The Sum of All Fears (Widescreen)

 

 

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The film begins with gripping scenes and haunting music ... Fighter jets landing, powerful spiritual music that is sad and almost like a funeral - setting the tone for what is to come. Ben Affleck plays the CIA agent Jack Ryan to perfection. There is great casting for all the major roles and key characters in the book. Although in the book, the city of Denver is the location used by terrorists for the attack, the choice of Baltimore, Maryland makes sense, since there is a port which clearly can be the point of entry for contraband. The fact is the film remains true to the intentions and spirit of Tom Clancy's book. There is political maneuvering, espionage, edge-of-your seat gripping moments after the attack and a very well executed plot. Suspense builds and the story unfolds ... The topic is fascinating and timely. It is almost like the "007" films of old ... You more or less know what to expect, but the ride is so engaging, you are caught up in the drama and events.

A nuclear bomb is discovered in the desert by a bedouin, left buried from a downed airplane during the '73 Israeli War. He suspects it has some value and can make money by selling it. An agent purchases it for a mere pittance, vastly less than its true worth ... so realistic. After the unexpected death of the Russian President, his replacement is investigated by the CIA. The US President, his advisors and the CIA are busy extracting information about this relative "dark horse" to discover his stand on the major issues. In the past, Jack Ryan had written a paper on him, extrapolating his views on world events ... He accompanies a delegation from the US to visit Russia and ensure nuclear disarmament is going according to plans. Each side assesses the opposition with wary reminders of the past ever in the forefront of their minds ... How difficult it was to learn about Soviet arms during the cold war, US agents had died trying to access .information ... now a delegation was freely being shown the labs, nuclear reactor and storage facilties. Times had indeed changed ...

The US President attends a filled to capacity football stadium in Baltimore, MD when suddenly, unexpectedly and rapidly Secret Agents usher him out ... A huge explosion occurs, with the mushroom cloud indicating a nuclear bomb went off. During the disaster, Jack Ryan seeks his superior, only to find him taking his last breath. He pays his last respects and uses his cell phone and ID bage to enter the White House. Jack had discovered irrefutable evidence that proves it was *not* a Russian attack. The nuclear substance originated in the United States. The fingerprints of the explosion and subsequent fall out are positive proof. However, suspense builds as the US President and Russian President are on stand-by preparing for war ... trying to read each others motives for action. The unraveling of the peace accords takes minutes although it took years and years to create peace and disarmament. The difficult decisions faced by the US President are depicted superbly ... The raw emotions arising during such a national disaster are naturally conveyed. The only failure in the film is the choice of selecting a disgruntled fascist group as the culprits for the attack. Keeping it closer to the story line in the book would have paid off huge dividends in the short and long run. In the years following 2001 and the Sept. 11th attack, using ancient history such as Nazi-like fascists as the enemy just does not seem credible. This is why it reminds me of the "007" films. Despite this one major flaw, for which I deducted one star, the film was a hit with this viewer. I highly recommend it.
Erika Borsos [pepper flower

I saw this movie at a theatre for the first time and thought it was an 'excellent' movie. I thought it was excellent because I felt 'something' as I was walking out of the theatre. I don't know- I liked particularly the latter part of the movie, where Ben Affleck tries to convince both side to the very ending of the movie. I am not personally familiar with Tom Clancy's novels (I began to read his novels, after watching this movie twice, starting with 'the Hunt for Red October'), meaning I'm giving this review purely from 'unadulterated' perspective.

