WITHOUT REMORSE Review; "Lays The Groundwork For What Could Be A Must-See New Action Franchise"

WITHOUT REMORSE Review; "Lays The Groundwork For What Could Be A Must-See New Action Franchise"

Tom Clancy's Without Remorse hits Amazon Prime Video this Friday, but what can you expect from this latest adaptation of the author's work? Find our verdict on the Michael B. Jordan-led movie here...

Review Opinion
By JoshWilding - Apr 28, 2021 09:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Jack Ryan

Without Remorse was originally set to be released in theaters, but thanks to the pandemic, it's found a new home on Amazon Prime Video. Considering the success the streaming service has had with the John Krasinski-led Jack Ryan, it feels like a fitting home for the movie, and we can only hope that there are some sort of tentative plans in place to have Ryan cross paths with John Clark. As an introduction to the character, this movie works nicely, but without Michael B. Jordan in the lead role, it could have been a tough one to recommend. 

Telling the story of an elite Navy SEAL who uncovers an international conspiracy, John Kelly's life falls apart when his pregnant wife is murdered in retaliation for his role in that top-secret op. Determined to kill her assassins at any cost, Kelly embarks on a mission of revenge that simultaneously sees him attempting to avoid an all-out war between the U.S. and Russia. So, the stakes are high, and up until the final act, so is most of what plays out on screen. It's unfortunate that Without Remorse doesn't devote anywhere near enough time to John's time behind bars as that feels thoroughly glossed over, but an incredibly well-shot plane crash makes it hard not to wish we'd been able to watch the movie unfold on an even bigger screen. However, while some intense sequences follow, nothing is able to quite top it, and a final act that sees the lead character fighting his way out of an apartment building feels more like it should have been a mid-point action scene than the climactic battle. 

Because of that, the movie ends more with a whimper than a bang, though the stage is nicely set for future adventures thanks to a very cool mid-credits scene. There's also no denying that John Kelly's transformation into John Clark feels earned; it's just hard to figure out why Without Remorse wouldn't end with something a little grander in scale than what we see here as it definitely cuts the movie's momentum off at the knees. 
 


Taylor Sheridan and Will Staples' screenplay is solid, while Stefano Sollima's direction definitely helps bring their action beats to life on screen in an exciting way (the underwater scenes, in particular, make for nail-biting viewing). However, Jordan definitely elevates the material with a fantastic performance that makes it effortless to buy into John's quest for revenge. Without Remorse firmly establishes the fact that he has all the makings of an action movie star, and he's convincing kicking ass here from start to finish. As for the rest of the cast, Jamie Bell is as reliable as ever, while Jodie Turner-Smith does a great job of adding a badass female lead to the mix who is every bit as capable as John. Lauren London, Colman Domingo, and Guy Pearce are good in supporting roles, though Brett Gelman thoroughly underwhelms as the movie's supposed villain. 

You'll definitely have a good time watching Without Remorse, and while it does fizzle out near the end, Jordan is awesome enough to ensure that John's battle to escape the aforementioned apartment building is compelling and brutal, even if it is somewhat familiar and not overly imaginative. We've mentioned that a couple of times, and while it hurts the movie, it doesn't kill it. It does, however, speak to a larger problem with how events unfold because the pacing is an issue throughout. There's serious franchise potential here, though, and while this origin story doesn't quite stick the landing, now that's out the way, we're hopeful the series can be taken to greater, more ambitious heights. 

Despite hitting a few too many familiar beats, Without Remorse is elevated by Michael B. Jordan and lays the groundwork for what could be a must-see new action franchise. Now, bring on a team-up with John Krasinski's Jack Ryan. 

Ke1
JACK RYAN Season 3 Trailer Ups The Ante As The Hero Finds Himself A Fugitive Trying To Avert Nuclear War
Related:

JACK RYAN Season 3 Trailer Ups The Ante As The Hero Finds Himself A Fugitive Trying To Avert Nuclear War

SQUID GAME Season 2 Trailer Sees Lee Jung-jae Embark On A Bloody New Mission As Player 456
Recommended For You:

SQUID GAME Season 2 Trailer Sees Lee Jung-jae Embark On A Bloody New Mission As Player 456

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

dracula
dracula - 4/28/2021, 9:07 AM
Wonder if there is any chance of a crossover with big tuna
QuietStorm
QuietStorm - 4/28/2021, 9:32 AM
Lets get that crossover and that wire reunion!

GhostDog
GhostDog - 4/28/2021, 9:55 AM
@QuietStorm - Wallace doing good
4thMaster
4thMaster - 4/28/2021, 9:36 AM
About what I expected, I'll probably give it a go down the line. Does Murray come out with a godawful Russian accent for his big bad?
santoanderson
santoanderson - 4/28/2021, 9:37 AM
No current Rotten Tomatoes score, but at the time of this writing it’s 14 positive & 13 negative.
DannRamm113
DannRamm113 - 4/28/2021, 9:39 AM
It's a curiosity for me, I like Michael B Jordan
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 4/28/2021, 9:45 AM
Still sounds like a solid enough action flick. I'll check it out.
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 4/28/2021, 9:46 AM
I’m not a fan of finding out a movie is already trying to make a franchise or trilogy before we even see the first film. Kind of kills the curiosity of whether the main character will survive the movie.
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 4/28/2021, 9:48 AM
@slickrickdesigns

John Clarke is somewhat of a staple for Tom Clancy.
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 4/29/2021, 5:55 AM
@regularmovieguy - I get ya, but it’s kind of a personal problem that makes me feel like the stakes aren’t as high as they appear
blackandyellow
blackandyellow - 4/28/2021, 10:29 AM


Now get to work on Creed III.
inkniron
inkniron - 4/28/2021, 10:43 AM
I know they have to update these things for the time and falling for a prostitute is more of an 80's trope but I'm not sure I dig the change to his origin here. I'll give it a watch and try to have an open mind but I have a feeling it's going to be a watered down version that won't sit right with me
McMurdo
McMurdo - 4/28/2021, 11:00 AM
Hard for me to take this Wilding guy serious as a critic after Falc and Cap review. But this does look FIRE from the trailers.
J619SD
J619SD - 4/28/2021, 11:01 AM
I am a huge Clancy fan. From what I have seen so far, this isn't really anything like the Novel. Been waiting for them to do something with John Clark for a long time. Really hope I'm not disappointed.
bkmeijer2
bkmeijer2 - 4/28/2021, 11:22 AM
So, nothing I didn't already expect. I'll give this a try
AnthonyVonGeek
AnthonyVonGeek - 4/28/2021, 11:26 AM
Damn, I got excited and thought I could watch it today but I gotta wait till Friday.
MrJosh
MrJosh - 4/28/2021, 2:00 PM
Michael B. Jordan is Michael B. Jordan in a role written specifically for Michael J. Jordan. I hope he plays an out-of-work accountant w/ 6 wild kids at home next.
View Recorder