Genres

Visitors Review

rudgeno1-1 2013-05-25 08:56:53

Harrison Ford on form in an excellent movie

I have read some quite negative reviews of this film, with many beingupset by the lack of coherence with the book despite taking it'scharacterisations etc...I agree that the film does not follow the bookparticularly well but it is a film, for film watchers, not a book or afilm for book readers so stop criticising it on that level. This filmis entertaining from start to finish with a surprisingly clever plotconsidering the genre and credit must go to Ford for starring andexcelling in yet another blockbuster. People may say he's not the mostversatile actor in the world and I'm not going to disagree, but he doeswhat he does brilliantly and those who don't enjoy this movie really doneed a good talking to. Along with Patriot Games, this is part of animpressive set of movies which are far more entertaining than the books(perhaps thats because I'm not an avid reader) and shall keep all youviewers out there happy, if only for a short while.

Bob_Tanaka 2013-05-24 18:07:20

Willem Dafoe steals this movie *SPOILERS*

As the only Clancy book I've read SO FAR is "Rainbow Six" I can't say howwell Ryan or anyone else is portrayed in this movie compared to the books,but I will say that both Willem Dafoe as John Clark and Raymond Cruz asDomingoe "Ding" Chavez are just as I pictured them. Willem Dafoe bacicallysteals any movie for me, and his performance as Clark was cold, blunt andultra cool, just as it should be ("Ryans dead, now get me back in contactwith my team"). and Raymond Cruz, in probably his largest role, is great asChavez, a tough little souldier, who is Clarks future son-in-law. Other thanthat, I should probably sy that I like Harrison Ford best as Jake Ryan,although I haven't read a book with him in it yet.

ElizabethC 2013-05-19 22:26:09

Casting, Action & Hollywood Endings

I will preface this by saying that it is not so much a review of Clear & Present Danger but more a stream of consciousness inspired by the movie…I only recently began to realize how important casting is to a film [and television to be honest]. In my opinion there are three levels of talent when it comes to acting. The one held in highest regard is home to actors like Tom Hanks and Russell Crowe. These are the actors that are good no matter what. Doesn’t matter who the character is, what genre the film is or even it’s quality – they just become their character. No matter what they are selling I am buying. The next level can be used to describe the bulk of Hollywood. The actors who can get the job done, just as long as it falls within their range of talents. And then there are those who can only be described as bad. Strictly going through the motions and generating pangs of discomfort in their audience with each one.Harrison Ford falls into the middle category [alb eight on the high end of the spectrum]. I think he is a fine actor, but I do have some complaints. The largest is that he is notorious for staring in action movies and I just don’t buy him as the big hero. That is probably why the only action role I have ever really liked him in was the fugitive. Granted, most might categorize Dr. Richard Kimble as the big hero, but in my book that is a job that you actually have to sign up for. A big hero has a resume with hero credentials and Richard Kimble had no such credentials. His hero status was thrust upon him, much to his chagrin infact. Same thing in Firewall, where I also enjoyed Ford’s performance – These were men who would have been perfectly content to never be involved in a car chase but due to circumstances beyond their control they have been forced to defend themselves and their families. Luke Skywalker and Indiana Jones [and I realize I may get some slack for these next comments], on the other hand, two of Ford’s characters whose resumes would likely be found in a pile along side Superman and the Terminator I just don’t like him.In, Clear and Present Danger, Ford tows the line between big hero and ordinary guy whose just having a really bad day. He wasn’t really a guy who was always destined for the front lines, but he did volunteer to work at the FBI. Semantics perhaps, but it was enough to make me question the talents of the movie’s casting agent. Same thing in Air Force One – All around excellent flick, but some of the action scenes just seem like Ford is a little kid trying to hold his own with the big boys.Come to think of it though, there is also another distinction that can be made between the roles that I have liked Ford in and those that I haven’t. It would appear that those that I was less than impressed with were in films that I was forced to watch on the small screen. Now this would be the perfect lead in for my 2nd [and hopefully more brief] topic, but before we get there let us not forget the rest of the cast of Clear & Present Danger. I didn’t like Donald Moffat as President Bennett – no big long explanation this time, just didn’t like him. On the other hand, and here the film’s casting agent begins to redeem herself, I loved James Earl Jones, as Ryan’s mentor James Greer and Willem Dafoe was born to play the head of a covert operation. Also, like every good action thriller, Clear & Present Danger provides a tech geek that the film’s protagonist [had this been a different post I probably would have used the term hero] can always rely on just when the going gets really tough. And I must say I was thoroughly entertained by Greg German whose portrayal of Petey, the FBI’s go-to computer nerd, had just the right mix of annoying younger brother and quirky best friend.Okay now that we have totally exhausted the topic of casting, on to the one that I alluded to earlier – I need a home-theater. And I don’t mean a 42’ flat screen with HD and surround sound [although that would be nice]. No I’m talking about the whole nine – 100’ screen and a dozen stadium-arranged lazy boys in a cozy soundproof room. It’s either that or I will just have to make sure that I see all action movies before they leave the theaters. I know I’m not the only one who has walked away from an at-home viewing of an action film and thought “I could have sworn that movie had some kick ass action scenes when I saw it in the theater.” And it is for that reason, among others, that I will never again watch Déjà Vu. Because although it had what I think was one of the best car chases in movie history [those of you who saw it know exactly what I am talking about and those of you who haven’t should go to the theater and see if before its too late], if I watched it on my pitiful 30’ television, it would without a doubt end up as the scene during which I leave the room to grab a Snapple.On a final note - To the cinematic powers that be – moviegoers, or at least this one, are okay with the good guy coming up a little short in the end. If art is ever going to really start imitating life it needs to loosen the big red bow sometimes.

