CitizenCaine Review of Patriot Games

Patriot Games (1992)

Harrison Ford In Another Tom Clancy Adaptation

[7/10 · 29 February 2004]

This was one of the big summer movies of 1992. Harrison Ford takes over the role of Jack Ryan from Alec Baldwin in this revenge thriller based on Tom Clancy's book. Ford plays the role perfectly as the ex-CIA agent that is forced to shield his family from increasingly unhinged terrorist Sean Bean. The film opens in terrific fashion as Ford saves British Royals from assassination by happening to be in the right place at the right time. The terrorist leader's sibling is killed in the ensuing battle and later comes for Ford's family. The film unnecessarily delves into IRA politics, etc., dragging the film down somewhat in the middle. The film picks up again with a freeway scene, with the terrorists chasing Ford's family played by Anne Archer and Thora Birch. James Earl Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, and Richard Harris have small supporting roles. The film moves at a brisk pace with the exception of the aforementioned political dealings. The ending is somewhat marred by uncharacteristic heroics in relation to Jack Ryan. Otherwise, this could have been a great suspense/thriller, instead of just a good one. *** of 4 stars.