A hero for the thinking viewer

Rating: 9/10 (25 September 2013)

Most people would compare the film Jack Reacher to Mission Impossible simply because it's a Tom Cruise film. This is totally unfair as they're miles different from each other.
If you are looking for lots of explosions, huge guns, hi-tech gadgets, robots, CGI and hot chicks, then Jack Reacher is not for you. This film and the Jack Reacher novels (by Lee Child) as well for that matter, are for those who are more intellectually inclined.
There is action, excitement, suspense, intrigue, twists and turns but interestingly, it's compact and contained. The protagonist, Jack Reacher, is like a tightly wound coil, able to spring into action when called for and like a brief but violent storm, subsides once unleashed.
The villains are atypical and their motives are unclear until towards the end. You are constantly guessing at who's who and what's what and why and I love that so much! It really draws you in and keeps you on your toes until the end. And when you are able to come up to your own conclusion and find that you're right, boy does it feel good!
Another thing that I love about the film is Jack Reacher's dark and dry sense of humour. When I watched the film, I was the only one laughing. I suppose not everyone understands the humour. It's so refreshing to see an American film and 'hero' able to take the mickey out of itself. I guess this appeals to my British background.
Anyway, like I said, Jack Reacher is not for everyone. This is a film for the thinking person.