Kevin Burbank 2013-05-19 14:01:12

Not an action movie but a slick, tense thriller

Although Harrison Ford gets chased, punched and shot at in nearly everymovie he's in, it's odd here because you're so used to him turning roundanddecking all the bad guys, and he doesn't here. Instead, he gets mixed upina large bunch of political intrigue, involving terrorists, a last-gasphelicopter escape and of course loads of guns...it's an acceptablethriller,but with an immature 'even the President is corrupt' theme, and Ford isevenmore straight faced than ever.

2013-05-19 03:26:03

good action, plot

Tom Clancy is a good author and Harrison Ford is a fine actor. The action and pace of the movie was fast.

HelloTexas11 2013-05-18 05:42:01

pretty good Clancy adaptation

'Clear and Present Danger' is full of great scenes which never reallycome together to make a great movie. It's trying to tell too manydifferent stories and so, even with nearly two and half hours screentime, each story feels too short and incomplete. There are at least ahalf-dozen major plot threads running concurrently; give the directorcredit for at least TRYING to fit everything that matters in fromanother of Tom Clancy's super-fat bestsellers. The other problem thoughis Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford). He is not the action hero of 'PatriotGames.' Here, he is a dupe at first, then a decoy at the end, and inbetween sort of a standard-issue government official (albeit a rarehonest one). John Clark (Willem Defoe) is the closest thing to a 'hero'present. There is a large ensemble cast, everyone has a role to play,and Ryan frankly is reduced to being just another member of thatensemble. In short, the US President orders (without stating soexplicitly, to cover his own butt) a covert military operation againstdrug cartels in Colombia. Clark heads up a small, elite squad that thenbegins going around blowing up labs and generally disrupting the drugbusiness. In apparent retaliation, the FBI director and his entourageare killed in their motorcade while on a visit to Bogota. A Cubanintelligence expert working for one of the drug lords approachesNational Security Adviser Cutter (the president's right-hand man) for atruce, and a deal-in exchange for his cutting drug exports to the US inhalf, he wants the inserted military team cut off and abandoned, so hecan kill them. As mentioned, there are several other side-plots(Admiral Greer has terminal cancer, an FBI secretary is seduced by theCuban intelligence agent and murdered) so there is a lot of jumpingback and forth among the various players and situations. Among the bestscenes is the ambush of the FBI director's motorcade in Colombia; verywell-staged and realistic, it's a real nail-biter of a sequence. Butthere are several other good action set-pieces as well. 'Clear andPresent Danger' does not seem as long as it is. It's just too bad thedirector, Philip Noyce, and the trio of screenwriters couldn't make thefilm a more cohesive package and found better ways to pump up Ford'srole. After 'The Hunt for Red October' and 'Patriot Games,' we havecertainly come to expect more from the Jack Ryan character than to be afall-guy for a slippery Prez and his corrupt underlings, even if hebelatedly turns the tables on them.

