On C List of Movie Reviews

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Clear and Present Danger (1994)

Rate: 10
Viewed: 1/04, 2/05, 9/08, 8/18

ClearPres
9/08: A thinking man's film, Clear and Present Danger is another thrilling ball of yarn from Tom Clancy and is more improved as compared to Patriot Games.

Harrison Ford is an entertaining actor, and Jack Ryan is my favorite from him besides Indiana Jones. By far, the most memorable character is Ernesto Escobar who's played by Miguel Sandoval. He has a great scene which takes place during a batting practice session.

Speaking of villains, there aren't one, two, or three but many of them. Not only are they from the bad side, but they are also from the good side. That's why the movie is interesting.

Among the President of the United States, Ernesto Escobar, James Ritter, and Félix Cortez, who's the biggest badass? It's a good question. I'm not sure, but I admit they're all great in their own way. Henry Czerny, what a fabulous performance. I love it when he goes "Boom." The same goes for Joaquim de Almeida who's unforgettable as the Latin Jack Ryan. There are classic lines such as:

"The old Two-Step Potomac."

"I don't dance."

"Boom."

"Do you play tennis?"

"How dare you come in here and lecture me!"

"How dare you, sir?"

"Boom."

"Jack, computer theft is a serious crime."

"You are such a boy scout."

"The course of action I'd suggest is a course of action I can't suggest."

"Boom."

"How dare you come into this office and bark at me like some little junkyard dog? I am the President of the United States!"

"Boom."

The cast is great: Harrison Ford, Anne Archer, James Earl Jones, Willem Dafoe, Donald Moffat, Joaquim de Almeida, Harris Yulin, Miguel Sandoval, and Henry Czerny.

All in all, Clear and Present Danger is the best Jack Ryan movie ever made.

8/18: Clear and Present Danger is by far the best film of the Jack Ryan franchise.

The story is so good with many kinds of villains, and the acting, especially by Harrison Ford, Joaquim de Almeida, Miguel Sandoval, Henry "Boom" Czerny, Harris Yulin, and Donald Moffat, is terrific. I like the other two: The Hunt for Red October and Patriot Games. Yet Clear and Present Danger has more complicated plot, making for a satisfying film.

The SUV ambush scene is well done even though it's unbelievable that Jack Ryan was the only one to survive it. Interestingly, he was allowed to get away on the other side. It would've been dangerous and certainly not over for him. The other best part is the confrontation between Jack Ryan and the President of the United States who couldn't believe his ears, prompting him to say, "How dare you come in here and lecture me!" before following it up with "How dare you come into this office and bark at me like some little junkyard dog? I am the President of the United States!"

All in all, Clear and Present Danger is fantastic.