Jack Reacher- User Reviews

Let me first say that I have been a fan of the Reacher novels by Lee Child for years. So I was excited to hear this movie was being made, and I was very intrigued to see how Tom Cruise was going to pull off Reacher. Yes, there are physical differences, and that worried me. Then again, Reacher is not a one-dimensional paper cut-out of a big guy. Among other things, Reacher is intelligent, fearless, relentless, and never compromises with his own set of values. He also takes it very personally when harm comes to someone he feels some responsibility for. So could Cruise pull this off? If you have seen his portrayal of Vincent in Collateral, then you know he can play a hard, even cold, character. That's important, because Lee Child's Reacher is one very hard man. And we know from many performances that Cruise can portray intelligence and courage in the face of overwhelming odds. Here is what Mr. Child himself has to say: "The fact is Cruise is a great Jack Reacher. He really nails it." I agree. In my experience, no movie has ever replaced the reading of a wonderful book. In this case Lee Child's book inspired a movie that quickly captured my imagination and kept me thoroughly engaged throughout the film. Yes, there was comfort in all the story's familiarities. Yet at the same time it was fresh, and I didn't find myself thinking what comes next: I waited for the film to tell me. And that was its own form of magic. I might mention I saw the movie on opening day with my wife and son. My wife has read several of the books, and my son all of them. They both loved the movie. We want more.