Clear and Present Danger [Blu-ray] Reviews

• Revenge is a dangerous motive......

  
  By A1A87TUBBDPMF0 on 2003-07-03
  (I wrote this for the original, out of stock version)

  Clear and Present Danger (1994 film)

  The third film in the Jack Ryan series (and the last one to star Harrison Ford) deals with America's war on drugs and also the abuse of power in high places. As in Clancy's original novel, the plot hinges on one crucial question: how far can a President go to achieve a laudable goal, even if the means cross moral, legal and international boundaries?

  As in the novel of the same name, the interception of an American-flagged yacht in the Caribbean results in the arrest of two Colombian "sicarios" (hit men) who have murdered the American owner (along with his entire family). The resulting FBI-CIA investigation reveals that Peter Hardin, the late yacht owner and personal friend of the U.S. President (Donald Moffat), had extensive ties to the Cali drug cartel. Hardin, as Jack Ryan (Ford) explains, had been skimming millions from his "partners," thus sealing his fate.

  Although Ryan is aware that the President is understandably upset that his late friend was a money launderer for the drug lords, he is not aware that the National Security Advisor, Admiral James Cutter (Harris Yulin) and his CIA colleague Bob Ritter (Henry Czerny) have been given off-the-record orders to do "something about the drugs pouring into the country." When the President declares to Cutter that the drug cartels pose a "clear and present danger" to the United States, the somewhat slimy admiral and Ritter unleash several covert operations within the sovereign nation of Colombia.

  While Ryan does get orders to go to Bogotá and find out about Hardin's financial dealings with the Cali Cartel, he is totally unaware that Cutter and Ritter have launched Operation Reciprocity, a clandestine invasion of Colombia by Spanish-speaking special-ops troops. These forces, supervised by ex-CIA field officer John Clark (Willem Dafoe), wreak havoc as they blow up drug labs and smuggling aircraft. Nevertheless, Cutter and Ritter keep Ryan in the dark, and the upright analyst and now acting Deputy Director (Intelligence) unknowingly tells a Senate subcommittee that there are no troop deployments planned for Colombia.

  Further complicating Ryan's life is the sudden discovery that his boss and mentor, Admiral James Greer (James Earl Jones), is dying of cancer. Little does he know that his ascent to Greer's job will propel Ryan into the middle of a life and death situation in Colombia...and a constitutional crisis at home.

  What makes the Jack Ryan books and movies work is not just the slam-bam action sequences or the glimpses at the mysterious workings of the CIA, but the very notion that a CIA employee can be portrayed as an honorable and decent fellow. Tom Clancy clearly desired to show that the agents and analysts who work for the CIA are not the "dark forces" depicted in films such as "Three Days of the Condor" or "Firefox." Nor are they martini-swilling, trigger happy, bed-hopping super-spies like James Bond. Ford (like Alec Baldwin before him, and like Ben Affleck after) shows Ryan has intelligence, courage, and, above all, integrity.

  As in Patriot Games, Ford also shares a few short yet important scenes with his wife and two children. Ann Archer and Thora Birch returned to play Ryan's wife Cathy and daughter Sally, giving Ryan that most un-Bond-like sense of family and a tie to the audience.

  Although the screenplay by Donald Stewart, Steven Zaillan, and John (Red Dawn) Millius strip the huge and complex Clancy novel to its bare essentials and changes many scenes and situations, Ford's acting and Philip Noyce's able directing makes Clear and Present Danger a top-notch action thriller. Even though as in Patriot Games the ending is rendered in a good-guy vs. bad-guy shootout (whereas in the novel the ending for the villains was more subtle and thereby more chilling), this movie is still worth watching.

  The DVD I own is Paramount's first barebones release. Of course, even that is an improvement over the pan-and-scan "full screen" VHS tape I had previously owned. The movie has been restored to its original Widescreen presentation, given Dolby digital audio in both English and French, Spanish subtitles, English captions, interactive menus, and the theatrical trailer. The newer version has commentary tracks, making-of featurettes, and other extras.
  
  

• Entertaining Thriller

  
  By AE12AEJFCOGGY on 2000-05-26
  In the world of books, Tom Clancy is the undisputed king of the techno-thriller. In the world of the movies, though, his title is a little less secure. "The Hunt for Red October" was a very taut and exciting film. "Patriot Games" was rather ordinary with only occasional glimpses of Clancy's magic. This third entry in the series is somewhere in between.

  Harrison Ford is back as CIA analyst-extraordinaire Jack Ryan, only this time he's been promoted to acting Deputy Director of Intelligence. With his new job, though, comes new responsibility and accountability, something he finds that he is not altogether happy with.

  The clear and present danger referred to in the title is the threat posed by the powerful and violent drug lords of the Colombian cartels. After the cartels kill a close friend of the President's, he decides that something must be done. Unfortunately, he does not have the legal authority to implement the course of action that he desires. If you think that is going to stop him, though, you are in for a surprise.

