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The Hunt for Red October (1990)

Rate: 9
Viewed: 1/03, 6/25

HuntRed
6/25: Outside of the James Bond franchise, The Hunt for Red October is Sean Connery's most famous film.

When it comes to submarines in cinema, most people will think of this one and Das Boot. Nearly coinciding with the end of Cold War, it begins with the excellent story that's cleverly crafted by Tom Clancy for the first novel of his career. Hence, there's no reliance on CGI bullshit. Yes, the dialogue can be technical at times, but the important points get cleared up in a while.

What a cast...it's super strong: Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, James Earl Jones, Sam Neill, Scott Glenn, Joss Ackland, Richard Jordan, Jeffrey Jones, and so on. Obviously, Sean Connery looks the part of a Russian submarine commander, having been cast at the last minute when Klaus Maria Brandauer dropped out. On the other hand, for the role of Jack Ryan, I can't see Harrison Ford in The Hunt for Red October, and I can't see Alec Baldwin in Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger. It's funny how such things work out. The latter was a small-time actor hitherto, and this is the one that shot him to stardom.

If there's a negative, it's the editing that can be careless in places, causing no follow-through or several players to disappear for a while. An example of what I mean is when Jack Ryan decided to drop into the ocean and I expected the Navy to do some work to rescue him, but it's cut off with Jack Ryan being safely inside the USS Dallas afterwards. Nevertheless, as long as the movie ran for, I was never bored.

All in all, there aren't that many intelligent pictures just like The Hunt for Red October.