JACK REACHER - archive from 8th January 2013.

Saw 'JACK REACHER' last night - the first instalment of what could be a huge franchise for Tom Cruise, and author Lee Childs. I liked this film, a lot, and after all the hype (much positive & some negative) I think Cruise pulls this off. Based on 'One Shot' - this is not the first Lee Childs book in a long line of Reacher novels, but it is where the on-screen story begins, so if you're a purist then you might be disappointed, and if you're not - then enjoy the introduction, and the ride!

For a small fella playing a big dude what Tom Cruise lacks in stature he make up in posture, and he once again ably proves his action abilities in this grounded, plausible tale of justice, nasty villains, a corrupt cop, wrong doing aplenty, and unrest in the DA ranks. This is a violent film that keeps it real, fast paced and reasonably intelligent, although at times I was looking for it to slow down apace so I could take stock. Also starring the likes of Rosamund Pike, Werner Herzog, Robert Duvall, Richard Jenkins and Jai Courtney, and Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, this has a strong cast, a solid storyline already with an established readership following, and most of the ingredients therefore to make this a success.

Entertaining enough and worth the ticket price for sure, and Tom Cruise has another (anti)hero he can now hang his hat on! To this end, it has subsequently been revealed that another Jack Reacher outing is planned for a future release - 'JACK REACHER : NEVER GO BACK'!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-