  In a review of this sort, there is always a temptation to reveal more of the plot than one should. I will resist, however, and not give anything else away. Let it suffice to say that the story is interesting, reasonably complex and enjoyable, even if the ultimate outcome is never in doubt.

  Harrison Ford is the kind of actor who is always fun to watch, even when he doesn't have much to work with. Here, though, writer John Milius and his collaborators have given Ford a good, well-written role and he makes the most of it. The Ryan character hasn't developed much since the last film, but that is forgivable. The emphasis in these pictures is always on the plot and the characters are made to serve it, rather than the other way around.

  Ryan is joined this time by the mysterious Mr. Clark, a mercenary and former Company man. Clark is well-played by Willem Dafoe, an actor who doesn't get to work as much as I would like. It is too bad because he is very good. Clark will no doubt be spun-off into a sequel of his own, as Clancy himself has done with the later books. Clark is a good character with a lot of potential and I am eager to see what is in store for him next.

  My main complaint with this film is a common one: it is too darn long. Like "Forrest Gump" and "True Lies," "Clear and Present Danger" clocks in at over two hours and twenty minutes and there is simply no reason for it to be that long. It would play much better had it been edited down to only two hours or so. A drama like "Schindler's List" can justify an extended running time. A thriller like "Clear and Present Danger" cannot.
  
  

• A Tasty Brew

  
  By A26JGAM6GZMM4V on 2003-07-25
  This is one of two films based on Clancy's novels which really work, the other being The Hunt for Red October. It is certainly far superior to Patriot Games in terms of plausibility and cohesion of narrative, quality of acting, exploration of central issues, and ultimate resolution of various conflicts. I do think the escape by helicopter from one drug lord's compound was overdone but the film concludes appropriately with Ryan's final conversation with President Bennett (Donald Moffatt) and then his arrival at the subcommittee hearing chaired by Senator Mayo (Hope Lange). I still would have preferred that Alec Baldwin continue as Jack Ryan but concede that Harrison Ford is far more credible in this film than he was in Patriot Games, perhaps because he and his colleagues were working with a much better screenplay, one on which John Milius collaborated with Donald E. Stewart and Steve Zaillian. (It should be noted that Stewart and Zaillian also collaborated on the screenplay and must share at least some of the blame for Patriot Games' inadequacies. Both films were also directed by Phillip Noyce, another accomplice.) Having the President of the United States actively involved in Danger's narrative gives it a unique substance, to be sure, but also affords valuable opportunities to explore moral corruption and political expediency at the highest levels of government.

  There are several outstanding performances, including Moffatt's in a difficult role as is Henry Czerny's as Robert Ritter, deputy director of the C.I.A. and Ryan's principal adversary; also Willem Dafoe as Clark and Harris Yulin as Cutter. Anne Archer reprises her do-nothing-but-beam role as Cathy Ryan, adoring wife; James Earl Jones also reprises his role as Admiral James Greer whose health problems deny Ryan his mentor and friend's assistance when needed most. This is a "techno-thriller" in several respects but its special effects are almost never gratuitous. An important sub plot involves Moira Wolfson (Ann Magnuson) who is the F.B.I. director's administrative assistant and a key source of classified information which she provides to Felix Cortes (brilliantly played by Joaquim DeAlmeida) whom she believes to be a reputable businessman, not knowing that he is a key operative for one of the Colombian drug lords. Wolfson loves Cortes to death, literally.

  Lots of well-staged action, including an ambush of the F.B.I. director and his entourage, another ambush of American troops in the jungle (a callous and bloody betrayal by their government), a missile attack on the drug lords and their families, and the final helicopter escape by Ryan and Clark. As in The Hunt for Red October, the story line sustains the film's momentum, aided by generally solid performances. I do not consider this film an indictment of any specific administration or foreign policy. Clancy is primarily a storyteller, not a polemicist. The United States will continue to have clear and present dangers no matter who is in the White House. When this film was first released (in 1994), one reviewer suggested that it was inspired in part by some of former C.I.A. director William Casey's elaborate schemes for secret operations against the drug lords. (I have no idea whether or not that is true.) In any event, I find this a thoroughly entertaining, well-made film and look forward to seeing it again.
  
  

• One of the best special effects movies on DVD

  
  By A3MQ5QWIBUWXLL on 1999-08-03
  Not only is this a very well-directed and action-packed movie, it also has one of the best surround sound-encoded tracks available on DVD releases. If you have a dolby digital 5.1 surround system, this movie will really overwhelm you. The explosions will shake the ground....a true theater experience without going to the theater.
  
  

• Ryan, The Drug Cartels, And CIA Abuse

  
  By A2D8CUJPOSRPNA on 2003-01-10
  The third installment in the cinematic series based on Tom Clancy's CIA analyst Jack Ryan, CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER is a long but engrossing political action thriller that once again puts Harrison Ford, the thinking man's action film actor, in the role of Ryan.

