00:00Wow, guys, Jack Ryan is back and apparently critics really like the new Amazon Prime Video movie.
00:08really, really bad.
00:10But is there any truth to it, or are they perhaps exaggerating?
00:14Yes, let's clear that up today in my spoiler-free review of Jack Ryan Ghost.
00:37Yes indeed, my dear film friends, as of today you can stream Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Ghost Wall on Prime Video.
00:44Not a new series, but a new film that follows the original series, which ran on Prime Video from 2018 to 2023.
00:53continues.
00:53However, you don't necessarily have to have watched the series, as the film can stand quite well on its own.
00:59The film has a running time of one hour and 46 minutes, is recommended by Amazon for ages 16 and up, and was directed by
01:07by Andrew Bernstein,
01:08who also directed three episodes in season 2 of the Jack Ryan series.
01:13And the whole thing was written by lead actor John Krasinski together with Aaron Robin, who wrote five episodes in season 4.
01:23So, they both set about making a film that basically brings back Jack Ryan.
01:27Specifically, in the situation where he no longer works for the CIA, but for Wall Street.
01:34But then Wendell Pierce, now deputy head of the CIA, comes along again and says,
01:41Listen, I'd like to send you east to pick up a package from a man who, well...
01:48I'd say she doesn't meet with just anyone.
01:51And how could it be otherwise?
01:53This, of course, sparks another conspiracy.
01:56What John Krasinski's Jack Ryan suspects, however.
01:59And we watch as he tries to get out of this mess.
02:03So basically, pretty much the same as we've already seen him in the series Jack Ryan.
02:09And that happens over and over again.
02:11And yes, if you look at the reviews on the internet, which I did this morning,
02:17so,
02:18Then one has to, uh, or rather, one can quickly realize that this film isn't very well received.
02:23Uh, after only eleven reviews, it's just at 36 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
02:29If you simply look at Stern and other similar publications, you'll find that the film is, let's say, being panned everywhere.
02:35Among other things, I wrote it down, the film doesn't reach the quality of the series.
02:39The film trades the series' intelligence for pure action; everything is interchangeable, the action scenes are generic.
02:45There's no good chemistry between the characters.
02:48And yes, the film offers absolutely nothing new, especially no depth.
02:53And yes, there's definitely something to that.
02:56But I would like to ask a question here.
03:00What expectations were these reviews written with?
03:04Because what do you expect from a streaming film that continues a series?
03:09I mean, Jack Ryan Ghost War isn't exactly the first streaming movie to continue a series.
03:14Think recently of Peaky Blinders, or previously, for example, of The Last Kingdom.
03:17A final film was also delivered.
03:20There are always such graduation films or attempts to...
03:24to position or release a film as a sequel to a series, and preferably with success.
03:31And all these streaming movies were never as good as the series.
03:37At least supposedly not.
03:38I would argue that this is because a) it is impossible to create a constructed world,
03:45to recreate a story that had been built up over a long period in a series, in a two-hour film.
03:52And secondly, of course, nostalgia plays a role in creating certain expectations,
03:59When you watch a film like that.
04:00And that's perfectly fine.
04:02But perhaps one has to remain a little realistic.
04:04I mean, Jack Ryan, the series, already had extreme problems with seasons 3 and 4.
04:10The series always had one thing that some loved and others didn't.
04:15Namely, that there was a lot of talking instead of focusing on action.
04:21Basically, things were always dragged out for a very long time,
04:24to somehow carry the season's story arc to the end.
04:28Which is not possible in such a film, and above all, not necessary.
04:35And I think if you disregard that, then you can really, really rate this film badly.
04:42But if you consider this from the perspective of indie criticism, then you have to say,
04:47Ghost War is actually a solid streaming movie.
04:51Especially compared to other streaming spy action games we've had in recent years,
04:58which were mostly far too exaggerated, where it was always just about pure action, which was all interchangeable
05:05and where, basically, the plot was no longer important,
05:08or rather, an attempt was made to somehow revive the dusty spy action genre through exaggeration.
05:16Ghost War completely avoids this exaggeration.
05:20With Jack Ryan: Ghost War, you basically get what I consider a good mix of exposition,
05:28Lots of storytelling and action.
05:30Just when you realize, "Ugh, that's enough talking," the action starts again.
05:34This one is interchangeable.
05:35It offers you absolutely nothing new.
