Without Remorse

Without Remorse is probably my favorite Tom Clancy book - imagine my excitement when I see it's been turned into a movie and then my utter disappointment after realizing that the only thing this movie has in common with the book are the title and the names of a few characters.

To add insult to injury, what follows is a bland storyline with at times nonsensical situations.

This is a pathetic excuse for a 'military' action movie with huge names and a big budget. There's 80's schlock better than this.

MBJ has some great performances, he sounds like a 80's action moron. Jodie Turner-Smith has done great dramatic works, here she seems cast to wear a navy uniform and say cliche nonsensical phrases.

I blame the writing. There's 80's schlock with better writing and more original ideas than this.

Zero and I mean ZERO of the people portraying military were convincing. During a scene where MBJ is yelling advice to a pilot "stay low" and "take evasive action" after a missile is launched, I thought "is this movie a joke?" Some people called this 'woke' or whatever with Jodie TS as a female Navy Seal. Honestly, I was wanting to accept the idea. But she was not at all convincing. She seemed stoned faced and had zero personality. Was that acting? It was awkward and painful. (btw I've gone back and watch her other works and think highly of her).

I'll say this, Tom Clancy books/movies have done well because they follow decent material and were marketed to a target audience. This movie seems to be taking the title, author & character's name, and slapping it onto a cheap plot with dialogue written by a 9th grader.

These 'Tom Clancy' movies will fail if they don't follow the formula that sells...to the target audience that BUYS his stuff.

Firstly, I'd like to ask why reviewers tell me about the plot. I want to know what you think of the movie, not what happens. I wouldn't be contemplating watching it if wasn't my type of movie. I found this movie highly watchable and very entertaining. Everyone does their job well.

I haven't read Without Remorse, yet considering Amazon started business selling books, why can't the writers of these productions read one if they're going to say it's based on one! Tom Clancy was the master of the techno-thriller, mixing elements of science fiction, political thriller and spy genres, albeit Clancys extensive research helped readers understand foreign militaries and his plots eerily echoed real events to the degree rumours circulated the CIA thought he was a mole.

This film has none of his subtlety. Yes, it's normal for books to change when made into a film, but all that seems left of Clancys work are a few names.

On the plus side, Jamie Bell does get the sneaky company man role down. His spook demeanour in relation to the other soldiers is probably the most in keeping with Clancy.

MBJ makes a decent effort as the lead, who in typical Hollywood fashion is pretty trigger happy, an amazing shot with grenades, but never seems to be in much peril, while Jodie Turner-Smith seems to only be allowed one emotion.

On the other side, I'm not sure if Guy Pearce was just tired all the way through, but compared to the usual energy he shows in his other films, he was putting me to sleep.

The cinematography is dark at places really hard to see what is going on. I get fighting in the dark adds to the effect, but I ended up watching one of the early fight scenes three times and only found out what had happened later in the film. It shouldn't be that hard.

The post credits scene should have filled me with joy, but considering everything I'd just seen, it just left me more sad.

GodKratos said; You are here to rate a movie, not compare it to a book.

But if that's the case, why call it "TOM CLANCY's Without Remorse"? Doesn't invoking Clancy's name automatically invite comparison to his book? If the producers didn't want this comparison to be made, leave Clancy's name off the title and call it "Based on the book by Tom Clancy" in the credits.

With that said, I would call the movie "uninspiring". It could have been better.