  This time around, Ford investigates the murder of a close friend of the President (Donald Moffatt) by Colombian drug cartel hitmen. When his mentor (James Earl Jones) falls ill due to pancreatic cancer, Ford is suddenly put in charge as deputy director of the CIA. He continues his investigation of the murders and ties them in with one particular drug cartel leader (Miguel Sandoval) with whom the murdered man had a little issue with ill-gotten money,....

  But what Ford doesn't know is that, on orders from the revenge-minded Moffatt, his second deputy (Henry Czerny) and the president's national security advisor (Harris Yulin) have ordered a rogue officer named Clark (Willem Dafoe) in with a covert military team to put a huge dent in the cartel's activities. Dafoe and his team are successful at what they do, but the cartels retaliate with deadly results on Ford's friends in the FBI during a visit to Bogota. And when Ford finds out about the operation, he finds himself going down to Colombia a second time to help spirit Dafoe and the covert team out of harm's way.

  Ably directed, once more, by Phillip Noyce (DEAD CALM; PATRIOT GAMES), CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER gives Ford another chance to prove his mettle in the action genre. The suspense and CIA intrigue are all laid out exceptionally well by Noyce and his first-rate cadre of screenwriters, Donald Stewart, Steven Zaillian, and John Milius. Jones is at his usual best as the now-dying Admiral Greer, and Anne Archer returns as Ford's wife.

  But a performance really worth noting here is Czerny's as the unconsciously corrupt CIA deputy director Robert Ritter. About as uncouth and conniving a heavy as there has ever been in the movies, his performance is absolutely chilling and believable. It makes the whole notion of our government going beyong reasonable bounds even more credible than it already is.

  Some will object to the film not pandering to Clancy's right-wing political points of view or his gung-ho pro-military stance, but that isn't necessarily what this movie is about. It does not condemn covert military action, but it does question the wisdom of sending men into a war zone where the risks are extreme, the reasons for such actions are vague at best, and there is no clear exit strategy. Such points are made extremely well in this film's action format; and for those reasons, it gets the highest marks.
  
  

• A smart action thriller
  By A155KXFRZCA7C on 2000-10-30
  This movie is based on a Tom Clancy novel and it is simply awesome. The plot and subplots are well thought through and the execution as a motion picture is extremely well done. The story is about drug lords in Colombia who are connected to the folks behind secret doors in Washington. By direct order of the President, CIA agent Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford) has to solve the murders of a wealthy businessman and his family. The hunt takes Ryan back and forth between Washington and South America. More killings happen and the action becomes intense. Finally, there's a dangerous field operative (Willem Dafoe) who conducts covert operations for the U.S. government. The movie contains excellent cinematography, drama and action. We've watched it many times and it's always a delight as it is one of these rare breathtaking quality thrillers one will want to watch over and over again.
  
  
• Superb Fim Adaptation Of Clancy's Political Thriller!
  By ALR35EFI69S5R on 2003-07-26
  As a long time fan of the many Tom Clancy's techno-thrillers, I was amazed at just how fine a job had been done in dramatizing the complex, quite literate, and endlessly evolving plot that Clancy used to such advantage in spinning "Clear And Present Danger", a story about how the intelligence and political communities intersect and overlap, often with disastrous results for the democratic process. Here the erstwhile Jack Ryan is thrust into the hot seat as his long-time mentor Admiral James Greer (played By James Earl Jones) is forced by health into taking sick leave and Ryan (Harrison Ford) is tapped to take his place as the Acting Deputy Director for Counter Intelligence (DCI) within the CIA. As such he is sucked into the somewhat murky effort to investigate the circumstances surrounding the grisly murder of a millionaire businessman who was a personal friend of the current President.

  Ryan quickly discovers a Columbian drug connection, with one of the biggest and most dangerous cartels, and further traces what appears to be a money laundering operation that the dead entrepreneur was investing in legitimate businesses in the United States. Informed of this, the President quit publicly impounds the funds, and initiates a spiral of events that eventually spin way out of control. Thus, once again the game is afoot. Ryan must tread softly but quickly to counter the deft moves made by another CIA deputy director who is blindsiding the Agency while serving the President's National Security Advisor.

  The game gets hotter and hotter, with so much action and so much suspense building up that it is impossible not to appreciate and enjoy. The is a wonderful film, one that will stir your patriotic juices as the same time it raises your pulse rooting for Ryan to right the grievous wrongs perpetrated on some American special forces troopers who are intentionally stranded in-country to fend for themselves as they find themselves caught in the middle of the quickly changing political and strategic circumstances. Harrison Ford is terrific as Jack Ryan, reprising his takeover of it in "Patriot Games".

  Also superb (as usual) is Willem Defoe playing John "Jack" Clark, our man on the ground in Columbia, and relative newcomer Joaquim de Almeida as the deadly head of security for the Escobedia family cartel. Miguel Sandoval is convincingly menacing as the cartel's front man Ernesto Escobedia. Of course, the photography and special effects are masterful and heighten the degree of suspense and realism of the quickly transpiring action sequences. I. This is a spy-thriller of the first magnitude, one I have watched again and again for it is such eye-candy and so exciting that I find myself caught up in it each time I sit down to enjoy it. I hope you will too. Enjoy!
  
