This should tell you something about whether I like "The Hunt for Red October" or not -- my dad and I have watched it so many times I've lost count!
What do we like about it? Well, for one thing, it has a plot that keeps us on the edge of our seats. "The Hunt for Red October" is about a Soviet commander named Marko Ramius, whose suppressed disillusionment with the Soviet Union finally reaches the boiling point when he's given command of the Red October, a submarine with an (almost) completely silent propulsion device called a "caterpillar" drive. Ramius knows its only purpose is as a first-strike weapon, and in complete disillusionment, he decides to defect and take the sub with him. Most of his officers are also defecting. Jack Ryan, the CIA analyst, is the first person to realize Ramius's intentions -- but he has to persuade the other Americans before it's too late. And that's going to be hard, since the Soviets are saying Ramius intends to fire his missiles at the United States and want the Americans to help sink the Red October!
Besides the thrilling plot (admittedly less complex than the book, but movies are less complex than books for the most part), there's also great acting from most of the actors. Leading the way is Sean Connery, as Ramius (even with a barely-concealed Scottish accent, which I didn't really notice), but right behind him is Alec Baldwin as Ryan. Also getting high marks on my list are Courtney B. Vance as Seaman Ronald Jones, Scott Glenn as Commander Mancusco, and Sam Neill as First Officer Borodin. I could name others, but I'd take up too much space.
But what I love most is not the thrilling plot or the fine acting, but the many memorable (and oftentimes witty) lines in the film. There's Borodin's vivid dream of living in Montana (which makes his final line so sad); Ramius's "Verify our range to target. One ping only."; and Ryan's "Next time Jack, write a goddamned memo!"; just to name a few. But my favorite line belongs to the first officer of the Konovalov. When he hears there's a torpedo aimed at the Konovalov (their own torpedo, too), he says, "You arrogant ass! You've killed us!"
In short, I highly recommend "The Hunt for Red October"!
Belle Book
What do we like about it? Well, for one thing, it has a plot that keeps us on the edge of our seats. "The Hunt for Red October" is about a Soviet commander named Marko Ramius, whose suppressed disillusionment with the Soviet Union finally reaches the boiling point when he's given command of the Red October, a submarine with an (almost) completely silent propulsion device called a "caterpillar" drive. Ramius knows its only purpose is as a first-strike weapon, and in complete disillusionment, he decides to defect and take the sub with him. Most of his officers are also defecting. Jack Ryan, the CIA analyst, is the first person to realize Ramius's intentions -- but he has to persuade the other Americans before it's too late. And that's going to be hard, since the Soviets are saying Ramius intends to fire his missiles at the United States and want the Americans to help sink the Red October!
Besides the thrilling plot (admittedly less complex than the book, but movies are less complex than books for the most part), there's also great acting from most of the actors. Leading the way is Sean Connery, as Ramius (even with a barely-concealed Scottish accent, which I didn't really notice), but right behind him is Alec Baldwin as Ryan. Also getting high marks on my list are Courtney B. Vance as Seaman Ronald Jones, Scott Glenn as Commander Mancusco, and Sam Neill as First Officer Borodin. I could name others, but I'd take up too much space.
But what I love most is not the thrilling plot or the fine acting, but the many memorable (and oftentimes witty) lines in the film. There's Borodin's vivid dream of living in Montana (which makes his final line so sad); Ramius's "Verify our range to target. One ping only."; and Ryan's "Next time Jack, write a goddamned memo!"; just to name a few. But my favorite line belongs to the first officer of the Konovalov. When he hears there's a torpedo aimed at the Konovalov (their own torpedo, too), he says, "You arrogant ass! You've killed us!"
In short, I highly recommend "The Hunt for Red October"!
Belle Book
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