Sabich 2013-05-14 20:38:00

Very suspenseful

While not a excellent film by a long shot, it does what it sets out to do:entertain and keep the viewer in suspense. Full of political intrigue andinteresting plot developments, you will not be bored.Harrison Ford does a good job as always as Jack Ryan, and James Earl Jonesgiving a solid performance in his minor role. The movie loses a little bitof its effect after you have read the book; Tom Clancy does a masterful jobof weaving numerous storylines to a powerful climax in what is probably hisbest novel. The movie did a decent job of concentrating this complexstoryline into a two-hour movie, but if you want the full effect, read thebook.

Boba_Fett1138 2013-05-14 08:54:17

Standard but well made movie.

This is a good and above average political thriller with actionelements in it. Still the movie gets a bit too complicated at times andisn't always easy to follow. The movie is also long and some point ofthe movie are dragging on, even though the pace always remains good andhigh.It's hard to say in which genre this movie can be put. For an actionmovie it doesn't have enough action and for a thriller the story isn'tgood enough. It makes "Clear and Present Danger" a bit of a mixed moviethat is far from perfect but still remains a perfectly watchable moviewith some great actors and some memorable moments.Main problem I had with the movie is that it lacked a distinctivevisual style. A problem all Phillip Noyce movies always have. That'swhy I'm not a too big fan of Phillip Noyce movies, with the exceptionof "Dead Calm" maybe, which simply had a very solid and tense story."Clear and Present Danger" is a good made movie but it just is toosimply and standard done all and it isn't really anything new.The cast is great and has some big names in it; Harrison Ford, JamesEarl Jones, Harris Yulin, Donald Moffat, Henry Czerny, Joaquim deAlmeida, Miguel Sandoval, Benjamin Bratt, Willem Dafoe, Ted Raimi in asmall role and a still very young Thora Birch.The music by James Honer is really good. Even though it's typicalHorner stuff, like he always used in his '90's movies, it works reallywell for the movie and truly uplifts the movie at times.There are some good moments in the movie that are highly memorable suchas the convoy ambush which has become a bit of a classic alreadyperhaps. Yes, the movie is perfectly watchable but the story isn'talways the best to follow and at times the storytelling is lacking.Still, a movie that I would recommend to you.7/10

2013-04-15 19:19:14

Much more deeper theb Patriot Games, A truly heroic film.

Harrison Ford reprises his role as C.I.A agent Jack Ryan in a film that blows Patriot Games into Clear And Present Danger.Truth needs a hero and it also needs a new deputy director of intel. Ryan is named acting director of intleligence when his best friend James Greer become gravely ill but while holding that position and investigating an political murder of a friend of the president.He finds that the presidents friend has ties to the columbian drug cartel, but without Ryan knowing some of the political staff have orderd a small excursion force to go over to stop the columbians. Ryan then finds out that he not only has enimys in his ploitical staff , but over in columbia as well.When Ryan finds where these drugs came from he goes over to columbia as well as his friends.When Ryan arrives he and his political staff are the target of an attack. Ryan angry and frustrated and betrayed he want's answers and is willing to stop this excursion at all costs.And finally seeking the real truth , confronts the president finding out why he risked and put amarican soldiers in harms way.Because truth needs a soldier and Harrison is it. This DVD is awsome and has incredible sound Harrison Ford gives his best performence ever in a thriller.This is one DVD that you don't want to resist crystal clear cinimatography brought out by DVD and good options make this one to add to your list.If this is whatbeing a soldier is about well Harrison is one man i wouldn't mind having lead any engagement into battle.Truly tense and perfect in every way.

2013-04-15 07:14:58

Overblown dreck...