  

• Stop right now.
  By AM1VFW804J5FL on 2000-09-18
  Do NOT buy this movie. I wouldn't even recommend watching it, unless you've seen everything on the Weather Channel recently. It is nothing like the book, which was very good. So, after you finish reading my wonderful and informative review, go to the "Book" section, then buy this book, because it's actually worth your time.

  I suppose the reason why I'm so disappointed by this movie is (much like "Starship Troopers,") I thought so highly of the book that the movie would almost have to be a let-down.

  My problem with the film version of this book can be summed up thusly: Hollywood's Bob Ritter is a disloyal, Beltway-political sleaze who cuts off the commandos simply because it's easier than fighting for them. Clancy's Bob Ritter holds loyalty as the highest virtue. He made his name in the CIA by going against orders behind the Iron Curtain to effect the escape of one of his agents whose cover had been blown.

  I also feel compelled to correct some other erronious statements made by another reviewer. Benjamin Bratt was NOT the sniper. Bratt was the captain in charge of the team. One more thing: CAPITAL LETTERS SHOULD ONLY BE USED FOR EMPHASIS ON SPECIFIC POINTS. THEY LOSE THEIR EFFECTIVNESS IF YOU TYPE EVERYTHING IN CAPS, LIKE I'M DOING NOW. It's much better if you use them to accentuate specific points, like how STUPID some Hollywood scriptwriters can be when they butcher my favorite books.
  
  

• The thinking man's action movie!!!
  By A28B7IJR80M8KE on 2002-05-08
  This is by far one of Harrison Ford's best movies aside from Indiana Jones & Star Wars, In this he is Jack Ryan, a CIA operative who is called in to take the place of his director(James Earl Jones) who becomes critically ill, the film begins as the U.S. Coast Gaurd makes a startling discovery, a prominant business man & his family have been murdered, we find out that he is also a personal friend of the President of the United States who may have had secret dealings with the drug cartels in central America that reulted in his murder after he was suspected of stealing from them, as Ryan investigates this mystery, the President secretly retalliates against the cartels, this is the kind of film that has to be followed closely, simply because there are so many characters to keep up with, with Willem Dafoe as a hired gun to carry out the attacks with Benjamin Bratt as his assassin, who are both hired by Ritter(Henry Czrensy) a CIA operative like Ryan, who is told to do so by the Chief of Staff(Harris Yulan) when Dafoe & Bratt mount their attacks, the cartels retaliate with attacks of their own, one in which Ford's Ryan becomes a target, as Ryan investigates futher, he becomes a subject of blame simply because he is the director, eventually he gets into Ritter's computer & learns the truth, only to lose the information once the President decides that enough is enough, what results is double-crossings at every turn, Ritter not only crossing Ryan but Dafoe & Bratt as well, the Chief of Staff even cuts a secret deal with the cartels hired intellgence agents to catch & kill Dafoe & Bratt, & to quietly pretend as if it didn't happen, Ryan then teams up with Dafoe who has escaped capture to let the truth come out, the cheif intelligence agent then double-crosses the head of the cartel which work to Ryan & Dafoe's advantage, again you really have to keep up with the story & characters, like "The Pelican Breif" before it, the intrique of secret government dealings become clear, but the final showdown between Ford's Ryan & the President(Donald Moffat) is the best as he tells him that he will not let this go unnoticed, Ford proves in this scene why he is still one of Hollywood's biggest stars!!!
  
  
• Not even close
  By A2O89JA75H0I7Z on 2004-05-18
  Once there was a man named Jack Ryan. That's about where the similarities to the book end.

  For what it's worth, I'm not a picky movie viewer. I'll watch nearly anything. So for me to complain about this movie means that something was really off-base.

  As far as an action movie goes, it was passable. As far as the technological thriller that the book was, it doesn't even come close. There is no character development (never felt anything towards Ding), random changes in a character's persona (Clark goes from wanting to kill Ryan to making the chopper go back), thing missing that are important to the plot (downing of drug running planes), and things that were never in the book (yacht owner tied to the President).

  To make what could be an extremely long review somewhat shorter, if you've read the book and are a fan of Tom Clancy, don't bother. If you're just looking for a film with " 'splosions," this might work.
  
  

• Stick to the story, Harisson Ford was awful!
  By ATU6AN7OFVO0M on 2005-07-03
  There is nothing to say except that It's one of the worst performances of Harisson ford. Fight Visuals are Awful too! you'll obviously recognize fastening and Intrupted picture record on fight scenes!
  but the story and screenplay are astonishingly brilliant. and these are the most important parts of each movie for me. so I can rate this movie as 4 Stars!
  
