It’s always interesting to see how a book is adapted to the screen (big or small). When the transition also involves a fairly significant alteration to the era when the story is set, this adds an extra element to the adaptation. Finally, when the character from the book has also been seen on-screen previously, we really add to the level of expectation that some viewers may bring to the new adaptation. This brings us to Without Remorse, the recent film release on Amazon Prime, based on the Tom Clancy novel of the same name. We’ll provide a review of the new film, with a look at how it manages to adapt the original story.
Adaptation History
Tom Clancy has written an entire series of books (several related series, technically) with various interwoven characters, all largely based around the character of Jack Ryan. Amazon Prime viewers have already gotten to know Jack Ryan in the current streaming series that is loosely based on the series of novels that began with The Hunt for Red October in 1984. Over the years, that character has been played on-screen by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, Chris Pine, and John Krasinski. In Without Remorse, we are given an origin story for John Kelly/John Clark, who plays an important role in the overall Jack Ryan series. With the release of the new Amazon adaptation, John Clark has been played by Willem Dafoe, Liv Schreiber, and now Michael B. Jordan. Confusing enough?
Timeframe
Adding to the challenge of so many novels and screen adaptions, the novel Without Remorse (written in 1993) is actually set during and just after the Vietnam War. The Amazon adaptation takes this timeframe and updates it to the present day. So, if you are a fan of the Jack Ryan books, films, or TV series, you may want to come into the Without Remorse film by tossing out everything you know to date. This film currently lives outside of any of the other screen adaptations, so don’t try to figure out how this fits with the current Jack Ryan tv series or anything else. You’ll be happier if you think of it as a disconnected blank slate.
What’s the Film About?
The plot is loosely based on the novel, as an origin story for covert operative John Clark who began his career as Navy SEAL John Kelly, and then ended up having his life uprooted, leading him to take on a new identity. The film takes this basic premise and runs in some different directions with it.
We’ll avoid spoilers, and simply say that Jordan’s character begins the film as a Navy SEAL, experiences personal tragedy after being targeted by foreign operatives, and goes on a mission to hold those behind the plot accountable for their actions. The film is action-packed, as you might expect. Things get a bit convoluted, as to who the ultimate bad guy really is - as you can expect from similar films. We get a few twists and turns, which the characters sometimes have to explain to the viewer in reasonable detail, to make sure we are up to speed. Ultimately, we watch John Kelly exact his revenge and eventually take on a new identity, with the clear intention of turning this into a film franchise if the first film is successful. It’s useful to note that there is a second novel that focuses on John Clark (Rainbow Six) that Paramount Pictures has plans to adapt, with Jordan taking on the lead role again. So, there is a likely plan for a sequel already in the works.
What’s the Verdict?
The movie is a bit of a mixed bag. It was hard for me to separate everything I already know or expect from the character, since I’ve seen most of the previous adaptations, and read the various novels in which he appears. I generally like Michael B. Jordan (awesome in Black Panther), but felt that the script wasn’t quite as well written as it could be. The acting is generally fine, but even if you don’t know the story, a great deal of the plot is predictable. That said, it’s a passable action flick and an enjoyable way to spend about 2 hours.
