Sum of All Fears, The (UK)

It starts off well and introduces the politics quite effectively. However, it quickly degenerates into a standard thriller and loses its entertainment factor.
Ben Affleck and Morgan Freeman do a good job, it is well directed and edited but there`s something lacking in the script. It just isn`t thrilling enough. Affleck is only given minor things to do and some plot elements are very predicatable.
Maybe the next instalment will be better. Well worth renting out but you wouldn`t want to watch it twice.

Another fine addition to the Jack Ryan series. Ben Affleck, while an unorthodox choice for the role gives the character a fresh air for the 21st century. Jack Ryan is no longer in the Cold War era of the original films and this film has more to do with global/covert terrorism, than the US Vs. Russia of "The Hunt for a Red October". Director Phil Alden Robinson admirably cranks up the tension and conspiracy in the first hour and then adds the action to the final half. While the film was postponed and criticized after 11/9, the film is perhaps all the more significant as Mr. Bush plans the elimination of weapons of mass destruction (a line creepily said by Pres James Cromwell in this film). Maybe films are really important in life. But I'm sure if Mr. Bush takes the time to watch this film he could have second thoughts.

Video: Although not a reference disc, this is a very fine transfer. It is sharp and details are shown very well. Unfortunately, there is a large amount of jaggies on the disc (perhaps compression was too much because of the amount of features on the disc). Chapter 4 is a big culprit where nearly everything, the cars, the roads, the building display jaggies. Of course this is a film with a LARGE amount of screen and they also show compression signs. These aside, this is a fine transfer. I detected no scratches at all.

Audio: An excellent 5.1 mix that really comes into play in the last half. The destruction of the aircraft carrier is a sonic assault and bass is very strong. There are always many plane/helicopter fly-bys that make good use of the surround. Subtlety is also another track highlight. The scene where Liev Schreiber searches an abandoned base is made all the more suspense with some brilliant sound placement.

Extras: This is a Paramount disc… with extras! My God, has the world turned topsy turvey? Up first is the fantastic audio commentary by the director and Tom Clancy. Clancy suffers from what I like to call REK, which stands for Random Encyclopedic Knowledge. And as such he offers large amounts of information, which making fun of the film gaffs. Many times during the commentary he literally says, "This is bulls***". He's also quite miffed at the changes made on his book. Robinson tries to defend the film though. This is a very amusing commentary and one of the best I've heard in a long time.

The second audio commentary is by director Robinson and cinematographer Lindlay. While not as fun as the first this is still a very interesting commentary. The duo talk about the meaning and challenges of the film's cinematography and it only rarely falls into "This was CGI" syndrome.

There are seven featurettes, (two in "A Cautionary Tale"), "Casting" and "Production", (five in "Visual Effects"), "Carrier Attack"; "A-4"; "Hospital"; "Motorcade" and "Helicopter". The visual effects featurettes are well produced and offer fine information about the creation of the film's action scenes. The Casting and Production featurettes are both informative extras, which delve further than PR fluff. They actually do talk about the production of the film and evolution from a Ford/Noyce film to the Affleck/Robinson film it is now.

Also included is the film's original trailer.

Overall: In my opinion this film just falls short of "Clear and Present Danger" as the best Ryan film. Affleck makes a nice change to the character and Robinson successfully intertwines conspiracy and action. And Morgan Freeman offers great support as usual. Let's hope this is the start of a fine new chapter for the Ryan films.