  
• Great film, great DVD
  By A87V31JZUV0HK on 2006-06-12
  I preface all of my DVD reviews with the following note: There are more than enough film reviews on Amazon.com and, quite frankly, it's a bit ridiculous. A person can scroll through scores/pages of reviews without reading a single sentence about the quality of the DVD. If you want to review or discuss a film, go to IMDB. If you're reviewing the DVD, speak to the qualities (or lack thereof) of the audio and video; mention your opinions of the plot, acting, etc. but please don't write an essay!
  
  Now, on to my review of the Clear and Present Danger DVD.
  
  VIDEO (A+): I watch my DVDs on a 34" CRT (tube) HDTV, which makes a big difference in terms of image quality. There is no technology currently on the market which surpasses CRT in terms of color, contrast, detail, and especially true black levels. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either uninformed or straight-out lying. Of course, the trade off is that CRTs are limited to a smaller screen size, but it's a compromise I'm more than willing to make. I say that to say this: people who complain about the Clear and Present Danger DVD having less-than-stellar colors, detail, or black levels must not be watching on a widescreen CRT. This DVD looks absolutely beautiful throughout; unless it is remastered years from now for Blu-Ray or HD-DVD, this is as good as the film is going to look. I've seen this movie on cable numerous times over the years, but seeing it in all its anamorphic glory was like a revelation.
  
  AUDIO (A): A DTS track is available, but I stick with DD 5.1. It sounds almost as good as it looks. Dialogue and music are clear and well-mixed, neither intruding on or interfering with the other. Effects are nicely done, but this mix lacks a slight bit of punch compared to other action movies.
  
  FILM (A+): This movie is highly regarded, and rightly so. The actors and their characters create one of the greatest action-thirllers of all time. Its messages were, are, and will be real and relevant for years to come. Though more than 2 hours long, the movie is well-paced and never drags or bores the viewer. Easily one of the best and most memorable films of the 1990s.
  
  
• Great actors, Great plot, from a great book
  By A3224WM4YTJN7L on 1999-12-07
  Clear and Present Danger was one of the best movies i've ever seen. It has a great deal of action, and blood, and all the other good stuff. It dosent deter far from the plot of the book. If you're thinking of buying it, i would recomend it for all people who like action.
  
  
• BEST depiction of a small-unit Direct Action mission
  By A2FA18B50XGXJX on 2000-09-25
  Clearly, this is Clancy's most realistic book/film because it was taken from current events and merged into a fictional story. When it was written, America had just abandoned the CONTRA freedom fighters by cutting off funding. The U.S. Government left men behind in Korea and Vietnam, so the depiction of a small Special Forces (SF) team being abandoned to their own devices is possible; its already happened during time of war. The point of the book/movie is to get public outrage over this so when our men become "shadow warriors" that in return for their loss of identity that the secret government keeps faith with them and sees to it that they return home. This is the rousing conclusion at the film's end when Ryan testifies before Congress demanding more oversight over special operations.

  The greatness of this film is that Jack Ryan's character IS willing to put it all on the line to rescue them in a thrilling climax. Before we get to this point, we see how a small unit of SF operators with a context of jungle cover/concealment (contrast this with McNab's Bravo Two-Zero's desert environment) can do a tremendous amount of damage with hand weapons and explosives. The need for a communications "lifeline" is paramount and how seemingly mundane places like a hotel room can be the nerve center for a field operation. The depiction of SF terminal guidance of a laser-guided munition is instructive. When the SF team is surrounded by superior numbers of inferior quality men, the result is still negative and provides a warning---reaction forces must be ready to pull men out of enemy areas and the new Air-Mech-Strike concept (See David Grange's book by the same name) offers a way to storm into such areas using tracked armored vehicles and extract the men then later on fly out by aircraft rather than trying to insert/extract them from rooftops just by vulnerable, unarmored helicopters (Blackhawk Down!).

  The RPG ambush of the rubber-tired armor bodied SUVs (Somalia, 1993) when the VIP is assassinated is also instructive as wheeled vehicles simply cannot be armored to the level that a tracked vehicle can be. The need for better VIP weaponry to include smokescreens, and fire supremacy-gaining heavy machine guns to defeat the urban ambush mitigates against the denial and non-chalance complacency so common because these would seem "too war like". The issue of OPSEC is covered well when the Secretary who is seduced by the drug lord operative gives away a piece of information that results in the VIP being targeted and killed.

  The musical score of this film is rousing and a triumph, I hope its available at Amazon.com.
  
  

• This movie is an abomination
  By A1YEPFLLH42OU1 on 2001-09-03
  From the high rating I see on this, it's obvious that none of the reviewers have read the book. This movie, simply put, has nearly nothing to do with it. Sure, the general plot is 'sort of' there, but it's more like they borrowed the theme of the book than the book itself. You might want to see it for the sake of Harrison Ford, who does a great job playing Jack Ryan. It also does have a good deal of carnage and some exciting points, and even with the watered-down plot, there's no way to make a Clancy story completely dull. However, if you're expecting something along the lines of Patriot Games, or want to see a real adaptation of the novel, then you will regret seeing this movie. Tom Clancy didn't like it, and I didn't either.
  
