[Perdogg]

I had never heard of the character of Jack Reacher until I saw ‘Skyfall’, let alone read any of the novels. I can understand why people complained about Tom Cruise playing a character 6’4” and for Tom Cruise being Tom Cruise. I am a big fan of Fleming-Bond, yet when I complain about Craig-Bond, I get comments like “it is a James Bond for crying out loud” and “Bond isn’t a real person”.

In 1987, Stephen King complained about Arnold Schwarzenegger playing Ben Richards in his novel ‘The Running Man’. However, such prejudices should not keep conservatives away from this movie. This is probably one of the most conservative movies to come out of Hollywood in a while.

The movie starts off with a horrific killing in Pittsburgh, where the movie takes place, and apparently it is committed by a retired Army sniper James Barr played by Joseph Sikora. Instead of confessing, he request that the police question Jack Reacher a retired Army policeman. Before Reacher can show up, Barr is beaten into coma. Reacher shows up at the hospital with the DA Rodin and Officer Emerson to question Barr and there he meets Rodin’s daughter, Helen Rodin, played the ever beautiful Rosmund Pike. There is not a scene in the film where the doe-eyed Rosmund Pike does not look stunning even though she struggles to keep her faux-American accent and to keep her ever jiggling cleavage in her tight dresses. Helen is defending Barr, apparently, because she has issues with her father the DA, who never takes a case he cannot lose.

Reacher is reluctant to get involved because he attempted to bring charges against Barr years before for a crime Barr committed in Iraq. Reacher only agrees to help Helen Rodin if she agrees to actually learn about Barr’s victim, which she does. After conducting a preliminary investigation and a seemingly coincidental incident, Reacher comes to the conclusion that Barr was frame for the murder. The movie with its twists and turns eventually leads to the final battle in a construction site and Cruise’s confrontation with the bad guy, played by Werner Herzog.

The thing I like about ‘Jack Reacher’ is the thing that was lacking in ‘Skyfall’. There is no psychobabble, no doubt among Cruise that what he is doing is right. This movie clearly delineates good and evil and is proud of it. Cruise is a man in this movie. He makes decisions without asking for permission and manages to take control of his situation. He can utter his lines too.

Despite the skepticism as Cruise as an action hero, he plays it convincingly enough to carry the film. This movie is not perfect, it suffers from the same clichés that any other crime film drama suffers from. This movie surprisingly lacks a major studio feel, despite having Cruise as its main star. I wish there was a little more background of the bad guy.

As a side note, the movie was edited in respect of the Sandy Hook victims, which one can easily figure out what scene was edited. However, unphased by events, Hollywood offers more violence in the coming months. The soundtrack by Joe Kraemer is appropriate and effective. There is no advantage to seeing this film in a theatre, if you want to wait until it hits netflicks in the spring and summer, it would not affect the quality of the movie.

[Perdogg]

ping

[Casie]

I hate that I know too much about his real life to enjoy seeing his movies. Now all his facial expressions look like variations of couch jumping for Oprah or his psycho attack on Brook Shields when she was suffering with postpartum depression, which he declared "not a real thing".

I can't even see his movie character. I can just see his freak face.

[Rummyfan]

Thanks for the heads up. Curious to see this flick.

[Eye of Unk]

I passed this movie up, possibly I will buy the Bluray disc later. I just cannot accept Tc and his scientology crowd, or his troll fan base who insist on hyping up this movie on other forums.

TC just isn’t Jack Reacher period.

[irishtenor]

jack Reacher is 6’5, not 5’6.
Sorry, Tommy, you are no Jack Reacher.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

I am a Hollywood cynic of the first order. If Hollywood fell into the Pacific tomorrow I would hoist a cheer. However, having read every Reacher novel to date, I was amazed by this movie. It was obvious Tommy has read probably all the novels. You may not agree with his interpretations but the production and stunt work was simply stupendous. It’s my humble opinion that Tom worked his ass off to stay true to the spirit of Jack Reacher. He gave it everything he had. He drove that Chevelle SS for all it was worth. (Tom did the stunt driving as if you couldn’t tell.)

The sound work of that big block was magnificent I felt that big block thunder like no movie ever before. The scene in the back room of the auto parts store was so small and intimate. It’s so refreshing to see a film not over produced. It was what it was and I feel it may be a breakthrough movie in the same spirit of the original Die Hard.

just my 2 cents. Can’t wait for the Blue Ray so I can crank it up whenever the mood strikes me.

[Usagi_yo]

You said no spoilers then you included major spoiler.

[EveningStar]

ping

[A_perfect_lady]

I watched it last night, and I really enjoyed it. I never read any Jack Reacher books (I didn't even know they existed) so I just went in thinking it was... actually, I didn't know. Spy movie? Revenge? I couldn't tell.

About halfway through I realized that plotwise, it reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel. About the time Reacher was asking Helen "What did you learn?" (You know what I mean.) Ultimately, I described it to my friends as what you'd get if you took a sort of Billy Jack character and put him in an Agatha Christie novel.

[Impy]

I may go to the movies tomorrow or this weekend for the first time in a while, maybe to this or Django.

[Impy]

As a side note, the movie was edited in respect of the Sandy Hook victim

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Down with censorship.

[Hot Tabasco]

Tom Cruise playing a character 6’4”

John Rhys Davies is 6'1" and he played a dwarf in LOTR.....Amazing what they can do with cinematography today.

[dblshot]

Just got back from Jack Reacher. Despite my reservations about Cruise playing the part it was a good movie. I didn’t get the scene where Jack selects a shirt and coat from a closet full of the same kinds of shirts and coats. Jack wouldn’t have a closet full of clothes. Movies are different than books, they have to move it along so you don’t get the characters history and thoughts like you can in a book. Which is fine. This was the best movie I have seen in a while Three stars for sure, maybe even 3 1/2.

[ConservativeLawyer]

I'm a big fan of Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels and I was so disappointed to learn that Tom Cruise had the lead role.

I had to see the movie though because I'm such a fan of the novels and I must say Tom Cruise did a fantastic job.

He definitely captured the spirit and vibe of Reacher and the movie was well done. Great lines. Awesome characters. Probably the best movie I have seen in a long time.