Jack Reacher (5/7/13)

Rated PG-13 for violence, language and some drug material.

Starring Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike and Robert Duvall

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie (The Way of the Gun)

Jack Reacher is one of the most compelling heroes to step from a novel to the big screen.

In an innocent heartland city, five are shot dead by an expert sniper. The police quickly identify and arrest the culprit, and build a slam-dunk case. But the accused man claims he’s innocent and says, “Get Jack Reacher.” Reacher (Tom Cruise) himself sees the news report and makes his way to Pittsburgh, PA. The defense is immensely relieved, but Reacher has come to bury the guy. Shocked at the accused’s request, Reacher sets out to confirm for himself the absolute certainty of the man’s guilt, but comes up with more than he bargained for.

Jack Reacher is an action movie in the truest sense of the phrase. This movie starts with a bang and doesn’t let off the throttle until the credits roll. In fact the opening sequence may be very disturbing to some especially in light of the recent events at Sandy Hook Elementary School. I personally found it very unsettling. Not because it was gratuitous, but because it was so realistic. There are a few scenes that stretch the bounds of realism, but for the most part the entire movie is fairly believable.

I personally believe the difference between a great action movie and a mediocre action movie is not how many things are blowing up or how many people die, but the story and the characters involved in that story. Jack Reacher has both a strong story and strong characters. There were a few times when I thought I had the whole thing figured out and then out of nowhere, a twist in the story – I love that.

I’m not the world’s biggest Tom Cruise fan, but I thought he was amazing as Jack Reacher. And call me crazy, but Robert Duvall makes any movie better.

Last and certainly not least is the fact that it was filmed in Pittsburgh, PA. So let’s add one more great movie to the list of films filmed in this majestic city (Striking Distance, The Next Three Days, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower – I intentionally left off Abduction).

So if you love action movies I would highly recommend this one, for me it’s “Theater Worthy.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
As far as sex and nudity goes, there is one scene that shows a woman briefly in her underwear getting dressed. It is very mild for a PG-13 film.

On the other hand, the violence is quite disturbing. Right from the start, a lone gunman shoots five people with a sniper rifle (a scene that’s revisited later in the movie). Further in the film, Jack takes on a group of tough guys in a street brawl leaving them bloodied and sometimes with broken bones. Other scenes feature execution-style killings and allusions to torture (although not graphic and very brief). There’s also a high-speed chase through city streets that damages plenty of cars. And one woman is killed by a blow to the head and suffocated by hand.

As far as profanity, there is 1 F-word and a few others.

The action scenes are sometimes intense. There is blood, but it is not gory or graphic. It’s more disturbing, like when a villain is asked to break his own fingers. So please use your discretion whether you want your teenagers seeing this.

CONVERSATION STARTER

1. What are some qualities that make Jack Reacher likable? (Try to get them to “integrity” and “trustworthy”.)


2. On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being not very and 10 being very) how would you score yourself on the trustworthy scale?


3. On that same scale, how do you think others would score you?


4. Read the following verses
   
   Proverbs 10:9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

   Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

   Proverbs 28:6 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.

   
   Based on those verses how important do you think integrity is to God?


5. What can you do this week to be more like Jack Reacher and walk in integrity?