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Jack Reacher
A thread where we can discuss Lee Childs books and slag off Tom Cruise ;)
If you've read them, what's your favourite? Mine is probably a toss up between Gone Tomorrow, Killing Floor and Worth Dying For but I really like all of them, and I haven't read the latest one yet. I think Reacher is a fantastic character. Love his background and I love the "drifter" aspect to his character. He's like Rambo in First Blood except maybe even more badass.
The film wasn't bad but Tom Cruise is completely wrong for Reacher. I'm looking forward to the new Mission Impossible film (from the same director too), and I hope somebody else comes along and really gets it right. Maybe even do a TV show? They could do it ala Sherlock, with a handful of mini movies per series, or even just think up original stories for the character if adapting the books for TV proves too problematic.
If you've read them, what's your favourite? Mine is probably a toss up between Gone Tomorrow, Killing Floor and Worth Dying For but I really like all of them, and I haven't read the latest one yet. I think Reacher is a fantastic character. Love his background and I love the "drifter" aspect to his character. He's like Rambo in First Blood except maybe even more badass.
The film wasn't bad but Tom Cruise is completely wrong for Reacher. I'm looking forward to the new Mission Impossible film (from the same director too), and I hope somebody else comes along and really gets it right. Maybe even do a TV show? They could do it ala Sherlock, with a handful of mini movies per series, or even just think up original stories for the character if adapting the books for TV proves too problematic.
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Comments
My favorite is definitely Gone Tomorrow - so exciting, well written, enjoyable.
I like all of them but I think Child's writing was particularly excellent in this story.
He is a unique (I think rather unique at least) character that as had other characters come after him be a bit similar, at least size wize (the John Puller character comes to mind, but I forget the author).
I have not seen the Cruise film yet and still find it hard to want to see it. Because truly, he looks nothing like the character. I do not know why Childs championed him. Sigh ...
I do think a TV series would be awesome! They wouldn't need someone literally as huge as Reacher in the novels, but for sure a whole lot larger and taller than Cruise.
Child lives in NY now mostly, but I'd love for anybody - BBC or in America, maybe a cable network - to do a great TV series of Reacher. Preferably not weekly - better if a few episodes per season, but high quality. That would indeed be awesome! This is a very enjoyable character.
So far I've only read Die Trying, which I really enjoyed.
I'm normally a slow reader (I read posts in the Solo thread about people finishing it in a day, I could never do that, most books take me at least a couple of weeks), but it never takes me long to finish these books. It's not that they're short, it's just that they're so gripping and enjoyable. When I first read One Shot (first one I read) a few years ago, I remember being really pleased with myself because I finished it in a week.
@BAIN123 You'll really enjoy them. They're thrilling, well written and fast paced.
I've got to remember to use spoiler tags if needed. So far I haven't needed that, but I will try to remember. I really do not want to spoil anything for someone who has not read whatever I'm talking about.
I'll maybe rent the first film. I'll try to stomach Cruise in the next one.
But the character for me in the novels is just great and is, no disrespect actually, in no way Tom Cruise.
The film with Tom Cruise was very good and despite thinking that his casting was ridiculous I have thought he gave a good performance and can't really think of too many big lumps who would be good enough to carry a film?
Not sure why Lee Child decided to cast him.
Tom Cruise is an actor famous for being short and there's no way he could do any of that credibly, so I think they lost part of what makes the character special.
But for me, as a fan, a reader of the story, Tom Cruise can never be fully Jack Reacher. Nope. I will watch the film in the next month. I am thinking it is a decent film based on opinions I have read. But if I have to go thru the next 4 or 5 films that are Jack Reacher films, which features a main character I have come to know and really enjoy a lot thru the books, then I will be watching a version that does not connect me 100% to the character. The difference is too extreme. I will sort of know the plot and enjoy it if well done, but he cannot embody Reacher for me.
I do not know Ray Stevenson, but I am familiar with The Rock (and surely that is not all natural build on him). I don't need a famous person to play Reacher and actually I do not need someone as huge as the above actors, but it has to be a decent actor who is big enough (height and muscles) to be the real deal Jack Reacher for me. His size and strength are actually a big part of the character, his psyche is in tune with that and is talked about in the books.
So, Tom Cruise ... meh. And that won't change. But I like the character of Reacher so much, I hope the novels continue for many years - and I hope there is a change in lead actor somewhere in the not too distant future.
Hmmm. I know it won't happen, but as for name actors I would have been really okay with Hugh Jackman in the role, come to think of it.
Jackman would have been great, never really thought about him before. Maybe someone like Thomas Jane could have been good?
I liked him as van Helsing too, some kind of supernatural secret agent. But he still could do Reacher for me.
I do not like Cruise much, but he can act to a certain degree and I enjoy him in some films. But not this character. However, the reality is that he is on board now and we shall have to endure him as Reacher. I just do not know for how long.
I still may write to Jackman, though. ;)
He's too short.
I started reading them after I watched the Jack Reacher film. My wife is a fan of the books and wanted to watch it so I saw it with her. I'm a fan of Tom Cruise but wasn't really interested in the film at all. I'm really glad I watched it though, I really enjoyed it. It inspired me to start the books.
Tom Cruise is an odd choice to play a 6'5" 250lb man but I thought he was great in the role. I was expecting an Ethan Hunt clone but he avoids that entirely.