Patriot Games : Blu-ray Review

The Movie Itself is directed by Philip Noyce.

Eschewing the epic, politico-action narrative, Patriot Games — the sequel to The Hunt for Red October — favors the personal and intimate side of the hero, Jack Ryan. In a word, the film is about vengeance. We’re introduced to a far older and more experienced Jack Ryan — one that’s since left the CIA. As luck would have it Jack finds himself walking directly into an assassination attempt on the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at the hands of a radical arm of the Provisional IRA. Naturally, the good-ole-boy that he is, Jack snaps into hero mode and manages to foil the attempt. Unfortunately for Jack and his family, one of the assassins lost his younger brother in the firefight, and he’s none-too-keen on letting Jack live his life in peace. It is this vendetta that provides the backbone for the film, and it does so, quite well.

Patriot Games has long since been my favorite of the Jack Ryan films. I suppose it has something to do with the fact that it was the first one I saw. Then again, it could be that it is one of the more exciting films in the bunch because of the tense vengeful core. Or, maybe it’s because it feels the most visceral and edgy because it is the sole Jack Ryan film to bear the “R” rating. Whatever the reason, I simply love this film. It isn’t without flaws but it is one of the most entertaining films in the collection, alongside The Hunt for Red October.

While McTiernan expertly crafted the action in The Hunt for Red October, Noyce allows the story to revolve and fully envelop Jack Ryan. As a result, the viewer is treated to a far more comprehensive understanding of Clancy’s every-man hero. Compared with The Hunt for Red October, Jack Ryan is no longer a mere narrative device. Through Noyce’s careful direction and Harrison’s performance, Jack Ryan takes on an entirely new level of realism. He’s completely human, heroic, moral, and badass. Of course, the vengeful currents that course throughout the film are universal, and that is yet another reason why the film succeeds on many levels. We all care for our families, and we all seek to defend them from danger, regardless of the form. Here, it just so happens that Ryan’s moral fortitude leads him to trade the life of one man for another — an undeniably gray area — and in effect jeopardize the lives of his wife, daughter and himself. It’s a tricky predicament, no doubt, and the ensuing drama makes for one of the best revenge flicks of recent memory.

The Hunt for Red October : Blu-ray Review

The Movie Itself is directed by John McTiernan.

It wasn’t long ago that John McTiernan’s name actually meant something in Hollywood — and I do mean that with the utmost respect. He’s responsible for some of my favorite action films of all time: Die Hard, Predator, Die Hard: with a Vengeance, and The Hunt for Red October. Obviously, the latter will be the focus of this review, but I wanted to meditate a second on this accomplished director, and his diverse body of work.

His resume is slim, but packed with instant classics, as well as a few misfires: Rollerball, Basic, Last Action Hero. Despite his failings, he is arguably one of the best action directors of all time. Some may level criticisms at his style, claiming that it is dated and predominantly 80’s, but with one look at Die Hard or his other films, and I’m sure you’ll agree that the same film could pass for a recent release — fashion and the age of the actors aside. In other words, it’s not nearly as dated as other 80’s hits.

For the most part, I believe his films continue to thrive due to his neutral, and objective approach to lensing the story. There isn’t an abundance of elaborate camera movements, or a hyper-stylized veneer to the picture. It’s merely action captured on celluloid. Only, with McTiernan’s films, the action is always superb. This is what helped set him apart from his peers and this is why his films continue to accrue new fans to this day.

The Hunt for Red October is no exception. As the first of the Jack Ryan films, it benefits from having a blank slate, and as such, the film had the unique opportunity to set the tone for the franchise. Sadly, this was Alec Baldwin’s first and final outing as the CIA analyst, but he handles the role well. He might lack the hardened stare of Harrison’s jaded Ryan, but when we see the young Alec Baldwin at the turn of the decade — and subsequently the beginning of his film career — it’s hard to imagine a better fit for the role. Baldwin brings a genuine sense of wonderment and intrigue to the role, which appears lost on the older/later incarnations of the character. All in all, Baldwin’s Jack Ryan is entirely believable, capable and quite simply a thrill to behold. And of course, let’s not forget the ever-captivating Sean Connery in an unforgettable role as Captain Marko Ramius.

It’s a shame that Baldwin hasn’t returned to the role, but then again, there’s no shortage of Jack Ryan novels, and Baldwin seems to be regaining much deserved respect with the raging success of 30 Rock. Perhaps in time, we’ll see Baldwin — and even McTiernan — revisiting the Jack Ryan series. I’d be more than curious to see how it turns out.

Battle of Britain : Blu-ray Review

The Movie Itself is directed by Guy Hamilton.

I wasn’t sure why the name Guy Hamilton seemed so familiar, but it did. As the main titles ran across the screen I had this intense feeling of regret for not being able to place the name. It wasn’t until I hit up IMDB that I gave myself a swift slap across the forehead. Hamilton helmed four James Bond films — three of my favorites: Goldfinger, Diamonds are Forever, and The Man with the Golden Gun.

Alas this discovery didn’t quell the sour feeling in my stomach after having endured a painful recreation of the Battle of Britain for a total of 132 minutes. How could one of my favorite Bond directors have gone so wrong, and delivered such a pithy war film?

In truth, I’m not sure there is ever a good answer to that question. Sometimes, good directors go wrong… or they just make poor decisions.

“Battle of Britain” is one such decision. It is easily the worst WWII film I’ve ever had the displeasure of viewing. Seriously. Nowhere in the entirely all-too-bloated running time was there anything remotely redeeming — the exception being Laurence Olivier, Robert Shaw and Michael Caine’s performances. Unfortunately for us, all of them are underused and under served given the lackluster script material. As you might expect, the film crumbles under the drive to split the screen time up evenly amongst the big name actors that populate the narrative. The result is a mishmash of worthless side-stories and trivial character development — none of which makes for a pleasurable or engaging film viewing experience.

In the film’s defense, it is a touch old, given its 1969 release date, but that doesn’t excuse it entirely. It’s not hard to envision the story of the Battle of Britain being a compelling drama, perhaps in the form of a far more focused, modern remake.

So little was made of the fact that London was the underdog — the biggest mishap of the film by far — and the aviators that littered the skies were so pompous and cavalier you would have never guessed that the situations presented in the film were as grave as they were in real life. In other words, there was no sense of danger, whatsoever, and in a war film, that’s a recipe for disaster no matter how you slice it.

Taking all of the film’s misfires and mistakes, I can’t help but give this film a very generous “1.5 Star rating” for the film. The reason? The exceptional cast. Without this, I can’t imagine anyone would still be talking about the film today, aside from how dull it truly is.