The Sum of All Fears: Paramount Pictures' 2002 Film Adaptation of Tom Clancy's Techno-thriller

I am a huge fan of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan series, and "The Sum of All Fears" is one of my favorite novels in the "Ryanverse." When Phil Alden Robinson's film adaptation of TSOAF was released in theaters in 2002, I'd had high hopes for the movie. I read Clancy's novel prior to seeing the film, and I loved the book. I certainly cannot say the same for this picture.

Published in 1991, the book opens as the world is emerging from the Cold War. There is even hope for peace in the Middle East, thanks to a plan designed by Jack Ryan to resolve the centuries old Arab-Israeli conflict. But that plan is soon jeopardized by a terrorist act perpetrated on U.S. soil. A group of radical Muslims, along with some former communists from East Germany, seeks to set the United States and the U.S.S.R. on a course to destroy each other. The terrorists detonate a small nuclear bomb at the Super Bowl. American and Soviet troops are duped into shooting at each other in Berlin. From there, the tension builds as the reader is taken on an amazing thrill ride to a nail-biting climax.

Robinson's film adaptation attempts to reinvent the Jack Ryan franchise, just as MGM and Eon Productions are currently trying to reinvent James Bond with their forthcoming film "Casino Royale." The movie is set in the present, so the Cold War Ryan of "The Hunt for Red October" is now gone. Ben Affleck plays Ryan as a young CIA analyst at the beginning of his career. Ryan and his future wife, Dr. Cathy Muller (Bridget Moynihan) are dating at this point, as Jack considers popping the question. Morgan Freeman plays CIA Director William Cabot, brought in to serve as mentor to Ryan, as Admiral James Greer (James Earl Jones) had done in the three previous movies before Greer's death in "Clear and Present Danger." And in the name of political correctness, the Muslim terrorists were replaced with European neo-Nazis. I understand that the length of many of Clancy's novels make it very difficult to remain faithful to the books when trying to make a two hour movie, but I feel that because of the changes involved in making this film, a lot of things were lost.

For example, by changing the terrorists from Muslim extremists to neo-Nazis, we lose the heated exchange between Ryan and President Fowler over the President's desire to nuke an Iranian city, which is the home of the financial backer of the terror attack. Fowler wishes to strike in response to the attack which has taken personally as an attempt on his own life, while Ryan disapproves, citing that other measures can be used to deal with this man rather than nuking a city and killing innocent people. Also lost is Fowler's National Security Advisor, Elizabeth Elliot (not even in the movie), who seeks to discredit Ryan and attempts to destroy both his professional and personal lives. Ryan's plan to bring peace to the Middle East is also missing.

Affleck does a passable job of playing Jack Ryan. Harrison Ford was always my favorite Ryan, especially in "Clear and Present Danger." Moynihan seems to be going through the motions as Cathy. Liev Schreiber does a fairly decent portrayal of CIA agent John Clark. James Cromwell is actually quite convincing as U.S. President Robert Fowler. The best performance in this movie comes from Freeman as Cabot, but even he can't save such a wretched movie.

Actually, if there's a reason to buy or rent the DVD, it would be the commentary track with Robinson and Clancy, in which Clancy picks the entire film apart, saying "That's B.S. - CIA brass never talk like that," or "That's not the kind of plane they would use." It is actually quite hilarious! The director has also done a second commentary track with cinematographer John Lindley. The DVD also includes the obligatory "making of" featurette.

I've heard that as Clancy had passed the torch in the Jack Ryan series to Jack Jr. in "The Teeth of the Tiger," the producers of the Ryan films were considering taking the film franchise in the same direction. There has also been some talk about continuing to follow a young Ryan during the early stages of his CIA career. I, personally, would love to see film adaptations of some of the latter novels, following Ryan from the CIA to the presidency. Hopefully there will be a complete turnover of cast and crew, and Paramount will bring in some people who can actually get it right.