Ignore The Hate And Watch It

Rating: 7/10 (10 December 2014)

Jack Reacher is a movie about an ex-military cop (Reacher) who gets involved in a murder case when he sees the news about 5 random killings that have been committed by an ex-military sniper. Upon arriving at the D.A.'s office, however, he's slightly confused as he learns that the suspect has actually requested for Reacher to be brought in to help him. Reacher sets out to prove the suspect's guilt though, but as he does he starts to learn that there may be a lot more to the case than what first meets the eye.
If you enjoy good old-fashioned cat-and-mouse action/thriller's then you won't go far wrong with Jack Reacher. The action in the movie is really very good, and quite often suspenseful, but it doesn't have as much as what I initially thought judging by the previews I saw. However, while that sounds like a complaint, it's not because this is a movie that doesn't have to rely on having non-stop action scenes in it to make up for a ridiculous or non-existent plot i.e. Fast And The Furious.
If I did have one main complaint, it would be the end fight between Reacher and Charlie, but I guess I can overlook that as the storyline, while confusing if you're not paying attention, is generally really good and it's this, along with all the other action, that keeps the movie ticking along nicely.
While the book die-hards will probably moan about the decision in having Cruise play the part of Jack Reacher (in the book Reacher's 6ft 5, 250lb), I think he pretty much nails it. Ever since the Mission: Impossible films Cruise has always managed to bring a believability to the action characters he's played, and he pulls off the fight/action scenes so well. Jai Courtney is also really good as Charlie, the main 'bad guy' who is so relentless & vicious you don't mind when bad things happen to him.
All in all, Jack Reacher is a movie worth watching and I definitely recommend it.