It looks like lot of reviewers gave this movie low rating due to 'political incorrectness' and 'revisions' from original plot. However, I still thought it was an excellent movie for several reasons. Honestly I could not pinpoint exactly why I felt 'moved' when I was walking out of theatre nor inspired watching it on DVD again- I think, I think I felt moved and inspired because it does demonstrate a glimpse of 'truth', the truth that all nuclear war is possible as long as we and they have them. Our very fear of nuclear war might have diminished considerably after the end of the Cold War era, however, the 'possibility' still exists as long as the existence of nuclear weapons is a fact. I do not think the 'possibility' of nuclear war would differ whether it's Neo-Nazis or some fundamental terrorists trying to accomplish their purpose; the 'more' important point is that the sum of all fears will exists no matter what. I think I was moved because of another possibility that this existence of sum of all fears can be prevented by one side's willingness to yield and back down 'unconditionally'. This was very important factor, at least for a novice movie critic like myself, because you are preventing the sum of all fears by 'putting down' your pride and even risking everything you have- I was definitely inspired by Russian president's very courageous and bold decision in the heat of the moment... wow.

You know, perhaps I was moved walking out of the theatre on one sunny day because of realization that anything is possible. Anything is possible in the sense that I might die or vaporize instantly without knowing it, especially when you went through and witness 9/11. I was motivated to live my life more faithfully and courageously. And I also want to believe that the good of humanity can be achieved through true courage. (I'm being sidetrack here...but who's real 'chicken' when you refuse to smoke back in high school under peer-pressure? Those, who try to force you to smoke and call you 'chicken' for not smoking, are the ones who couldn't stand up to the peer-pressure in the first place...the true C)

I liked the ending, whether it's realistic or not, to see that there are still forces working for the good of humanity.

Alrite people..better get back to Ryan now.

It was send in good condition. the shipping has been respected. I'm enough satisfied. I'm borried to write at least 20 words long just to satisfy the Amazon writing conditions. Is it OK now!!

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4.0 out of 5 stars 2nd best Jack Ryan movie so far(3.5/5)
this is the fourth Jack Ryan movie,based on the novel by Tom Clancy.in this one Ben Affleck plays Ryan and is actually not too bad. Read more

Published on Aug 11 2007 by falcon

4.0 out of 5 stars Reall good film
Can Ryan save the world from a terrible war? Well we can only hope. Ben Affleck has been cast as Ryan, and he actually surprised me. Read more

Published on Jun 21 2004 by S. M. Anderson

3.0 out of 5 stars It was alright, but in the end was weak.
The movie is ok, not one of the best. There are better Jack Ryan movies out there (The Hunt for Red October). Read more

Published on May 12 2004

3.0 out of 5 stars A good movie, but...
This movie is really pretty good. I've given it a three star rating because that is what it deserves. Read more

Published on April 30 2004 by Hsoj Yensid

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, lack luster
" . . . Even the typically reticent Clancy would approve."
I beg to differ.

The real downfall of this movie lay not in the theatrical performances of Ben Affleck or Morgan... Read more

Published on April 20 2004 by Earle Neil Wester

4.0 out of 5 stars A good movie but it needed someone better than Ben Affleck
This was a good movie. I liked the plot. But Ben Affleck as Jack Ryan? Come one. This needed a better actor. I'm not a big Ben Affleck fan because he isn't a good actor. Read more

Published on April 12 2004 by D. Brown

4.0 out of 5 stars Not the best of its kind, but really good
The Sum of All Fears is a much more disturbing picture than it might have been before September 11, but that just adds to the drama. I'm not a big Ben Affleck fan. Read more

Published on Mar 22 2004 by Michael J. Tresca

2.0 out of 5 stars Yow!
Okay. The screen credit reads: "Tom Clancy, Executive Producer". That means that Clancy maybe had a lot to do with this film, right? Read more

Published on Mar 17 2004 by Thomas F. Redmond

2.0 out of 5 stars Sum of bad acting
Sum of all fears is a movie right from the beginning I knew was going to be a total let down and a waste to see. The result: I was right. Read more

Published on Mar 11 2004 by Mr. Fisher

5.0 out of 5 stars An awe-inspiring, well-conceived thriller
Maybe I'm too easy to please, but I found The Sum of All Fears to be one powerful humdinger of a motion picture. Read more

Published on Mar 8 2004 by Daniel Jolley

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