  
• Clear and Present Excitement!
  By A1WQR544MMF68L on 2001-10-19
  Clear and Present Danger is a great film, bar none. I have read many Clancy books, but Clear and Present Danger isn't one of them. Perhaps I hold this film in such high regard because of that (I can never forgive them for altering the climax of Hunt for Red October.)

  Harrison's second outing as Jack Ryan is definitely better than his first. While Patriot Games was a straight action thriller, Clear and Present Danger combines suspenseful action sequences with genuine political intrigue. Jack Ryan is sent after a Colombian drug lord at the same time that his superiors at the CIA have sent special forces into Colombia to do the dirty deed themselves. This is a complex film that will satisfy both the action crowd and those who want a "thinking man's movie."

  Some people have complained about the film's length. I'm angry that it wasn't long enough. A Clancy novel is so far-reaching that a three hour film is needed to capture its scope. The movie going public is generally too impatient to sit that long, and a lot of good material ends up getting cut.

  Willem Dafoe and James Earl Jones also give strong performances as John Clark and Admiral Greer. Harrison Ford makes a great Jack Ryan despite his age. I'm disappointed that he turned down the upcoming (watered down) adaptation of "The Sum of All Fears." I was holding out hope that he would return for a movie based on "Executive Orders," but Sept. 11th killed all chances that book had of going to the big screen.

  Even if you have never read Tom Clancy, watch Clear and Present Danger. If you have your choice between watching the movie and reading the book, watch the movie first, then read the book. I'm usually disappointed when I see the movie first and then realize how much great material was left in the novel.
  
  

• Excellent
  By A2Z9XBCYT3AHHU on 2002-06-04
  Summer of 1994 produced some really good films, including this great action film with Harrison Ford. the acting was great and the story was great. it also had one of the best action sequences ever, the truck caravan scene on the streets in columbia. the director did a wonderful job to make you feel like you were in the trucks exploding around you.
  
  
• Political Intrigue, Anyone?
  By AYG1U47VFZ165 on 2002-12-12
  Is there anything that Harrison Ford can't do?

  Ford stars as Jack Ryan in a follow-up to the successful PATRIOT GAMES. This time out, he finds himself tightly wound into a plot involving the US's highest elected officer -- that's right, the President -- in a failed campaign of the secret drug war. The script is actually penned by Clancy (along with John Milius), and it has an air of authenticity lacking in the other Ryan thrillers: it's a real story set in real place with real villains and real consequences, which makes for a more layered thriller than GAMES or THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER.

  Excellent supporting performances are turned in by Anne Archer (Mrs. Jack Ryan), Willem Dafoe, and Henry Czerny.
  
  

• STILL PLAYING GAMES ON THIS LATEST TRANSFER
  By A1M9DQDGE07Q0U on 2003-05-11
  There's just no polite way of saying this, so here goes. When Paramount DVD first issued "Clear and Present Danger" the transfer quality was...well...gosh darn awful. In fact it had to rank up there with the worst transfers I had ever seen. Now we get the new and improved, second "special" edition of this cloak and dagger thriller.
  Based on the novel by Tom Clancy, Harrison Ford is Jack Ryan, a professor and retired CIA agent who gets thrown back into the hopper when he accidentally becomes involved in a terrorist plot to assassinate one of England's Royals. The plot has heavily dated. It centers around a drug cartel and CIA agent, Jack Ryan's mission to infiltrate and stop the spread of massive drug trading into the U.S. Yeah - right!
  This latest transfer from Paramount Home Entertainment really isn't as much of an improvement as one would have hoped for. Almost gone are the excessive aliasing, shimmering and edge enhancement, abundantly present on the original DVD - but not entirely. Pixelization still plagues many of the outdoor scenes and long shots. But of more concern is the color balancing. At times flesh tones appear too pink or orange. Fine details are completely lost in the dark scenes while they occasionally appear digitally harsh during some of the day scenes. Overall the color scheme is muted, dull and muddy with a bland characteristic. Several scenes are also plagued by an opaque haze that weakens black and contrast levels. Film grain, nicks, chips and scratches are blatantly apparent throughout and, while they don't distract, they really don't add anything to the viewing experience either. The audio is presented in both 5.1 and DTS. Both versions are almost identical with the DTS bumping up the bass levels a notch. Still, at times voices seem to be centered too directly into the center speaker with little to no ambiance spread across the other channels. Some effects and screams crackle the sound field and are strident and grating on the ear.
  EXTRAS: We get a comprehensive documentary that covers all the bases and a theatrical trailer. This is Paramount doing its bare bones best and it's disappointing.
  BOTTOM LINE: Yes, this is the preferred DVD of this movie. But it's still not the way I'd prefer to watch it.
  
