I remember when it first came out, one critic in one magazine was praising it as not another good thriller but as The Thriller, The Great Movie, etc. etc!
I was too young to catch it in the movies. And I didn't find it at any video store either. So I waited to watch it through TV. And since days, it finally happened; I got to watch the masterpiece that I read about. However, I found nothing but a well-made propaganda through a well-made thriller.
For sure, it's attractive and solid. The thing about (Tom Clancy)'s work in movies is that it manufactures a hard conflict between great powers, shows the different reactions, pants with parallel marathons, and throws right in the middle a noble hero who had to face all the parties that don't understand his good aim, or understand it and block his efforts since they have another, mostly evil, agenda. So there are international serious matters happening, a kind of intelligence's games but it isn't James Bond's nonsense, and along with the well-knit suspense, and the good action, it manages to make a political satire as well. Ahh, sorry. Cancel the "political satire" here, since it doesn't totally exist!
(The Hunt for Red October) is pure propaganda work from start to finish. Actually, America is shown as the definite promise land. There is nothing slightly wrong with its leaders or men. And anyone but them is whether a deranged, helpless, or naive (the patriotic Russians; namely the enemy). Or a sophisticated genius (the submarine's generals); simply because wanting desperately to be under the wings of Uncle Sam!
It has classy talents which played perfect role in delivering the hot time. Most importantly; the meticulous detailing of the hunt. That itself was rare. That realm's niceties weren't well-studied, as this, much before. The sharp cinematography and editing. And (Connery) in that black suit, white lofty wig, playing a Soviet commander with unforgettable Scottish accent!! All leaded by (John McTiernan) in his first finest hour; ok, I love the guy to the extent of believing that he'll someday come back to his super "hunts" again!
I think it's near to flawless, if we're not talking about (Alec Baldwin)'s flat face and performance. And if you think that he's the worst (Jack Ryan). Then you have never watched (Ben Affleck) yet! (Baldwin) got the looks but not the depth. But here it wasn't about acting. It was a contest of which charisma would win in this ocean of chases. And (Baldwin) wasn't that effective to follow, especially when Mr. (Connery) is around.
It's smart deal, where the best about it is that it's a pro movie before being the propaganda that it is. So it's so watchable, not too common, Hollywood fare. But still the problem remains in me; I just don't fully enjoy these long and expensive touristic advertisements for "America is The Best"!
As a (Jack Ryan) movie, I liked (Clear and Present Danger - 1994) more. The world was gray there, not too radiantly white, red and blue!
I was too young to catch it in the movies. And I didn't find it at any video store either. So I waited to watch it through TV. And since days, it finally happened; I got to watch the masterpiece that I read about. However, I found nothing but a well-made propaganda through a well-made thriller.
For sure, it's attractive and solid. The thing about (Tom Clancy)'s work in movies is that it manufactures a hard conflict between great powers, shows the different reactions, pants with parallel marathons, and throws right in the middle a noble hero who had to face all the parties that don't understand his good aim, or understand it and block his efforts since they have another, mostly evil, agenda. So there are international serious matters happening, a kind of intelligence's games but it isn't James Bond's nonsense, and along with the well-knit suspense, and the good action, it manages to make a political satire as well. Ahh, sorry. Cancel the "political satire" here, since it doesn't totally exist!
(The Hunt for Red October) is pure propaganda work from start to finish. Actually, America is shown as the definite promise land. There is nothing slightly wrong with its leaders or men. And anyone but them is whether a deranged, helpless, or naive (the patriotic Russians; namely the enemy). Or a sophisticated genius (the submarine's generals); simply because wanting desperately to be under the wings of Uncle Sam!
It has classy talents which played perfect role in delivering the hot time. Most importantly; the meticulous detailing of the hunt. That itself was rare. That realm's niceties weren't well-studied, as this, much before. The sharp cinematography and editing. And (Connery) in that black suit, white lofty wig, playing a Soviet commander with unforgettable Scottish accent!! All leaded by (John McTiernan) in his first finest hour; ok, I love the guy to the extent of believing that he'll someday come back to his super "hunts" again!
I think it's near to flawless, if we're not talking about (Alec Baldwin)'s flat face and performance. And if you think that he's the worst (Jack Ryan). Then you have never watched (Ben Affleck) yet! (Baldwin) got the looks but not the depth. But here it wasn't about acting. It was a contest of which charisma would win in this ocean of chases. And (Baldwin) wasn't that effective to follow, especially when Mr. (Connery) is around.
It's smart deal, where the best about it is that it's a pro movie before being the propaganda that it is. So it's so watchable, not too common, Hollywood fare. But still the problem remains in me; I just don't fully enjoy these long and expensive touristic advertisements for "America is The Best"!
As a (Jack Ryan) movie, I liked (Clear and Present Danger - 1994) more. The world was gray there, not too radiantly white, red and blue!