This third installment of the Jack Ryan series gets too confused too quick and can't find a way out. It also contains way too much action for a movie that wants to be taken seriously. Harrison Ford is Jack Ryan again, and he's the worst to date. Alec Baldwin will forever be the best Ryan and Ford and Affleck will just have to deal with it. In this movie, it's Ryan vs. everybody from Columbians to the president of the United States himself in a plot so perplexing it's a wonder the movie ever gets off the ground. This is not that good of a movie and a poor follow-up to the cool "Patriot Games." I'm disappointed.

Pablo Villaca 2013-04-11 23:30:21

Ainda que seja o exemplar mais irregular da série Jack Ryan, o filme se beneficia da vulnerabilidade (emocional, não física) com que Ford retrata o herói.

Robotatron 2013-04-11 10:55:14

Satire Satire Satire

I love this film, it is such a fantastic satirical look at going home again. It's a bit, okay a lot, violent. But all good satire tends to be that way. It is darkly humorous and you'll find yourself quoting this film from time to time in life. If you are an intellectual with a quirky sense of humor this is a great film to see. If you are a Cusack fan (all of them are in the film) then this is a must see.

James Hitchcock 2013-04-09 01:16:13

The Old Potomac Two-Step

This was Harrison Ford's second outing as Jack Ryan following "PatriotGames" from two years earlier. (The character was also played by AlecBaldwin in "The Hunt for Red October" and Ben Affleck in "The Sum ofall Fears", neither of which I have seen). The plot concerns a covertwar being waged by American troops against drug traffickers in Colombiaauthorised by the President and his aides without the approval ofCongress. Ryan, who has been promoted to Deputy Director of the CIAfollowing the death of his mentor Admiral Greer, has to try and uncoverthe truth, which puts him into danger as the bad guys try to covertheir tracks."Clear and Present Danger" is in many ways a different film from"Patriot Games", and both have their strengths and weaknesses. "PatriotGames" was a more straightforward film. Although the villains wereIrish terrorists there was no serious attempt to analyse, or make astatement about, the Northern Ireland situation; Irish terrorism wassimply used as the basis for an exciting action thriller. "Clear andPresent Danger" is a longer film than "Patriot Games"- at nearly twoand a half hours it probably exceeds the optimum length for a thriller-and with more talk and less action, although there are some good actionsequences. Those that stand out are the "computer duel" between Ryanand Ritter and the scenes where Ryan travels to Colombia to try andrescue the American soldiers who have been abandoned by the Presidentin an attempt to try and prevent the truth coming out.It is a more political film about corruption in high places and themisuse of authority, reminiscent of Watergate and possibly also theIran/Contra affair. There has been some debate on this board aboutwhether President Bennett is a villain, although to me it seems quiteclear that the film-makers intended to portray him as one. His decisionto send troops into Colombia is motivated less by a desire to combatthe international drugs trade than by a desire to avenge a personalfriend who has been murdered on the orders of Ernesto Escobedo, apowerful drug lord from whom he had stolen money. (The surname Escobedosuggests that this character was based upon the real-life drug baronPablo Escobar). He orders soldiers into action and then abandons themto their fate out of political expediency. There is also the questionof the legality of his actions. The film takes the view that they areclearly illegal because they violate the War Powers Act 1973. Theconstitutionality of this Act, in fact, has been denied- not least byevery President since its passage- but none of those Presidents haveever attempted to challenge it in the Supreme Court.Harrison Ford is once again very good as Ryan, perhaps even better thanhe was in "Patriot Games". Ford is not as versatile as some actors, buthe does have his strengths, and playing solid, decent and reliableheroes is one of them, displayed not only in his Jack Ryan films butalso in films like "Witness", "The Fugitive", "K-19 The Widowmaker" andthe Indiana Jones series. Ryan's function in this film is not only asits action hero but also as its moral anchor. He is the man who can berelied upon to stand up for honour and decency, the man who, unlikeofficials from the President downwards, refuses to dance the "OldPotomac Two-Step" of concealment and corruption. (The phrase is takenfrom a key scene at the end of the film, when he refuses thePresident's blandishments to cover up the scandal). Politicalconspiracy thrillers have becomes something of a Hollywood cliché eversince Watergate, but this is one of the better ones.