  
• A very clear danger
  By AVKNUQRS9D04M on 2005-06-17
  This is the second best film of the Jack Ryan series because the first is The Hunt For Red October. Tom Clancy is my favorite author and I think Hollywood should make more movies out of his books. Harrison Ford should have been casted to be Jack Ryan in the first one as well. This is a good drug war movie and if you love movies where there are people from the CIA, then this is for you. Great sourround sound and just a solid dvd. I really did enjoy the special feature on this behind the danger. It was helpful and interesting. It overall was a really cool movie with a fantastic plot. I think this si better than Patriot Games. It does not get old and is just a fast paced movie. I take a star off because I was looking for a little bit more action. Buy it if you like the Jack Ryan series. God bless you and have a great day.
  
  
• Harrison Ford is the perfect Jack Ryan
  By A188KU3SI543V3 on 2005-09-16
  Clear & Present Danger is the third movie in the Jack Ryan film series, adapted from Tom Clancy's book of the same name which is the fifth in Clancy's series of Jack Ryan novels. C&PD was the second (and last) outing for Harrison Ford as Ryan. Ford is the best of the three actors who have played Jack Ryan on screen, outshining Alec Baldwin (The Hunt for Red October) and light years better than Ben Affleck (The Sum of All Fears). I would have loved to have seen Ford stick around to do TSOAF, or even one or two film adaptations of some of the later novels with Ryan in the White House (Executive Orders, anyone?). In addition to Harrison Ford, many other cast members stepped up with memorable performances in this film, including James Earl Jones as the terminally-ill Admiral James Greer, Donald Moffat as the President, Miguel Sandoval as Escobeda, Willem DaFoe as John Clark, Raymondo Cruz as Domingo "Ding" Chavez and Henry Czerny as Bob Ritter, to name just a few. Of the film adaptations, I rank C&PD just behind The Hunt for Red October. Clear & Present Danger is a well-written, well-directed film with a great cast, and a movie that I love watch over and over again.
  
  
• As good as it gets
  By A2KD62P971YDYL on 2005-12-26
  Harrison Ford gets appointed as CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence. His first assignment is to investigate the murder of one of the President's friends, a prominent U.S. businessman with secret ties to Colombian drug cartels. Enough said, An action packed movie with an excellent story behind it that keeps you stuck to your couch from start to finish wishing the movie was an hour longer. The quality of the DVD is excellent with DTS , so prepare yourself to some great sound effects. Highly recommended.
  
  
  
  
• He did it again!
  By A3CH6MCNES12V1 on 1999-06-28
  Of course, any movie that Harrison Ford appears in is sure to be a hit. This movie just proves it. He is, again, outstanding as Jack Ryan. No one else could have played this part.
  
  
• an explosive sequal to "PATRIOT GAMES"
  By A2TAV6XYP1UB4P on 2000-10-12
  Harrison Ford the everyman man's man is back as Jack Ryan, the uncoruptable, loyal CIA agent based on the chracter created by novelist Tom Clancey. This time around Jack is acting CIA Director Who faces betrayal and trechery from his own goverment when trying to capture a Columbian Drug Lord responsble for murdering the U.S President's best friend & Family. Great action sequences especally when Jack & his men were trapped under fire during a terroist attack. CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER Is much more of drama with action blended in rather than it's predesscor PATRIOT GAMES(1992)was an all battle of cat & mouse between good and evil. I hope Ford one day will do another installment of the Jack Ryan trilogy because with Ford's acting style you know it won't turn into a James Bond routine. Even though when Jack Ryan was hanging onto the rails of the Heloicopter during the cliamatic finale it looked liked a scene cut out of a James Bond film. Nevethless a truly magnifcent performence from one of Hollywood's Best.
  
  
• One of the best action movies ever...
  By A1T76W9EUZQSMP on 2001-05-22
  I first saw this movie at the theater in Fayetteville, North Carolina - home to Fort Bragg - when I was serving in the 82nd Airborne Division. The movie house was, of course, crowded with soldiers who LOVED this movie--based on the fact that they cheered, booed, and yelled "hooah!" throughout. The movie was action packed, but at the same time realistic to our experience. I now live in Colombia, and can relate to the film even more. This is a must see!
  
  
• It's okay, but rather lacking...
  By AHD7JYSXDQ3AQ on 2001-10-20
  I've read Tom Clancy's "Clear and Present Danger" and it's a great book. As for the movie, it leaves something to be desired. The plot very loosely follows the book. First of all, the Coast Guard cutter has a male captain, and the cutter and its crew play a HUGE role in the book, whereas in the movie, the captain is female and the cutter plays a tiny role. Secondly, Jack Ryan and Dan Murray do NOT go to Colombia with Emil Jacobs, and Dan Murray does NOT get killed. Third, John Clark is not some sort of rogue CIA agent controlling Army Spec Ops units. Fourth, when Jack Ryan goes down to Colombia, he goes with the support of an entire Air Force Search & Rescue unit. Other than that, it was okay.
  
