Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit Blu-ray Movie Review

Bourne to be Ryan.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 13, 2014

The trailer for Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit did the film absolutely no favors. It made the movie look about as generically bland as could be, a James Bond or Jason Bourne clone with a touch of True Lies thrown into the mix in the typical "hero races against time" approach, complete with nifty edits, stylish fast-paced action clips, and text blurbs about "trusting no one" and other such trite trailer crutches. Sadly, the full film lives up to the trailer's promise of mediocrity. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit may be the slick, smooth Action thriller the trailer promises, but those external qualities are about all the movie has going for it. It's a classic example of a movie that's little more than a rehash of others like it, the prototypical "seen one, seen 'em all" motion picture that throws its hat into the arena but throws nothing novel alongside it. It's rather bland -- passably bland and entertaining on a very basic level but bland nonetheless -- and a film that will certainly be remembered for nothing more than upping its genre's total film count by one, if it's even remembered at all.

The latest of the many faces of Jack Ryan.

Jack Ryan (Chris Pine), a graduate of the London School of Economics, is severely wounded in a helicopter attack in 2003 over Afghanistan. His recovery is long and arduous, helped along by his intense focus and a tough but kindly therapist named Cathy Muller (Keira Knightley) with whom Ryan forms a bond. Upon recovery, he's recruited into the CIA by the mysterious Thomas Harper (Kevin Costner) who assigns him to covertly gather financial intelligence and uncover terrorist funding on Wall Street. Years into the job, he discovers hidden Russian accounts and deduces that they could be part of a larger plan to manipulate the American economy into a second Great Depression. He's reassigned to Moscow to audit the man behind the accounts, Viktor Cherevin (Kenneth Branagh). What follows isn't a routine audit but instead an unraveling web of danger and terror in which thousands of lives are stake.

Though it's little more than a clone of other, similar genre films, it's hard not to enjoy Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit on a basic level. It's very smooth and slick, expertly crafted, every scene a perfect example of modern filmmaking techniques flawlessly executed and edited. The action is well done and smartly limited; the movie is defined by its story and characters and not its action, and that the action is rather sparse in screen time only enhances its credibility and excitement. On the other hand, it's almost impossible to get into the movie on any level beyond the superficial, largely because there's simply nothing of value going on underneath. All of its emotions, even the ones that sort of work, are built on the backs of recycled character interactions and dynamics. The film absolutely fails to build the relationships to the point where the audience cares. What's here is fully transparent, with no real surprises about where the movie is headed, why it's headed there, or what the ultimate outcome will be. It's play-it-safe filmmaking 101, the quintessential example of a movie with no real purpose or value beyond empty entertainment.

Still, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit does manage to throw out a few minor dramatic surprises and lay the groundwork of a decent emotional core in the early moments of the first act when Ryan is wounded and he builds a relationship with Cathy. The film further finds a rather good confrontational chemistry between Chris Pine and Actor/Director Kenneth Branagh, the generational age gaps closed and the men playing on an equal footing when engaged in a battle of wits and verbal confrontations in the guise of pleasantries. Indeed, it's mostly in the acting where the movie finds its strengths. Pine is an excellent young Jack Ryan. As he showed in his portrayals of Captain Kirk in the newly rebooted Star Trek films, he's more than capable of playing, on one hand, a brash, strong, and almost naive character and on the other a refined, diplomatic statesman who's more mind than muscle, all characteristics also suited to the famed fictional CIA officer. Unfortunately, the "Ryan reboot" in which he plays is nowhere near as fulfilling as J.J. Abrams' take on old material. Pine is a major star and this is a role in which he should continue to fit comfortably in the future. Hopefully, the scriptwriters will provide him a more robust backdrop in which to further shape his take on the character, and hopefully one that returns to the well of Tom Clancy-sourced material, not just material that's Clancy-in-name-only.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit does look terrific on Blu-ray. Paramount's 1080p transfer is often dazzling. Its image clarity is outstanding, boasting an evenness and ability to display pinpoint details even in the darkest scenes. Brighter scenes, however, fare best. Here, viewers will see incredibly intimate facial textures, clothing lines, and background details. Even overhead shots are awash in impressive attention to detail and clarity. Several shots go ever-so-slightly fuzzy, though hardly enough to warrant more than a passing mention. Colors are exciting, bright, even, and accurate across the board. Color nuance and detail are impeccable, and the transfer never struggles in showing smooth gradations. Black levels are refined, appearing deep and inky, and evenly so, throughout. Likewise, skin tones never appear to betray natural shades. Light grain is frequently evident, rounding a gorgeous image into cinema-quality form.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit features a robust and precise DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack. The track is consistently dynamic, full, wide, and rich, delivering everything from robust musical notes to subtle ambiance with ease and lifelike accuracy. Music is very well spaced and plays with natural, enveloping stage presence. Clarity is strong throughout the range, and the bottom end is well defined yet heavy. Action sound effects are impeccably placed and detailed, whether the chaotic sounds of a helicopter before and after coming under fire, gunshots, or car crashes. The listening area effortlessly transforms into several locations that are, in the film, home to various instances of intense sonic mayhem, and the results are impressive every time. Even more subtle sound effects, like brass casings falling to the floor after ejection from a suppressed pistol, play with an uncanny lifelike sound. Light atmospheric effects help wrap the listener into the film. Gently falling rain and rolling thunder, typical big city din, and airport public address announcements all play with a lifelike clarity and precision placement. Dialogue flows evenly and clearly from the center. This is a top-notch, reference-capable soundtrack from Paramount.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit contains the following supplements. A DVD copy is included in the case, as are iTunes and UV digital copies.

• Audio Commentary: Director Kenneth Branagh and Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura discuss the film's score and its importance to the film, scene structure and story construction, budget, performances, plot specifics, character motivations, and much more. This is a well-spoken and consistently engaging commentary that ranks more highly than the film itself.
• Jack Ryan: The Smartest Guy in the Room (HD, 13:37): A look at the process of getting the new film off the ground, the process of reinventing the character and franchise while incorporating bits and pieces from the series' history, creating a relevant new-world plot, reworking the Spy film genre, character dynamics, and more.
• Sir Kenneth Branagh: The Tsar of Shadow Recruit (HD, 9:49): A piece dedicated to Branagh's direction and on-screen performed character.
• Jack Ryan: A Thinking Man of Action (HD, 5:19): A brief look at the making of several of the film's key action scenes and the thought processes behind action scene construction.
• Old Enemies Return (HD, 21:13): A lengthy look at the use of Russians as the film's villains, examining US-Russian history and the nations' present day relationship as it pertains to the film and the real world. A number of academics are interviewed in this fascinating piece with real-world geopolitical and historical knowledge value.
• Deleted & Extended Scenes (HD, 5:03): Are You Home Yet? (extended scene), Speeding Through Moscow (deleted scene), Security (deleted scene), Prefer to Walk (deleted scene), Tracking the Van (deleted scene), and Alternate Ending. Available with optional commentary by Director Kenneth Branagh and Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit offers good, fundamental entertainment delivered by an almost completely hollow vessel. The story is weak and weary, wholly unoriginal and unimaginative. There are precious few surprises and the film plays out to conclusion just as one expects of a generic Action-Thriller. It's well acted and slickly assembled, but there ends its high points. Tom Clancy fans may be pleased with Chris Pine in the rebooted lead role but disappointed by just about everything else. Paramount's Blu-ray release of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit delivers first-rate 7.1 lossless audio, excellent 1080p video, and a decent array of bonus content. Unfortunately, the film's quality only merits a recommendation as a rental.