The sum of my fears - Boredom (Sum Of All Fears (DVD))

Member Name: mmintfresh

Product:	Sum Of All Fears (DVD)
Date:	20/08/02 (49 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Special effects, Plot

Disadvantages: Pace

Ben Affleck is rookie CIA agent Jack Ryan. He knows a lot about the Russian government and even rightly predicts that the next Russian President will be Nemerov (Ciarán Hinds). When the new president steps in the American president (James Cromwell) and his advisors are worried about the new change in power because of Nemerov's reputation. DCI William Cabot (Morgan Freeman) one of the presidents close friends enlists Ryan to go to Russia with him to inspect the nuclear disarming plants. When they arrive they discover that three of the scientists are missing, the three who when combined can make a bomb. What Ryan and Cabot don't know is that neo nazis, Dressler (Alan Bates) has bought a nuclear bomb on the black market and is building a bomb that he will set off in America and start a war between Russia and America. Leaving his nazis followers to pick up the pieces.

The bomb is planted in a Baltimore stadium, where the president is watching a football game. Luckily he is rushed out in time before the bomb goes off, killing millions of people and devastating the city. The president is keen to strike back against the Russians and is convinced that even though Nemerov is denying any connection with the bomb he is behind it. Jack knows this isn't the case and has to race against time before a war is started and both America and Russia are destroyed.

I didn't think that this would be the kind of film for me because I don't really like these types of films. However I went to see it and was determined to give it a chance. What I got was a film that sets up a good story, but at a mind numbingly slow pace, then a massive explosion happens and then the rest of the film is overly fast and contrived.

I admit that the story is good and quite relevant in today’s society. I explores the concept of what if, what if a nuclear bomb got into the hands of a madman, what if there was a nuclear explosion in America, what if America and
Russia where at war. The film explores these questions very well. The story did loose it in the last half hour though there were plot holes(could someone really tear around a bomb site for an hour or so and not get ill?) and also very contrived. In the first half of the film mistakes are made by the characters and everything doesn't go to plan, however the last half hour is too perfect and everything seems to happen just in time you want to puke. Another bad element is a two dimensional love story between Ryan and a pretty nurse (Bridget Moynahan). It takes up too much screen time and is also very basic and seems like it is written by a child.

Even though the plot is okay the first hour or so it moves to slow. The film itself is about 2 hours long but would have been a lot more watch able if it had been an hour and a half. Or if the last half of the film was a little slower and the first half was a little faster.

The direction in the film is good and I liked the use of light and colour. Scenes in the desert and post bomb Baltimore are bright yellow and orange, scenes in Russia have a blue green tinge to them. I liked the use of this convention and made the film nice to look at. Also some cool shots were used and I liked the use of hand held cameras to emphasis the erratic atmosphere of certain scenes.

The acting in the film is good and the casting in the film is spot on. I especially liked Liev Schreiber's character, he was a CIA agent type person and was under used.
The other thing that needs applauding is the special effects the bomb exploding was excellently done and was one of the best parts of the film.

I wouldn't really recommend this film to everyone because I think only certain people will like it but if you like this type of film go and see it.is building a bomb that he will set off in America and start a war between Russia and America. Leaving his nazis followers to pick up the pieces.

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