Rent Jack Reacher (2012)

A bit flawed but a decent action movie - Jack Reacher review by AW

The movie certainly had its strengths. Tom Cruise, who played the role of Jack Reacher, gave a solid performance as the tough, no-nonsense ex-military investigator. The action scenes were well-executed, and the pacing of the movie kept me engaged from start to finish. However, on the other hand, there were some elements of the movie that left me feeling underwhelmed. For one, the plot felt a bit too convoluted and contrived at times. It was difficult to keep track of all the different characters and their motivations, and the twists and turns of the story felt a bit forced.

Additionally, I couldn't help but feel that the movie missed the mark when it came to capturing the essence of the Jack Reacher character. In the novels, Reacher is a towering, imposing figure, a true force of nature. However, Tom Cruise's portrayal felt a bit too polished and Hollywood-ized, lacking the rough edges and raw intensity that make the character so compelling. All in all, I'd say that the 2012 movie adaptation of Jack Reacher is a decent action movie, but it falls short when it comes to capturing the gritty realism and complexity of the original novels. If you're a fan of the books, you might find the movie a bit disappointing, but if you're just looking for a fun, mindless action flick, it's worth checking out.

Solidly Entertaining Action Thriller - Jack Reacher review by GI

This tightly written and directed film has gained an unfair reputation. It's a highly entertaining action thriller with a great mystery at the centre of the narrative, a wonderfully conceived central character and a plot that rattles along at a great pace. Tom Cruise may not fit the description of the character as portrayed in the potboiler book series but who cares. He's a mean and moody Jack Reacher, he fits the role as the anonymous drifter who takes interest in events where he chooses whereas the literary Reacher stands out like a sore thumb. In any case this is an arbitrary argument. The film can be judged on it's own merits. The story is a fairly straight forward thriller narrative. Five random people are gunned down by an apparently random sniper and the police quickly identify the suspect from masses of evidence found at the scene. He's a disaffected former soldier with mental health issues. The DA thinks he has a cast iron case until former Army investigator Reacher shows up to muddy the waters. There's the great cast; Rosamund Pike as a lawyer whose relationship with Reacher almost bubbles over into romance or at least sex but is neatly restrained and carried brilliantly by the two actors. Then there's Richard Jenkins, David Oleweyo, Robert Duvall and finally Werner Herzog who brings a Bondian baddie to the story, a first class piece of casting. Admittedly there's flaws, as usual Jai Courtney as a heavy is one dimensional and there's a few plot holes but overall this is a superb thriller, a great central car chase, some brutal violence and plot twists to keep the viewer interested. If you dismissed this the first time then give it another chance. Great fun.