goggy turk 2013-04-08 21:58:38

Condensed Clancy

The makers of this movie are to be congratulated for turning a Tom Clancydoorstop into a tense, tightly woven international thriller with a topnotchcast and believeable plot. Where the previous two Jack Ryan movies dependedon stunts and quite unbelieveable plot twists this film concentrates on agrubby little military/political incident (more the domain of intelligencemen) and the men of honour and integrity (Ford and an under used Dafoe)trapped in the middle of it.I also like this movie for its subtle dig at the American establishment andhow it assumes it can coerce the weak into doing its bidding.The Clark character in Clancy's fiction is an interesting one and deservesto be further developed. Casting Willem Dafoe in the part was actually astroke of genius, and I could easily imagine his character in Platoon doingthis kind of work if he had survived Vietnam. The fact that Dafoe is one ofTHE most underrated actors in Hollywood also means I likethis.

2013-04-08 06:49:00

Clear and present danger video

I rented this video and enjoyed it thoroughly. Harrison Ford is the manIn the Jack Ryan roll and James Earl Jones performance is epic.You will thoroughly enjoy this timeless classic

2013-04-07 22:24:53

As good as it gets

This review is from: Clear and Present Danger (Special Collector's Edition) (DVD) Harrison Ford gets appointed as CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence. His first assignment is to investigate the murder of one of the President's friends, a prominent U.S. businessman with secret ties to Colombian drug cartels. Enough said, An action packed movie with an excellent story behind it that keeps you stuck to your couch from start to finish wishing the movie was an hour longer. The quality of the DVD is excellent with DTS , so prepare yourself to some great sound effects. Highly recommended.

Zach Kucala 2013-03-27 04:04:40

An awesome film for fans of Ford and Dafoe!

Clear and Present danger is an awesome film! It's exciting! Greatstory! Great cast, and when I mean great cast, I mean Harrison Ford,James Earl Jones (Darth Vader) and Willem Dofoe (Spider-Man, Spider-Man2, Spider-Man 3, Finding Nemo, James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing.)It's a long movie. It kept me entertained throughout, I mean, Icouldn't stop smiling because Harrison Ford and Willem Dafoe are suchtreasures! There is quite a bit of cussing, which bothered me. Thestory is very easy to understand. Again, Willem and Harrison areflawless!!! A must see for those who just love action films!!! Otherrecommendations for Harrison Ford fans: Star Wars Trilogy, IndianaJones, 40 days and 40 nights.

2013-03-26 19:47:54

Top-Notch Suspense Thriller. Lacks A Solid Conclusion, Though.

Harrison Ford, Anne Archer & James Earl Jones return for the next Jack Ryan adventure, "Clear And Present Danger." Teeming with suspense all the way through, the film, however, lacks a comeuppance for the main villains. Willem Dafoe joins the cast (who he plays is a major surprise), as do Henry Czerny, Dean Jones ("The Love Bug") & Benjamin Bratt. Rated PG-13, but should have been rated PG.

2013-03-25 10:45:36

Political Intrigue, Anyone?

Is there anything that Harrison Ford can't do?Ford stars as Jack Ryan in a follow-up to the successful PATRIOT GAMES. This time out, he finds himself tightly wound into a plot involving the US's highest elected officer -- that's right, the President -- in a failed campaign of the secret drug war. The script is actually penned by Clancy (along with John Milius), and it has an air of authenticity lacking in the other Ryan thrillers: it's a real story set in real place with real villains and real consequences, which makes for a more layered thriller than GAMES or THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER.Excellent supporting performances are turned in by Anne Archer (Mrs. Jack Ryan), Willem Dafoe, and Henry Czerny.

Pimpin` Critic 69 2013-03-24 13:59:05

A Major Turn Around in the Jack Ryan Series!

The first two Jack Ryan pictures failed to capture my interests in a spyflick but this movie didn't. While the plot really isn't out of this world.It is still a good plot which contains a lot of action sequences and withHarrison Ford on board there is a sense of adventure. I still haven't seen'The Sum of all Fears' but this is the best and perhaps the only movie inthe Jack Ryan series that I like so far. 3(***)out of 4(****)stars