Shadow Recruit: Lost in the Shadows?

SHADOW RECRUIT: ++: 2013: ACT:  The movies that closed out 2013 didn't end on a high note.  Aside from a few, some were just not innovative enough and very formulaic.  Shadow Recruit, while boasting some exciting action sequences at the end, didn't impress.

Jack Ryan, played by Chris Pine, didn't give you anything new.  It reminded me of Bourne Ultimatum but fell drastically short.  Chris Pine didn't give a polarizing performance and was "just there" during the entire movie.  I had some expectations for this movie after seeing him in the new Star Trek movie, but he should have displayed some more emotion.  He had no expressions and reminded me of a cyborg.

  
Is Jack Ryan mad, contemplative, or constipated?  You just don't know..

Keira Knightley performed well as his wife and gave the movie some depth.  She didn't have to reinvent the wheel, just give her character some life.  


Kevin Costner also gave an acceptable performance.  I cracked up a few times imagining him act like a buffalo though..TATANKA??TATANKA??
    
Did he say TATANKA??                                 TATANKA???

I just kept rolling my eyes at this movie because it's been done and done better.  I wish there was a buffalo in this movie of some sort.  It would have livened up the mood from this drudgery.  


See?  This is Jack Ryan's only expression in the movie...

The plot is summed up by; a guy gets hurt in armed forces, rehabs, is offered a position to "help the nation", and becomes a spy.  He finds a Russian overlord who plans to bomb a building in the financial district.  Hmmm, would I pay $12.50 to watch this unfold....again?  


Look..he's fighting now.  OR is he helping the guy learn to shoot?  Who knows?

The ending was somewhat exciting, but at that point the viewer has been subjected to so much bland acting that they're probably checking their phone or trying to beat the next level of Candy Crush.  At some point there is an explosion, so that might get your attention for a minute, but that's it.  Then it's over..Sequel?  I don't know..let's check Jack Ryan's expression..66%
     
No expression, no SEQUEL FOR YOU!!            

I think I'll go to horror movies only for awhile again..