How Jaws set the standard for the summer blockbuster, and how Hollywood perfected a formula that has endured for decades.
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Title: Patriot Games (1992)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Harrison Ford | ... | Jack Ryan | |
| Anne Archer | ... | Cathy Ryan | |
| Patrick Bergin | ... | Kevin O'Donnell | |
| Sean Bean | ... | Sean Miller | |
| Thora Birch | ... | Sally Ryan | |
| James Fox | ... | Lord Holmes | |
| Samuel L. Jackson | ... | Robby | |
| Polly Walker | ... | Annette | |
| J.E. Freeman | ... | Marty Cantor | |
| James Earl Jones | ... | Admiral Greer | |
| Richard Harris | ... | Paddy O'Neil | |
| Alex Norton | ... | Dennis Cooley | |
| Hugh Fraser | ... | Watkins | |
| David Threlfall | ... | Inspector Highland | |
| Alun Armstrong | ... | Owens | |
Former CIA analyst, Jack Ryan is in England with his family on vacation when he suddenly witnesses an explosion outside Buckingham Palace. It is revealed that some people are trying to abduct a member of the Royal Family but Jack intervenes, killing one of them and capturing the other, and stops the plan in its tracks. Afterwards, he learns that they're Irish revolutionaries and the two men are brothers. During his court hearing the one that's still alive vows to get back at Jack but is sentenced and that seems to be the end of it. However, whilst the man is being transported, he is broken out. Jack learns of this but doesn't think there's anything to worry about. But, when he is at the Naval Academy someone tries to kill him. He learns that they are also going after his family and so he rushes to find them, safe but having also been the victims of a failed assassination. That's when Jack decides to rejoin the CIA, and they try to find the man before he makes another attempt. Written by rcs0411@yahoo.com
OK, so it has some plot holes, and I generally spend a good amount of time detailing for my husband the deviations from the novel (which are many, since Hollywood doesn't make many five-hour movies). And it's predictable and artless and has plenty of clichés. I make it a point not to read IMDB reviews for a movie until after I've written my own, but even so I can guess that this one has been torn apart on these points probably at least a dozen times. Now that that's over with, I'm going to admit that I like this movie. It feels like a tight thriller, good for those nights when I want entertainment with some minor complexity. I like to "go along for the ride", so to speak, even though I know how it ends. And going back to the first time I saw this, before I'd read the book, I remember being on the edge of my seat quite a bit.
Thora Birch does this film a lot of good. Her expressions and lines are quite well-acted, and she's cute without being syrupy. Harrison Ford is Harrison Ford; you either like him or you don't, and this movie isn't going to change your mind (I happen to like him).
Don't go renting this one if you want an artsy movie, or a beautiful movie, or a movie with a perfectly tight script. But if you can enjoy a film for simple entertainment value, and you like Harrison Ford ;), this is a good one for after the kids are in bed.