13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Three Terrific, Intelligent Thrillers that just get Better., April 26, 2001
This review is from: Jack Ryan Thriller Set (The Hunt for Red October/Patriot Games/Clear and Present Danger) (DVD)
I am of the Rare Opinion that "Clear and Present Danger" is the Best of the Trilogy, followed Closely by "Patriot Games" and then "Hunt for Red October". Most People I ask seem to think the exact opposite, but What do They know.
For those of you who don't know, Jack Ryan is a CIA Analyst (played by Alec Baldwin in "October" and Harrison Ford is "Games" and "Danger") who always seems to be the Wrong guy in the Wrong place at the Wrong time.
In "Hunt for Red October", Alec plays Jack, a CIA Analyst brought in to the White house to give his opinion on a potential Crisis. The Red October, a Russian Nuclear submarine has been hijacked by its Commander Marko Ramius (Sean Connery). His plan is to try to Defect to the Americans and turn the Prototype ship over to them. The Russians know about this, the Americans don't. Ramius has Everyone trying to stop him, Except his Crew (who would follow him to the death) and Jack, who believes he intends to defect.
Though I may think this is the lesser of the Trilogy, that is not to say I don't like it. "Hunt for Red October" is a Brilliant Cold war Thriller that has Superb Craftsmanship in every field, Directing, Acting, Effects, Thrills... They are all here by the Bucket load. The Supporting cast includes Sam Neill, James Earl Jones (who is the only actor to appear in all three Jack Ryan Films), and Scott Glenn. They all have a Good amount of Screen time and give Standout Performances. John McTiernan's Directing is Assured. The one problem I have with the film is it does tend to Slow Down at points and that Hinders Repeat Viewings. The next two films do not have that problem.
In "Patriot Games", Harrison stars as Jack, holidaying in London with his family. He has Quit the CIA and he is giving Lectures. While meeting up with his family, he witnesses a Car Explode and some masked men Attacking the Survivors of the explosion. Without thinking, Jack runs over and attacks the masked men; Killing one and getting wounded himself. The man he killed has a Brother (Sean Bean) who was also on of the masked men, he is arrested and Jack Testifies against him. Jack gets Knighted and Sean goes to prison. The men were an IRA splinter (ex IRA, or IRA trained) group and they bust Sean out. He swears vengeance for his brother, at any cost.
Harrison makes a Great Jack Ryan; he gives him more Emotion than Alec did and Sean Bean and Patrick Bergen make very Hiss able Villains. Philip Noyce's Directing is Spot on; he keeps the Pace Quick and the Action Tough.
Harrison again stars as Jack in "Clear and Present Danger", he has been promoted to Director General of the CIA and he is nervous. Meanwhile, a friend of the Presidents is Murdered and it is believed that Columbian Drug dealers were behind it, so the President (Donald Moffat) orders his National Security Advisor (Harris Yullin) to get tough on drugs, which they do Secretly with the help of John Clark (Willem Dafoe) and his team of Mercenaries. The Secret war is staged behind Americas back, even Jack Ryan doesn't know about it, but when the Columbians retaliate, it is Jack who is in the firing line.
This one is my Favourite of the three, despite it's two hour and twenty minute running time, it never slows down or gets boring. The Acting is Top Drawer, especially from Dafoe. Philip Noyce is in the director's chair again, and he does an even Better job. In my Opinion it is a Perfect Thriller for people who like Intelligent Thrills.
3 Classic thrillers in this one pack make it an Essential Purchase for Thrill fans. If you like your action heroes to be "Thinking Mans" heroes, then Jack Ryan suits you Perfectly.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great trilogy, May 28, 2001
The Tom Clancy movies are some of the best to have ever been adapted from novels. Though all of the books are at least twice as good as their movies, the films are still great action movies to watch. "The Hunt for Red October" is a great movie, John McTiernen's best right next to "Die Hard." Connery and Baldwin are both very good in it, and the story about a Russian nuclear sub defecting to the USA is still enjoyable though different from the book. The end of the movie is very exciting. "Patriot Games" features Harrison Ford taking over the role of Jack Ryan after Alec Baldwin decided not to do it again. This one is probably the best of the three. The story is that Ryan and his family are in London when he stops an attempted assassination on members of the Royal family, and he in turn is hunted by an ultra violent left-wing faction of the IRA. This pic is very exciting, also featuring a great climax. The last one in the series is "Clear and Present Danger." Now, this one wasn't even close to being half as good as the book, and it is almost completely different. This is my least favorite because the book is so damn good, but it's still an enjoyable movie. It's about an operation being run against a Colombian drug cartel and also being kept secret by the President. However, when a group of American officials are brutally killed by Colombians (which is a spectacular scene), and of course Harrison Ford is there, the operation is shut down, leaving behind American soldiers in Colombia. Ryan (Ford) and Mr. Clark (Willem Dafoe) go in to get the remaining soldiers, and the climax of the movie isn't quite as intense as the climax of the book. Overall, this is a very good collection to buy, and I definitely recommend it.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Hunt for Red October, June 10, 2002
This review is from: Jack Ryan Thriller Set (The Hunt for Red October/Patriot Games/Clear and Present Danger) (DVD)
This was the first Jack Ryan picture I had seen. From the beginning to the end of this movie, I was enthralled. It was believable, well acted and plausable. The principal actors and all lessor parts were beautifully intertwined to give us a plausable,exciting,intelligent story of intrigue done with a masterful flare.
This is a DVD I have seen at least 7 times and funny as it may seem, I always find something I haven't picked up on. It's a must have and SEE for those intrigued with human nature and the powers of goodness and evil!
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