Clear and Present Danger

Directed by: Philip Noyce
Starring: Harrison Ford, Anne Archer, Willem Dafoe and James Earl Jones

I have always been a big fan of ANYTHING with Tom Clancy’s name on it ever since the first time I saw The Hunt for Red October. He just has a way of writing political intrigue story like no other. On top of that, I’ve been a Harrison Ford fan ever since Han shot first…and he did DAMNIT!

Anyway, Clear and Present Danger is the third of four films in the Jack Ryan series and probably the second best. The film starts with a Coast Guard Cutter chasing down a big yacht and finding a murdered family aboard. The catch? Well, this family happens to be close personal friends of the President of the United States. As you can imagine the Prez doesn’t appreciate this very much and when the killers, AND the President’s friend are tied to Columbian drug cartels then things start to get really interesting.

Of course I’m with the CIA. See? Here’s my card.

Basically, the President is frustrated by all the pesky things (you know, like laws) that tie his hands when dealing with these drug dealers. He orders one of his advisors, off the record of course, to begin covert operations to take the cartels out. Of course, good ole Jack Ryan (Ford) ends up right in the middle of everything…where else would he be? Ryan has been suckered into taking the Pentagon job of the ailing Admiral James Greer (Jones) and therefore has to ask Congress for funding for what he thinks is non-military aide to the Columbian government. We of course know better and know that the funds are actually intended for the aforementioned covert ops. We Ryan finds out where the money REALLY went then he goes after the people who lied to him in typical Harrison Ford fashion, which is to say more intense than you or I.


Don’t make me stick my finger up your nose!

If you like movies about happy things and people who love each other then go and grow a pair of testicles. However, if you like a good Harrison Ford, kick ass and take names kind of flick then you MUST see Clear and Present Danger. Granted, this film didn’t win a truck load of Oscars but it is one hell of a fun movie to watch. I mean seriously, how often do you get to see Harrison Ford berate the President of the United States? That alone should be reason enough to watch this movie. Add to that the awesome performances by Willem Dafoe and James Earl Jones and you really start to run out of excuses to not see this one right away.


- Mike

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