have been side-eyeing each other recently, the vibe doesn’t seem out if place. Actually I’ll make a prediction that KB will turn out to be Chechen, playing them against each other.
I would hardly call this genius as these kinds of movies always come out when ther.s some kind of conflict.
True dat Mia. Well then we can recycle all the Russia is evil movies from the last 50 years. LOL.
Yeah but @Side-eye think when they would have written this? Filmed this? It would have been before most of these issues popped up. I just think it’s interesting (and clearly unintended) timing.
Oh no. That Russian accent is ATROCIOUS. KB is better than that, except I guess not. Keira is my #1 (and only) reason for wanting to see this movie.
Sounded really bad to me too but I’m not Russian. Nice to have backup from a real Russian speaker.
Is there any movie out there where they do a decent Russian accent?
Also, portraying every Slavic country as quasi Russian just gets on my nerves. Not in this movie, but in general.
Sean Connery actually wasnt half bad in The Hunt for RO. Granted he was supposed to be from one of the Baltic republics, but they were all Russian-speaking at that point, as was his character in the movie.
KB is trying SO hard to do the cliche Russian Villain accent.
I like the print of her dress and matchy eye shadow.
I must admit I never the read book, and I don’t remember if I’ve ever seen the movies *blush*. But to me, looking at the clip, Kevin Costner is more fitting to be Jack Ryan. What do I know though? I never read the book!
There have been other ‘Jack Ryans’ in recent years. Alex Baldwin was Jack Ryan in “The Hunt for Red October.” But he wanted too much money for the next Jack Ryan film, so they went to Harrison Ford, who played Jack Ryan in “Patriot Games” (where I was introduced to Sean Bean as the villain) and “Clear and Present Danger.” Then Ben Affleck played Jack Ryan in “The Sum of All Fears.”
I haven’t seen the movie, but I presume Sean Bean dies?
Haha, I can thank Clancy for (young) Alec Baldwin in a shower and my first-ever Sean Bean death!
@Spooks, who wrote: “I haven’t seen the movie, but I presume Sean Bean dies?”
Not until the last few minutes of the film, but by that time you were okay with his demise. 🙂 He was an awesome villain! He played a bad ass Irish terrorist.
It’s one of my all-time favorite films. 🙂
Alec Baldwin didn’t do another Jack Ryan film because he wasn’t interested in sequels not because of money. People thought he was crazy at the time – I believe they offered him a lot of money but he said he didn’t want to revisit the same character and would rather play something else. I’ve always respected him for that. Although I do find his JR to be the best.
Yup, definitely going to see it. I love that Cathy (Keira) flies thousands of miles for a face to face because she finds out he’s been lying to her for years. I can relate to that- temperamental yet direct. 🙂
Looks like a good popcorn/date movie to me.
I don’t think it looks too ‘Bourne-y’ at all. It’s a totally different set up. I like everyone I see except for Keira Knightly (I don’t get her or Natalie Portman and think both are highly over-rated).
I’m looking forward to this film! 🙂
I love spy films and just got back from a trip to Russia. I’ll definitely watch it. Moscow was crazy overwhelming!
Into the Woods Chris Pine is already WAY hotter than Jack Ryan Chris Pine. Apparently he just needs to play a prince his entire career.
Agree! Chris has never been my cup of tea but I thought he looked great as a prince.
I think he is hot! Blue eyes wont hurt either. I will watch Pine.
Costner’s character’s dialogue at the beginning of the trailer sounds like it was written by a computer program.
Chris Pine should always wear his hair longer at the top, like in the first photo. Otherwise he looks like he has a gigantic head.
Harrison Ford is my favorite Jack Ryan! I love Kevin Costner.
I heard this movie might get pushed to January/February to accommodate WOWS, which is “not ready” yet. THR said WOWS would get the Dec. 25 date. So either Shadow Recruit is terrible or WOWS doesn’t want to compete this year… hmm…
The guy from “The Princess Diaries 2” was cast as Jack Ryan? Nooo! Loved the books, THFRO was the best of the movies, though Harrison Ford was my favorite Ryan.