JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT has unveiled a new action-packed clip that throws Chris Pine‘s titular character right into the conversation with the likes of James Bond and Jason Bourne. Aside from all three of them having names that start with a J, they are also the leading characters in gritty spy franchises.
While Jack Ryan has been portrayed on screen by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, and Ben Affleck, Kenneth Branagh‘s reboot of the Tom Clancy character takes us back to his origins as a CIA operative. Baldwin’s take on the character was all talk and Ford was basically Han Solo crossed with Indiana Jones in a suit and tie, but Pine’s portrayal seems to be what the Affleck version wanted to be: young, dumb, and holding a gun. In fact, the hotel bathroom fight scene in this new clip reminds me quite a bit of both scenes from CASINO ROYALE and THE BOURNE IDENTITY. Homage or are we in line for a carbon copy of those movies?
The trailers all point to a nicely shot action thriller with interesting turns from Kevin Costner as Ryan’s mentor, Keira Knightley as Ryan’s wife, and Branagh himself as the Russian villain. All together, this clip looks good, but I am still not entirely sold on this movie yet. Check out the mega clip and some new TV spots below.
JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT opens on January 17, 2014.