Being a Tom Clancy fan and enjoying Jack Ryan movies, I was looking forward to this one. I wasn’t disappointed.

Jack Ryan had previously been portrayed by Alec Baldwin (The Hunt for Red October in 1990), Harrison Ford (Patriot Games in 1992 and Clear and Present Danger in 1994) and Ben Affleck (The Sum of all Fears in 2002).

Although this movie is said to be a mix of characters and storylines from the Clancy books, Shadow Recruit seems to be a prequel to the Jack Ryan story.

Young Jack, played by Chris Pine, drops out of university after the terrorist attack of 9/11 to become a marine. After being severely injured he is recruited by the CIA to finish his studies and become an undercover agent on Wall Street with the goal of finding money used to fund terrorist activities. The clever young man finds such funds and after one airplane journey to Russia his safe office working days are over. He had to confront an as-clever Russian with nothing to lose, played by the movie’s director, Kenneth Branagh, and his ruthless son, to save the day.

Shadow Recruit is a fast paced, action packed movie and reminds one of those good action movies of the ‘olden days’. It has a good story line, is enjoyable to watch and even if it wasn’t intended that way – is a great tribute to Tom Clancy, who died on 1 October 2013.

 

I give the movie: 4/5

 

Directed by: Kenneth Branagh

Written by: Adam Cozad, David Koepp & and based on the characters from Tom Clancy books

Actors:   Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Keira Knightley, Kenneth Branagh,

Age restriction: V13

 

Parental Advice: Keep the age restrictions.

Language: Swear words here and there.

Nudity: None.

Sex: None.

Violence: Yes.

Offensive Stuff: Over the top violence from the main baddie.

 

5/5 Don’t miss! Do whatever to go and watch!

4/5 Good, watchable, but it may have something to put someone off, or may just not be your cup of tea.

3/5 OK, but if you have something else to do, reconsider and watch it when it comes out on DVD or on TV.

2/5 Pff, why would they waste time to make it and why would you waste your time and money to see it?

1/5 Don’t even bother. You have to be paid to watch this and then be recompensed for your time.

0/5 Need I waste words?