Rating: 
Summary: Action flicks at their best!
Review: Forget Chuck Norris, Seagal or Van Damme...this trilogy is what action films ought to be: REAL plots mingled with sharp dialogue, wit, great special effects that support the film, sympathetic characters, class and INTELLIGENCE.Each is filled with memorable characters, much more realistic than the novels which are at times stereotypical to the point of distraction. Clancy's tantrums over the films are well known, but given the difference in media, there is really little that is lost in technological tension...would we REALLY want to sit through a history of a Cray computer? The DVD's are the earlier ones...a simple menu with chapter and audio selections, but unlike most releases nowadays, the films quite ably hold their own without several hours of documentaries , commentaries or other extras.
Rating:
Summary: Harrison Rocks!
Review: Four stars for "...Red October", and two stars apiece for the other two. Four + two + two = eight divided by three movies = 2 2/3, which rounds up to a three star rating for the 3-disc set. This is a no-brainer. Red October is a LOT better for 2 important reasons: a. Alec Baldwin looks like he really wants to be there, is taking an interest in the proceedings, and doesn't look like he's half-asleep, and b. It's the truest to the book. Harrison Ford on the other hand, almost single-handedly screws up the other two. I say almost, 'cause he had help in these botch jobs. Who's in charge in Hollywood, I wonder sometimes. Someone who says "Let's buy the rights to a blockbuster novel, one that was so excitingly well written they couldn't keep it on the bookstore shelves! Next, let's change the whole story before we film it!" Between that pinheaded type of thinking, by-the-numbers directing, and Ford's drowsy performances these movies never had a chance. There's a reason that Ford's greatest acting triumphs to date are in cartoonish space epics aimed at children, and that reason is all too evident when he tries to play with the grownups. Save your money and your time--buy "Red October" and pass on the others.
Rating: 
Summary: SHHHHH!!! You'll Wake Mr. FORD!!!!!!
Review: Four stars for "...Red October", and two stars apiece for the other two. Four + two + two = eight divided by three movies = 2 2/3, which rounds up to a three star rating for the 3-disc set. This is a no-brainer. Red October is a LOT better for 2 important reasons: a. Alec Baldwin looks like he really wants to be there, is taking an interest in the proceedings, and doesn't look like he's half-asleep, and b. It's the truest to the book. Harrison Ford on the other hand, almost single-handedly screws up the other two. I say almost, 'cause he had help in these botch jobs. Who's in charge in Hollywood, I wonder sometimes. Someone who says "Let's buy the rights to a blockbuster novel, one that was so excitingly well written they couldn't keep it on the bookstore shelves! Next, let's change the whole story before we film it!" Between that pinheaded type of thinking, by-the-numbers directing, and Ford's drowsy performances these movies never had a chance. There's a reason that Ford's greatest acting triumphs to date are in cartoonish space epics aimed at children, and that reason is all too evident when he tries to play with the grownups. Save your money and your time--buy "Red October" and pass on the others.
Rating:
Summary: Harrison Rocks!
Review: Harrison Ford is excellent in Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger. The only thing I don't like about Hunt for Red October is Alec Baldwin. Harrison should have played Jack Ryan in that too. Alec Baldwin STINKS!
Rating: 
Summary: Three Terrific, Intelligent Thrillers that just get Better.
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: As Good as Movies Can Get
Review: I have to say it: the book beat the movie on all of these movies. Now, let me say this: It doesn't matter! All three of these movies are excellent, with good acting and story, and that is simply you do not find too often in Hollywood today. If you don't already own these films, buy them today.
Rating:
Summary: A great trilogy
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Ok movies, but not like the books
Review: These are all quite good movies. However, only The Hunt for Red October is anywhere like the book. I was disappointed in both Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger as the movies were quite unfaithful to the books. (I recall that at the time Tom Clancy wasn't impressed either.) I had a hard time buying Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan as he seemed too old for the part. Any fan of the Jack Ryan series of books will know what I mean. Nevertheless, all are quite entertaining movies with lots of suspense and action. Viewers who haven't read the books will thoroughly enjoy them all.
Rating:
Summary: Not for Progressive Scan DVD Players
Review: These are well made, engaging movies but for those of us with Progressive Scan DVD players and HDTVs, the Widescreen Letterbox format will not be displayed properly. You will have to resort to an S-Video connection (lower quality than progressive scan) since most HDTVs do not allow an Aspect Ratio adjustment for non-anamorphic widescreen DVDs. In short, look for Widescreen-Anamorphic DVDs for the highest picture quality.
Rating:
Summary: Not for Progressive Scan DVD Players
Review: These are well made, engaging movies but for those of us with Progressive Scan DVD players and HDTVs, the Widescreen Letterbox format will not be displayed properly. You will have to resort to an S-Video connection (lower quality than progressive scan) since most HDTVs do not allow an Aspect Ratio adjustment for non-anamorphic widescreen DVDs. In short, look for Widescreen-Anamorphic DVDs for the highest picture quality.
|
