6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 3.4 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Jack Ryan, an ex-Marine, New York-based financial analyst and undercover CIA spy, uncovers a Russian plot to finance a terrorist attack designed to collapse the U.S. economy. Ryan must race against time to save America and his wife.
Starring: Chris Pine, Keira Knightley, Kevin Costner, Kenneth Branagh, Lenn KudrjawizkiAction | 100% |
Thriller | 33% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
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: 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 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 contains the following supplements. A DVD copy is included in the case, as are iTunes and UV digital copies.
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.
Bonus Disc
2014
2014
2014
2014
2019
30th Anniversary Edition
1992
2014
20th Anniversary
2002
2017
2019
1994
2015
2011
2018
2017
2011
Extended Cut
2013
2019
Bastille Day
2016
2013
2017
2018-2023
2002
2018