Jack Reacher
 

Anyone been to the movie? Is Tom Cruise YOUR Jack Reacher?

A few months I posted that I had just found out that Tom Cruise was playing Jack Reacher and how appalled I was at this choice by Lee Childs. I was very surprised at the feedback because I didn't know that there were so many of us who loved Jack Reacher. I have made up my mind to not go and see this movie. I have in my mind an image of Jack Reacher that I do not want Tom Cruise to ruin. Years ago I read this fabulous book (no clue now about who wrote it) and they made a movie out of the book. I went to see the movie which was a big mistake, because now I remember the movie more than the book and it wasn't as good. So I, for one, am not going to any of Tom Cruise's movies where he plays Jack Reacher. I have tried to complain to Lee Childs but can't get on his website. Oh well, I doubt he would listen to me !!

I have read all his books and can't picture Cruise as Reacher either. The reviews have noted the physcical difference, but gave the movie good reviews along with Cruise's acting.

Reacher character is supposed to be 6 foot 5 inches i believe. Cruise falls way short of that.

I saw it the other night with my daughter. Cruise does not, IMHO, fit the Jack Reacher character at all!!!! I've read every book with him as the main character and feel like I "know" him. :)

My DH is really disappointed that T.C. is playing this role. He read all the books. When he discribed J.R. to me my first thought was Dwayn Johnson( THE ROCK). He has the size and ability to pull this character off with great appeal.
My 2nd choice would be Liev Shriber. Not so much bulk but very good actor and has played parts like this.

I hope the movie is better than we may think with T.C. in the lead.

NO, NO, No! I like the Jack Reacher books - great, entertaining, fast, action-packed fiction - a good read. Tom Cruise is not anywhere near what I imagine Jack Reacher as looking like or being like. I probably won't see the movie because it will ruin my image of Jack Reacher!

I don't have any clue who Jack Reacher is but I have boycotted Tom Cruise movies ever since he acted like such a pompous a** when interviewed by Matt Lauer years ago. This is a man who obviously has some deep seeded issues that he refuses to acknowledge.

I like Tom Cruise and I like Jack Reacher, but I can't see Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher. The other one that is bothering me right now is Tyler Perry as Alex Cross. I don't get that one either.

I just cannot see Tom Cruise playing Jack Reacher - I have read every book with Reacher - he is specifically described as 6'5" 220lbs with hands as large as "dinner plates" - Reacher always stands out in a crowd because he is so big and he is a man of few words - yet he takes no nonesense. I really don't see Tom Cruise pulling this one off - and I am very disappointed that he is playing this role. I am considering not seeing the movie because of this.

I read that Tyler Perry was re-cast as Alex Cross. No way...that part belongs to the original actor (if I could just think of his name now!) Even when I read the Cross books, I envision the actor playing the part!!

I agree I do not picture TC as Jack. But I am still going to the movie.

My sentiments exactly.

I think it's wonderful when I read a book by an author that's new to me and want to read the rest of the series. I went to the library and got them all, I'm looking forward to more by Lee Child. As for the movie, I'll probably see it when it comes to Netflix, I wouldn't pay to go to a theater to see it. I'll just pretend it has nothing to do with the books, I have my own image of Jack Reacher in my mind and I'm keeping him, LOL.

I'm with everyone else on this. I don't go to the movies, but will check out DVDs from the library if they have a good one. I can't imagine TC as Jack Reacher. I had a similar experience with watching Sahara, based on a Clive Cussler novel. The actor did not in any way resemble the Dirk Pitt I carry around in my mind.

We saw the movies last week and enjoyed it very much. I am not a Tom Cruise fan and I haven't read the books so we watched and enjoyed it very much. And Pittsburgh looked so much better on film than in real life. We spend as little time as possible in the 'burgh' as it's just to hard to get around with all the streets and roads under construction. It's been going on for +30 years!

Saw the movie on Christmas day in the evening with hubby. We really enjoyed the movie but didn't realize there was a book. I don't read those kind of books. And they were only charging $5 for tickets. I guess because it was Christmas day.

I too agree, but maybe the original actor has decided retire?????? I also liked the female co-lead, ....Judd.........but maybe they have gone on to other things or the $$$ was not enough...who knows...I am now curious about this Reacher character.....have not read any of the books but will have to look into it....as far as the movie..I don't go to movies that often anyway, but did go to see Lincoln and thought it was good

Will not go see the movie. Tom is not anywhere near the Reacher image.

I am not a Tom Cruise fan- so I won't be watching that one at all.

Its sad when movieland takes a novel and distorts it instead of trying to keep the character as it is in the book. So many movies have been made from a book and turns out they are not even close to the book.

I am in agreement. Having read all of the Jack Reacher books, TC was an extremely poor choice of actor. That being said, I also will boycott the movie.

