Jack Ryan vs Jack Ryan; Alec vs Harrison

[NFS4]

The Hunt for Red October is one of my favorite dram(action) films, primarily because I loved Alec's portrayal (I'm a big Alec fan). He's quite calculating and cerebral in his dramatic roles and I think that showed in the original film.

It wasn't until recently that I discovered how he got screwed out of the sequels for Harrison Ford:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alec-baldwin/alec-baldwin-charlie-sheen_b_834847.html

Ford, on the other hand, I see more as taking a ham-fisted approach to acting. I find it hard to take him serious in dramatic roles. It's like a shotgun approach for Ford versus a sniper's bullet for Alec.

But don't get me wrong, I like Harrison Ford and love most of his movies, but he always seemed like a bad fit to me for the Ryan roles (Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger).

Anyway, enough of my ramblings; which portrayal of Ryan do you prefer?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Alec Baldwin by a large margin. Ford seemed wrong for the part to me, though I've liked him in a lot of other movies.

 

[TechAZ]

Harrison Ford for me. Clear and Present danger and Patriot Games are my favorite Tom Clancy movies.

 

[BoomerD]

I'm solidly in the Harrison Ford camp on this. I prefer his portrayal of Jack Ryan.
I don't care much for Alec Baldwin...then or now.

 

[adairusmc]

Ben Afflec.

 

[NFS4]

Alec Baldwin by a large margin. Ford seemed wrong for the part to me, though I've liked him in a lot of other movies.

I think part of it is because Harrison ONLY has two sides: straight action Harrison Ford, and smartass comic/action Harrison Ford.

The former is pretty much Harrison Ford playing the role the same way he does in every other movie (The Fugitive, K-19, Firewall, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, Air Force One, etc.).

The latter is the same character with a little bit humor thrown in (Star Wars, Indiana Jones movies).

He's the Adam Sandler of action movies.

 

[zzuupp]

interesting read. Voted for Baldwin, although I have no problems with Ford's portrayal.

I wouldn't have minded if Gates McFadden had continued as Mrs. Ryan as well

 

[LegendKiller]

Alec the whole way. They need a new Jack Ryan and reboot the series. They also need a new John Clark, Liev Schreiber was far better than Dafoe.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

No love for Ben Affleck?

Oh, Harrison Ford all the way.

 

[Glitchny]

I think part of it is because Harrison ONLY has two sides: straight action Harrison Ford, and smartass comic/action Harrison Ford.

The former is pretty much Harrison Ford playing the role the same way he does in every other movie (The Fugitive, K-19, Firewall, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, Air Force One, etc.).

The latter is the same character with a little bit humor thrown in (Star Wars, Indiana Jones movies).

He's the Adam Sandler of action movies.

Where does Blade Runner fall then?

 

[foghorn67]

Liev Schrieber over William Dafoe by large margin.

 

[Arkaign]

I like Harrison Ford, but Hunt was the best Clancy film by a mile and a half. It still holds up really well to this day, even with the somewhat ridiculous idea of a Scottish-brogue-speaking Russian sub captain. I enjoyed the follow-ups somewhat, but they never reached that level of supreme awesome sauce.

 

[BoomerD]

No love for Ben Affleck?

Oh, Harrison Ford all the way.

Fuck no. Ben Affleck sucked at Jack Ryan...as he does in most of his movies.

 

[Numenorean]

Anyone who doesn't pick Alec Baldwin obviously hasn't really read and understood Clancy's books, nor the character of Jack Ryan. Alec Baldwin is about as perfect of a fit as you could get. Jack Ryan is not a big action hero type. He got thrust into the field unwittingly. He was an analyst, not a Navy SEAL or something like that. Harrison Ford maybe could have worked more as John Clark than Ryan. Ryan was intelligent, thinking, calculating - though yes he was a Marine so he knew how to handle himself. Ford is totally wrong for Ryan.

