I've never seen the other Jack Ryan movies, based on the Tom Clancy books, so I do not have them to compare, but Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is an origin story of the character, so a familiarity to the other plots are not needed. This is also the first Jack Ryan movie that isn't based on one of the books.
Chris Pine stars as Jack Ryan, a character previously portrayed by Alec Baldwin, Ben Affleck, and twice by Harrison Ford, who is at this time a foreign exchange student in England studying economics. It is there that he notices students running to buildings to view the television. He follows, confused, until he sees smoke billowing from the Twin Towers in New York. Next we see him as a Marine fighting in Afghanistan. A man of action. No hesitation. He's injured and must learn to walk again, thus leading him to the two people who will influence the next chapter in his life: His future love interest Cathy Muller (Keira Knightley) and CIA mentor Thomas Harper (Kevin Costner).
You may think I've given away most of the plot detailing these events, but I haven't. Everything I've stated is all in the exposition.
This new Jack Ryan movie is intelligent and fast paced. You can't sleep through the story and understand everything that is taking place and why it's happening. The general theme of this movie is scary, feeling as if such a scenario is possible. And Kenneth Branagh, who both directed and played the villain, is interesting and quite the foe.
Where I feel the movie lacks is in some of the scene transitions and pacing. The first part of the movie jumps around a little, and the motivations of the characters briefly explained.
Overall a fun thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat.
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and intense action, and brief strong language.
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