Very Good Starting Point

Rating: 9/10 (15 June 2014)

Just to start, I am an absolute hardcore fan of the Jack Reacher series. I've met Lee Child and received his autograph on more than one occasion. The book that this movie is based on, "One Shot", is my favorite Reacher book. The question is was I upset when Tom Cruise was cast? I'll admit I was...but I also understand Hollywood where when they say a movie is BASED on a book as opposed to being a live action version of the book. This movie is simply using the story line from the book and not trying to completely create the world of Jack Reacher. Once people realize that maybe they'd enjoy it more. We always need to go see a movie that is based a book we love with an open mind. Otherwise you get the close-minded (see what I did there?) people who take it as a personal attack that it's not exactly like the book.
The movie itself honors the crime thrillers of the past with how it's filmed. This is not a Michael Bay style film where everything blows up every other second. Cruise manages to play a good concept of the character while obviously not being 6'5" and 250lbs. He's been around a while and knows what he is doing. He and Robert Duvall make a great team again and Rosamund Pike is, in my opinion , the perfect cast for Helen Rodin.
This movie makes people think. Is it exactly like the book? No it is not. Is that a bad thing? In this instance, no. If you know nothing of the books, watch the movie and enjoy it. If you are a fan of the books, remember it's BASED on the book, not an exact copy.