 

[Numenorean]

Alec the whole way. They need a new Jack Ryan and reboot the series. They also need a new John Clark, Liev Schreiber was far better than Dafoe.

Schreiber did a good job, I'd be fine with him continuing in that role. Dafoe was completely wrong.

 

[yllus]

Absolutely Harrison Ford.

 

[sactoking]

Having read both books (October and Games) and enjoyed both movies several times I would say that both actors were good in the stories in which they were cast and neither would have worked in the other actor's story.

The Jack Ryan of 'Red October' was the quintessential analyst in over his head, which Baldwin portrayed very well.

The Jack Ryan of Patriot Games was much more a man of action, having to protect his family after protecting the Royals. Ford was much better suited to that role.

I never much liked the book or the movie of Clear and Present Danger. Oh, and Ben Affleck sucks at everything.

 

[LegendKiller]

Anyone who doesn't pick Alec Baldwin obviously hasn't really read and understood Clancy's books, nor the character of Jack Ryan. Alec Baldwin is about as perfect of a fit as you could get. Jack Ryan is not a big action hero type. He got thrust into the field unwittingly. He was an analyst, not a Navy SEAL or something like that. Harrison Ford maybe could have worked more as John Clark than Ryan. Ryan was intelligent, thinking, calculating - though yes he was a Marine so he knew how to handle himself. Ford is totally wrong for Ryan.

Ford could never have pulled off a good Clark for people who read the books. He's too old, too mumbly, too weak and just doesn't have the "I'm a killer, GTFO of my way" look without being a hulking bruit. Schreiber pulled that off OK despite being stuck next to somebody who should never have been in the role.

As far as Ford being a better "action hero" Ryan, I think Baldwin pulled off the missile room scene pretty damn well.

Overall, the movie studios got ahold of TC's books too much and didn't follow the story lines as well as they could have. It's too bad TC has become very formulaic, Bear and Dragon was the same as Debt of Honor which really was just a redo of Red Storm Rising. RSR was one of the best books he's written, right up there with the first Clark/Kelly book.

The last two have been OK, but too quickly written, relatively short. The last one with the side writer wasn't nearly as good

 

[Numenorean]

Ford could never have pulled off a good Clark for people who read the books. He's too old, too mumbly, too weak and just doesn't have the "I'm a killer, GTFO of my way" look without being a hulking bruit. Schreiber pulled that off OK despite being stuck next to somebody who should never have been in the role.

As far as Ford being a better "action hero" Ryan, I think Baldwin pulled off the missile room scene pretty damn well.

Overall, the movie studios got ahold of TC's books too much and didn't follow the story lines as well as they could have. It's too bad TC has become very formulaic, Bear and Dragon was the same as Debt of Honor which really was just a redo of Red Storm Rising. RSR was one of the best books he's written, right up there with the first Clark/Kelly book.

The last two have been OK, but too quickly written, relatively short. The last one with the side writer wasn't nearly as good

I did say maybe

But yes, Baldwin showed in the missile room scene that while yes he was an analyst and such, that when it came down to it he could hold his own. That right there is why I liked Baldwin for the role.

And yeah Red Storm Rising was awesome.

 

[Eos]

I have the entire Jack Ryan series in hard cover. Love them all.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Ford. Hands down. That this pole is even close makes my face meet palm.

 

[poopaskoopa]

Harrison Ford did not portray Jack Ryan. Harrison Ford portrayed Harrison Ford and he was constantly referred to as Jack Ryan in those two movies.

 

[Numenorean]

Ford. Hands down. That this pole is even close makes my face meet palm.

That you actually posted this makes my face meet palm.

 

[NFS4]

Harrison Ford did not portray Jack Ryan. Harrison Ford portrayed Harrison Ford and he was constantly referred to as Jack Ryan in those two movies.

Exactly!!!

That you actually posted this makes my face

Fixed

 

[qliveur]

Good to know that I wasn't the only one who was disappointed when they gave the role to Ford.