Tom Clancy gives thumbs up to Sum Of All Fears (1 Viewer)

[Dennis Reno]

Having read all of Clancy's "Jack Ryan" books (never read any of the Op-Center) I have a hard time seeing how they expect Ben Affleck to carry the series. Unless, of course, they use makeup to make him appear 10-15 years older! Its not that Affleck can't act, I think he will do OK. Its simply the age issue.

As for SOAF, I read a few years ago that the people writing the script wanted to make the terrorists "right-wing radicals" and that Clancy was furious over it. Seems that the writers didn't want to upset Arab movie-goers. Any truth to this? Also, who are the bad guys in the film?

I wish mini-series were still popular. IMO, Clancy novels need at least 6 hours to really give a fair overview of the majority of details.

 

[Doug_H]

I saw the preview this weekend. It is going to be very difficult to take Ben seriously in this part. i'm not sure who might be better and I am willing to give himn the chance but it isn't going to be easy.

 

[Anthony Hom]

I noticed that Morgan Freeman is in SOAF. Is he playing Greer, or is he a different character?

 

[Brian_J]

I for one, am not thrilled to see him playing Jack Ryan, but I do not dislike him as an actor. Its just that he seems more appropriate to parts like in his other films to date. He has a certain smarminess to him.

Lucky for Affleck, this is the type movie that carries the actor and not vice-versa. We shall see...

Brian

 

[John_VI]

Anthony - He can't be playing Greer, since Greer died in CAPD. Hell, as poorly cast as this movie seems to be (re: Affleck), maybe Morgan Freeman is playing John Kelly!!! LMAO!!

Okay seriously. Maybe it could be the President, but I doubt it. More than likely a Senator or the head of the FBI/CIA. Other opinions?

 

[Paul Richardson]

This just in: George Lucas gives thumbs up to Attack of the Clones!
Tom Cruise gives thumbs up to Minority Report!
David Manning gives thumbs up to Deuce Bigalow meets The Animal!

 

[Paul W]

David Manning gives thumbs up to Deuce Bigalow meets The Animal!

LMFAO

 

[cafink]

Morgan Freeman plays "Cabot," a high-ranking official of some sort. I don't recall his exact job, I've never been good at remembering that sort of thing, but I guess readers of the book will be familiar with his character.
Paul:

 

[Mark E J]

Having read all of Clancy's "Jack Ryan" books (never read any of the Op-Center) I have a hard time seeing how they expect Ben Affleck to carry the series. Unless, of course, they use makeup to make him appear 10-15 years older! Its not that Affleck can't act, I think he will do OK. Its simply the age issue.

They are starting the series over. This film is the FIRST in a new series. It has no connection to any of the previous films. Jack Ryan is an entry level analyst working at the Russian Desk.

 

[Shayne Lebrun]

Its simply the age issue.

It's because of the age issue that they're using Affleck; they've re-created Ryan as the 'Patriot Games' version, to allow for action, and to allow for a franchise.

There's a link to an article in another SoAF thread that's required reading, me thinks, for all the Clancy fans (myself included) who were/are leery of the changes.

 

[Sean Oneil]

Is he getting points on the back end of this film? Did he get points on HFRO, or CAPD? Just curious, because I have no idea. It might be a good film, but I would still like to hear it from someone other than the person who wrote it.

 

[Scott Weinberg]

I saw Sum of All Fears tonight, and liked it quite a bit. Since I realize that the 'Clancy' flicks have some hardcore fans, here's how I'd rate them all:
The Hunt for Red October - 5/5 stars. I love this movie!
Patriot Games - 2/5 stars. Dull. I remember very little.
Clear & Present Danger - 3/5 stars. Long running time for very little payoff. This one I should probably see again, though.
Sum of All Fears - 4/5 stars. Definitely has a few flaws (Affleck shows little 'oomph', the editing is a bit choppy towards Act III), but overall it's a fast-paced and intense potboiler. GREAT cast and a few good jolts that I didn't see coming. I'm curious to see what the hardcore Clancy fans think, but I dug it.

 

[Dennis Reno]

Thanks for the info Shayne, I'll check it out!

 

[Ushabye]

If you check the credits of SOAF you'll notice that Clancy is one of the producers, so of course HE's gonna give it a good review!

 

[Paul E. Fox II]

The Sum of All Fears was one of my LEAST favorite Clancy novels though I liked the way it wrapped up.

I also was running around on 9/11 telling those people I work with that were still capable of independant thought that "someone had read Debt of Honor".

and

I too believe to start the series over, maybe they should have started with "Without Remorse" and talk some about John Kelly! Clark and Chavez are absolutely my favorite characters in Clancy's universe, even more than one Jack Ryan!

Now...someone talk to me about "Red Rabbit"...a new Clancy novel? Hmph....guess I'll have to forego a DVD for at least once!

 

[Hakan Powers]

Paul,
I started a thread about Red Rabbit over in After Hours when I first heard of it. The thread is here

 

[Brian J Dupuis]

I simply refuse to believe that with all the bitching about the casting for Jack Ryan in the various movies that no one has lambasted what I think of as the worst casting decision in history: Willem Dafoe as John Clark. You have got to be kidding me. That mamby-pamby little dweeb couldn't scratch his butt with both hands, much less get through SEAL training and any of the other "interesting" things Clark is supposed to have accomplished. Reminds me of a line in Rainbow Six at the beginning, something about the hijacker feeling threatened by Clark's size, hence his desire to feel more powerful by controlling him. Just picture Willem Dafoe in that role! Who on the planet would feel intimidated by Willem Dafoe?!
Now, please let's hope "someone's" not listening and is right now casting The Rock, Jesse Ventura, Lou Ferrigno or someone similarly hideous in the role of John Clark in the 2003 production of Without Remorse. Guess I should be careful what I wish for (or against, as the case may be).
Oh, before I start a firestorm, that's a fictional "2003 production of Without Remorse" .

 

[Malcolm R]

Who on the planet would feel intimidated by Willem Dafoe?!

Spider-Man, hopefully!

 

[Paul E. Fox II]

Yeah, I was pretty dismayed with Willem (or however you spell it) as JC too, but not all SEALs are huge. That being said, I understand from reading the books that the REAL John Clark (Kelly) is a rather large fellow.
That was only ONE of the things that really bothered me about Clear and Present Danger, which is one of my All Time Favorite Tom Clancy Novels (actually I really like just about all of them but there are levels after all).
Yeah, I'm hopeing for a much different JC in "Without Remorse", but I thought it had died since I haven't heard anything about it since hearing about a possibility of Keanu Reeves being in it some years ago.

 

[Brian J Dupuis]

being in it some years ago

/me faints
Alright, I'll settle for The Rock. Hell, I'll settle for Robin Williams for that matter .