Harrison Ford took over for Alec Baldwin and brings his own level of gravitas to the role of Jack Ryan. First in Patriot Games and then again in Clear and Present Danger. Patriot Games is certainly the darkest of this series of movies and the themes are full of tension and intense action. Once again the story is put together in such a way that a lay person can understand it and yet it’s smart and well written.

Making the character’s family a bigger part of the movie ramps up the pressure in a powerful way. Anne Archer and a young Thora Birch are great as Cathy and Sally Ryan. As with the other films, the additional casting is strong with a Samuel L. Jackson sighting as well.

It might be my least favorite of the original three movies, but it’s still very solid and worth the time to see it.