05:37It seems very generic.
05:39But that fits with Jack Ryan.
05:41That also fits with the series Jack Ryan.
05:43It fits with what has been built up for us over four seasons.
05:46We are shown action that doesn't reinvent itself, but tries to remain as realistic as possible.
05:53even if in the big Filane one then goes one step further and says,
05:56But now we have to present something else.
05:59But it's still within the bounds of fitting into Jack Ryan's world.
06:04And that's exactly what I expect as a fan.
06:06Yes, Amazon is certainly trying to appeal to more than just series fans with this film,
06:11but also newcomers.
06:13And I think that works quite well,
06:15Unless you're expecting a huge action movie blockbuster here.
06:19But it is, after all, a streaming film.
06:21It's a solid spy action film,
06:24which, yes, doesn't offer quite that much depth
06:27and, most importantly, no significant character development.
06:30which might not be so great for newcomers,
06:33For everyone who knows the series, that's enough.
06:36Because we have seen enough development from our three main characters.
06:41except for the new one, played by Sienna Miller,
06:45which basically doesn't offer anything particularly significant here,
06:48besides being a cool cat,
06:49But that's sufficient for what this film aims to portray.
06:53And in this presentation, at least one manages to...
06:56to establish the person very quickly,
06:58to present us with the story
07:01and then simply take it along at a fast pace.
07:05I would say that's successful for that,
07:08What the film clearly wants to be, is really good.
07:11If you're looking for a down-to-earth Jack Ryan-style series
07:16Spy action thriller story want,
07:18which offers no depth
07:20but it can provide short-term, good entertainment
07:22Then you will enjoy this film.
07:25There are minimal points where one could say,
07:27That doesn't look so good in the picture.
07:28But otherwise it's fun
07:30and you get pulled right back in.
07:32And yes, newcomers might need to think a little bit more along the lines of what they're doing.
07:37whereas as an old fan you might simply recognize everything immediately.
07:41And yes, as a longtime fan, I was delighted.
07:44to see these three heroes meet again.
07:47However, it must be said,
07:49that certain dialogues are really very mediocre.
07:52Perhaps it could have been written in a slightly more polished way.
07:55Or, more generally, there might have been one or two major twists and turns.
08:01which was not foreseeable, could be incorporated.
08:04But at least there are one or two moments,
08:07who might still deliver one or two shockers,
08:10But also a lot of question marks.
08:12But to be quite honest,
08:13Now that I think about it,
08:15what I've watched in recent years in terms of streaming movies,
08:18Then I like this approach.
08:20this down-to-earth quality.
08:22And yes, more could definitely have been achieved here.
08:26But I don't think that was the great expectation here at all.
08:30And I would say,
08:31It's simply a solid continuation of the series.
08:35which also had some weaknesses.
08:37It's a good sequel,
08:38which simply brings back these characters
08:41and creates the possibility,
08:42to continue this franchise as a film series in the streaming sector,
08:47which is attempted at least three times at the end of the film,
08:52where you keep thinking, now it's over.
08:53Ah, no, not yet.
08:54Ah, now things are really heroic and patriotic here.
08:56Ah, it's not over yet.
08:57They'll have to add another one,
08:58so that we know exactly,
09:00Hey, that's how it's supposed to continue, by the way.
09:02And that's fine.
09:04I would criticize differently.
09:06Would this film be shown in cinemas?
09:08Similar to what happened recently with The Mandalorian.
09:10It's essentially a continuation of a series.
09:13The only problem is that Jack Ryan: Ghost War is purely a streaming film.
09:17It was never intended for the cinema.
09:18It was clear they simply wanted to continue what they had been doing.
09:21as seen in the series,
09:22But a bit more compact.
09:24And I think it turned out quite well.
09:27Yes, is this something new?
09:29Is this something breathtaking?
09:30No.
09:31Is this something solid, entertaining, and good?
09:33Yes, definitely.
09:35Move, move!
09:38So, that's basically my opinion.
09:40You get a good mix of character dynamics,
09:43from a spy story,
09:45which is one-dimensional.
09:48And you also get
09:49one or two action sequences.
09:52But above all, cool characters,
09:54those who do that
09:56as we know from the series.
09:57In that sense, I'm done.
09:58That's all for my opinion.
10:00to Jack Ryan Ghost War.
10:02Please share your thoughts below.
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