Disc Reviews

Jack Ryan: 3 Movie Collection Review

• 24th Nov 2013

With Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit heading towards cinema in the coming months, Paramount have released this box set featuring the first three films adapted from the Jack Ryan series of novels created by Tom Clancy.

The first Jack Ryan movie from back in 1990, The Hunt For Red October, kick started the pot boiling franchise.  Jack Ryan may have many faces, but at least the films have pretty much always been top notch.

Alex Baldwin was first up in the role as the CIA analyst, charged with proving a theory he has about a recent launch of a Russian submarine, captained by Marko Ramius (Sean Connery) whilst the US Government fears a nuclear attack, Ryan suspects Ramius has ulterior motives.

Red October also boasts a large ensemble cast beyond Connery and Baldwin.  Scott Glen does sterling work as the captain of a US vessel tracking the Russian sub. Connery has the likes of Sam Neill, Tim Curry and even Sven Ole Thorsen to keep him company. Beyond that, political officials are filled in by James Earl jones, Richard Jordan and Joss Ackland; all bringing their A-game to the table.

The film still stands up well in today’s market – thanks to a reliance on plot anf character, insytead of effects and action set pieces. These are kept to a minimum and are handled efficiently by director John McTiernan (Die Hard).

It was no surprise that a second book was selected for adaptation. Baldwin sadly declined to return, so the character was then filled in for by Harrison Ford for the next two pictures.

Patriot Games sees Jack Ryan retired from the CIA and working in the UK. After Ryan happens to be in the wrong place at the right time he manages to help prevent an attack on a member of the royal family, but Ryan’s family become under personal attack from a terrorist (Sean Bean) who has a vendetta against Ryan for the death of his brother in the attack.

There is plenty of UK location shooting and a large Irish ensemble cast (Richard Harris, Patrick Bergin) show up to compete against Ryan and his CIA know how. Sean Bean puts in a good turn portraying the grief and anger of a soldier who desperately needs retribution, no matter what the cost to those around him.

This is an intelligent thriller that balances action and drama wonderfully and fittingly outs Jack Ryan in another part of the world set against different odds in different political climate.

That climate changes again as we find him back in the game going up against the South American drug cartels in Clear and Present Danger along with just a hint of internal trouble with his own company.

This time round a close friend of the President of the United States has been attacked, and the President (Donald Moffat) takes the opportunity to abuse his power by setting up a special task force to make attacks on those he believes to be responsible. Ryan in the meantime is stepping in for his ailing boss (James Earl Jones again) and soon finds himself neck deep in political corruption.

These are all excellent and intelligent thrillers, all incorporating new ideas in film as well as delivering some terrific and memorable characters and dialogue from large and extensive casts in each of them.

What is clearly missing is the fourth film in the Ryan series The Sum of All Fears starring Ben Affleck.  For some reason it has been left out of this set, despite being the same film-makers.  Hardly a black sheep of the family, we recommend seeking it out. It may turn back the clock on Ryan’s age, and move him further to a present day climate for the time the film was made, but it is still a very worthy addition to the series which should be part of this set.

EXTRAS

John McTiernan has provided a commentary for The Hunt for Red October, and there is also a very decent half hour making of called Beneath the Surface. Many of the key figures of the crew (Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer Jan De Bont (Who would go on to direct Speed), effects wizards) and cast (Baldwin, Scott, jones).

Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger come with a half hour retrospective each and a trailer. The retrospectives are informative enough for films that have been fairly starved of making of material.

With a new Jack Ryan movie coming in early 2014 from Kenneth Brannah and starring Chris Pine, we can hope for a similar quality of film. This box set should help put people in the right mood for it.

Steven Hurst

Jack Ryan 3 Movie Collection

Available on DVD