  
• Clear and present mistakes
  By A3N7V25806JKMQ on 2002-07-17
  Harrison Ford (Jack P.Ryan), the Deputy Director Intelligence did not carry a gun even in hostages rescue operation in Colombia.

  Another mistake, Harrison Ford (Jack P.Ryan) used his business card as an ID card - he showed his business card to a drugs gang to prove his Identity-!
  
  

• Overblown dreck...
  By A2XVRCU5DQBULH on 2002-12-30
  This third installment of the Jack Ryan series gets too confused too quick and can't find a way out. It also contains way too much action for a movie that wants to be taken seriously. Harrison Ford is Jack Ryan again, and he's the worst to date. Alec Baldwin will forever be the best Ryan and Ford and Affleck will just have to deal with it. In this movie, it's Ryan vs. everybody from Columbians to the president of the United States himself in a plot so perplexing it's a wonder the movie ever gets off the ground. This is not that good of a movie and a poor follow-up to the cool "Patriot Games." I'm disappointed.
  
  
• Even the 'minor' actors and their characters were GREAT
  By A1C217T6VWIE3 on 2003-10-27
  So glad I'm in the good company of two top 10 Amazon reviewers in loving this movie. Thanks you all, for summarizing the storyline.

  Erik North's (a top 1000 reviewer) review is pretty comprehensive in naming the actors, directors, etc. but he left out Benjamin Bratt (of Law & Order and Julia Roberts' Boy Toy fame) as the captain of the insertion team, and Raymondo Cruz as Ding.

  The novel by the same name had Ding as the central character, and I was sorry that Ding had only a supporting role in the movie. However, the movie is GREAT entertainment in its own right.

  Raymondo Cruz's Ding was sophisticated and touching. I especially liked his restrained satisfied expression after being selected for a mission that would let him name his own ticket afterwards.

  Miguel Sandoval's performance as the ruthless drug lord, but loving family man, was nothing short of WONDERFUL. I especially liked his seamless transition from Spanish to English. Did you know that the production actually blew up that villa in which the drug lords were having a summit? Yes, they below up that nice house for for a few seconds worth of entertainment.

  And why no mention of Joachim de Alameda, whose performance as the villain should have boosted his career, but didn't seem to have? His tortured expression just before killing his lover portrayed a depth of character that is a real bonus! The woman who played his lover was perfectly cast and wardrobed: spinster who is delighted and at the same time, frightened by her affair. The way Alameda phrased his lines with a credible Spanish accent was very nuanced -- a great performance.

  The interleaving of formal, military funeral rites with the massacre of the insertion team was masterful -- only music and visuals, no dialog. The allusion to formal military honors also being conferred on the soldiers who were mowed down anonymously in the jungle was inspired. Such a cinematic device is more powerful than any narration or mind-numbing 'kill 'em all' sequence can deliver. Compliments to the film editor.

  The integrated humor mark a new trend in action movies. Ryan asked his boozey helicopter pilot who was checking the manual and instrumentation of a newly purchasd craft "How much time do you have in this type?" The reply, after consulting his watch, was "9:30."

  Donald Moffat's performance as the President could have greater dimension, and it overtly mimmicked Reagan, but that portrayal counters somewhat Clancy's accused conservative bias. A nod toward Hollywood liberalism? The whole movie, while upholding the courage and honor of American armed forces, rivals Oliver Stone in accusing the executive branch, from the president down, of corruption and betrayal. So even Lefties would find something to like about this movie.

  The movie's opening sequence promises excellent action with compelling characters: the Coast Guard intercepts a hijacked private yacht and the teen-aged-looking and sounding FEMALE Coast Guard captain was commanding, and was obeyed! This movie engages the viewer on many levels: intellectual, political, visual, human, humorous and does it all entertainingly. Worth several viewings.
  
  

• Presidents, Snipers, and Helicopters
  By AB1UMC7SB9D7Z on 2005-11-27
  Be it as it is, the films adapted from Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan series are really a good time to be had by sitting back and enjoying a bit of action and espionage. There really is not that much more to it.
  
  In this sequel to Patriot Games, Jack Ryan is caught up between the personal vendettas of the President of the United States and some Columbian drug lords. I have to give this movie a bit of credit for creating such a really banal President that seems atrocious even now that we've gotten used to Dubya and all that, and its enjoyable elements include a really neat sniper character, Willem Dafoe, and helicopters. It wouldn't be a Tom Clancy story without helicopters.
  
  Harrison Ford puts off his usual "Good family guy forced into a fight he doesn't want to have in the first place," and this time his good-boy role is taken to a kind of different level wherein it actually becomes his own problem, but it's not like he really has to expand as an actor or anything to pull it off. Same with Willem Dafoe, really.
  
  Sit down and give it a whirl, it's great with friends and some good fattening snacks.
  
  --PolarisDiB
  
  

• Patriot Games [Blu-ray]
• The Hunt for Red October [Blu-ray]
• The Sum of All Fears [Blu-ray]
• The Fugitive [Blu-ray]
• In the Line of Fire [Blu-ray]