Write to him via his publisher. He will get it.

IMHO the only way this movie could work with TC is if the remainder of the cast was vertically challenged....even then it would be the best acting of his career if he could play a caring individual. TC's whole persona in 180 degrees from Jack Reacher.


seriously doubt that Lee Childs had any say in the casting....like Janet Evanovitch - Stephanie Plum - once the movie rights are sold the author has very little say in casting, final scrip and filming. IMHO a sad state of movie making.....

I have read all the Jack Reacher books, and really like them. I will NOT see the movie.

I avoid any and every thing Tom Cruise is in as well as that Pitt fella they both give me the heebie-jeebies

I can't see TC as Reacher either. I've read all the books and he just doesn't cut it as Reacher. Although all the reviews say he does a great job. I'm reserving judgement until I see the movie. I can picture my DH better as Reacher. He is 6'5" and about 270 lbs. He's also former law enforcement. He's my Jack Reacher.

Since it opened to a very low gross - beat out by the Hobbit - I don't think many Lee Child fans want to see a pretty mini-Jack. There are a lot of 6'5" actors: Vince Vaughn, John Corbett (Northern Exposure), Neil Flynn (Scrubs), Joe Manganiello (Spiderman), Peter Hermann (L&O SVU) even speaks 4 languages.

I was appalled when they announced Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher. We have discussed for years who would be good in the part, since we have read all of the books. I thought Tom Selleck or Liam Neeson. I told my husband I didn't want to go because it just wouldn't be "Jack Reacher". He really wanted to go, so we went with the idea in mind that it wouldn't be the same Jack Reacher that we have read about for years. I have to tell you--we both loved it. No, he didn't fit the attributes that are described in the books, but it was a good action movie. Go see it.

I haven'tread the books but do like Tom Cruise so I will probably go see the movie. I read an interview with Lee Child who said TC was not his first choice but after he saw the movie, he did approve of him. So often the video depiction of books really changes them; for instance, Temperance Brennan, aka "Bones" is nothing like her counterpart in the books by Kathy Reichs. I think that was what was so amazing about the Harry Potter movies; the characters really looked liked the descriptions in the books and I loved that they stayed the course for all of the movies!

Don't think Tom is a good fit either -- smiled when I saw the comment about his height. You know, I don't think that there are that many really tall actors, especially ones that would fit this role.

I also love the Jack Reacher books-I always like a book better than a movie anyway-so much more detail. I cannot see Tom Cruise playing Jack Reacher. Another one I was disappointed in was "My Sister's Keeper". I love the books by Jodi Picoult, but I have not seen the movie, because someone told me how they had changed the ending of the movie so much from the book-made it TOTALLY different. All of her books have a "twist" at the end, and changing the ending just spoiled any thoughts I had of seeing the movie. I am a voracious reader, and I love the authors Lee Child, James Patterson, Jodi Picoult, John Sanford, Linda Fairstein, Kathy Reichs, Tess Gerritson, among many others.

Morgan Freeman was the actor who played the original Alex Cross :) I love all the Lee Child novels and was also very disappointed in TC as the choice for Jack Reacher. Reacher's height and bulk are mentioned in everyone of the books and are integral to the story. It is what sets Reacher apart...and makes him noticeable i.e. gets him involved. TC at 5'6" is a shrimp in comparison LOL
As for "My sister's keeper", the movie was okay but the book is ten times better. And yes, they change the ending in the movie so book and movie do not end the same. Hated that!!

I had the same experience with Dirk Pitt and actually none of the characters in Sahara fit my image of their bigger than life book counterparts.
X

I hardly ever think that the actor/actress fit the books...and I agree the Rock would be an awesome JR.

TC is not someone I like to watch---I think he has pyschological issues.

I'm a huge Lee Child fan - have read all of his books. Was also not impressed with the choice of Tom Cruise as Reacher as he sure didn't fit the vision that had been painted in my head. I *will* be going to see the movie, so I can see this story from a film-maker's perspective.

Moving between the two experiences (film vs book) is always a huge challenge - there is so much that the written word can do that is just pretty much impossible to convey on screen.

I had also read Lee Child's article in Time (also published in 'Word and Film' - http://www.wordandfilm.com/2012/12/l...ing-the-baton/ ). If the author sees his character coming to life on the screen with this cast, I'll give it a chance :)

I think my son-in-law would have made a great Jack Reacher. He is 6'7" and weighs 250 lbs. and is a served in the Marine Corps. He would have been willing to do the part, too.

We will skip this film. Saw the "Hobbit" and it was excellent.

Jack Reacher
 

Saw the film and was very disappointed - T.C. is NOT Jack Reacher. The acting in the film was very poor!