Jack Reacher
 

I discovered Lee Childs Jack Reacher stories about 10 years ago, what a great read. Usually we find Reacher hitch hiking, as he wanders the USA, somebody will eventually pick him up despite having a hulkish look at 6-6 260ish. And our story begins.

When I heard there was going to be a movie, yep, excited. But........Tom Cruise? How can the 5-8 170 (guessing) sell the huge Jack Reacher? In the stories the size of Reacher is a constant, we get it.....big bad hombre. Tom Cruise a big bad hombre......nay!

X pro rassler/current actor Dave Batista.....perfect.

If a movie is based on a literary character why not stay as close as possible to the story?

I guess the worst casting job ever was John Wayne as Ghanghis Ghan, What were they thinking?

ha ha what? no.
BTW... the characters name is Temujin

I feel this Tartar woman is for me, and my blood says, take her. There are moments for wisdom and moments when I listen to my blood; my blood says, take this Tartar woman.

Wasn’t Temujin his actual name?

Well they've made two Jack Reacher films so far. First one cost $60m and it made $218m. Second one cost anywhere from $60-96m (depending on who you believe) and it made $162m.

So yes, Tom Cruise can sell the character. If they had cast Dave Bautista back in 2012, nobody would have given a shit and a second movie would have never been made.

I seriously doubt most people know who Jack Reacher is. To those of us into the books (I own all of them) having Tom Cruise play the monstrous Jack Reacher was ridiculous.

Have Cruise play Thor, Conan, it would be the same thing.

No Cruise can't sell the character, IF you know who the character is. Bautista would have been perfect.

The physical presense of Reacher is a huge part of the story. Without that going on it's not a Jack Reacher story.

Cool. Stick to the books then, because you are the type of reader which movie versions will never be correct to you. Avid readers often imagine actors playing the roles as they read through books, making their judgment as to who should play them in movie versions biased. As you've read through the Jack Reacher series, you already envisioned his character as being played by Bautista. There's nothing wrong with that, but in the Year 2012, I'm telling you that very few people would have traveled to a theater to watch Bautista in a Jack Reacher movie.

And you aren't even considering that it's quite unlikely the movie gets green-lit by a studio unless Cruise or another big name is attached. In 2011-12, Bautista was only known as being an on/off again wrestler.

I'm a big fan of Robert E. Hiowards CONAN, also own all those books. When it came to the movies, they nailed it. Jack Reacher just as big as Conan, imagine Cruise as CONAN.

I never thought of anyone playing Reacher in a movie until I saw Cruise, which was actually comical.

You never get very far in any of the novels before you read something about the size of Reacher, it is a constant in all the stories, very important you get....big bad ass here.

Think of a Batman movie without all his gadgets and toys. Same thing.

Long after the movies then I thought how Bautista would have been a perfect fit.

There's good new for you, then. Cruise isn't Jack Reacher anymore. They are actually rebooting it into a TV series.

I've read a lot of the Reacher books and was pissed that Cruise was playing him. Cruise owned the rights, so I guess he gets to cast himself.

I always pictured Adam Baldwin when reading the books.

Every Reacher fan I have talked to feels like we do, as you know the size of Reacher a big part of the stories. Without that size thing going on, it's not really a Jack Reacher story.

Adam Baldwin?

Probably too old to play Reacher now. He was in Full Metal Jacket, Firefly, Chuck and The Last Ship.

https://chucktv.net/wp-content/uploa...5_ABaldwin.jpg

I always pictured The Rock as Jack Reacher. Thought he would fit the part to a T.

Adam Baldwin would be a very good choice for Reacher.

I completely agree with the OP in that I love the Reacher books and was shocked when I heard Cruise was going to play the main character. For this very reason I have not seen either of the movies and probably won't.

I will disagree with using Bautista in the role though. Too jacked. Reacher is a big man but nothing makes him sound like a body builder type. Liam Neeson would be a great fit!

Ah, something to look forward too then. I will have to look for that when it comes out.

EDIT: I looked and see that it will be an Amazon Prime show. Then I saw something about Bosch. I had now idea that existed. I just finished the latest Connelly Harry (Hieronymus) Bosch book. Anyone know if this show is any good before I check it out?

I can see that, didn't know his name, he's big enought.

Reacher was 100% white, as we know that isn't The Rock.

Hard to believe but Johnson's dad Rocky Johnson was more buffed out than Dwayne is. Dad tag teamed with Tony "Mr.USA" Atlas.

Both movies are outstanding, I highly recommend them.

I do think it was pretty much...."most won't have any idea who Jack Reacher is, while everyone knows who Tom Cruise is".....bottom line $$$$$$$ of course.

I didn't like either movie, but I have an admitted anti-TC bias.

I've read only a couple of the Bosch books (which I enjoyed). Love the Amazon series. It's really well done.

So what is a good movie in your opinion?

6'4", so close enough for Hollywood

In this genre, I'd say Heat. Haven't thought too much about it and would have to come up with a list.

Typical Jack Reacher novel, he thumbs a ride on the interstate where he comes across bad people involved in some sort of crime in a town in somewhere USA.

And then Reacher starts the body count one by one by any and all means available.

I've read most of the books and really like the stories.

I was at a yard sale about 10 years ago looking at the books.

old lady.....you ever read Lee Child?
Me....don't think so.
old lady....he writes about a big guy like you, Jack Reacher.
Me....sounds good to me.

Bought all she had which was six but (as I found out later) not KILLING FLOOR the first Reacher novel. I must start at the beginning, just a thing with me. It took me a few months before finding KILLING FLOOR this was at a thrift shop.

You into James Lee Burke?

First Jack Reacher film was outstanding. Throwback to classic action films with more realism and zero CGI.

The 2nd one was blah...

Yeah first one was really entertaining.

From what I've read on jack Reacher books you can start about any of the books there doesn't seem to be any real order to them though Killing Floor would be a great starter book.

I never read his books, what can you tell me about what he writes?

I always start at the beginning and then the search is on which I enjoy.

It took me about five years to accumulate all the Robert E. Howard's "Conan" saga, same with ERB "John Carter on Mars" epic. Both with about a dozen books.

I think this would work better than me trying to explain things.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Reacher

I'd say Killing Floor is the best place to start, but as long as you have a fundamental understanding of the character you can read any of the books and be fine. There seems to be occasional referrals to characters or events from other books, but it doesn't seem to get in the way.

New Jack Reacher series on Amazon. This guy certainly looks the part.



<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GSycMV-_Csw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I actually like the looks of it... maybe a little cheesy but I can deal with it.

Never had anything to do with this platform, not out of choice but out of obliviousness. Not read any books, not seen any movies, . . . but the new series seems off to a promising start.

Sure, it's a potpourri of recycled tropes, but it's blended and balanced well.

Helps knowing the material is based on existing canon, not some seat-of-the-pants adaptation.

Kind of like watching an airport novel.

Almost finished with the season. I’ve read most of the books, this guy definitely fits the part.

If you like Jack Reacher I recommend taking a look at The Terminal List coming out in April on Amazon Prime. Jack Carr is a former Navy Seal and has walked the walk so the series is like a more accurate/realistic Jack Reacher.

Watched the first episode. It was fun, enjoyable. I'll give the series a try.

Not familiar with the books but enjoying the series. I'd say it's standard Amazon quality, comparable to Goliath or Bosch or Jack Ryan.

Amazon
Disney +
Netflix
Hulu
HBO
Paramount +
This one
That one
The other one

You can't just buy a decent cable package, and occasionally go to the movies to see anything worthwhile anymore... the future is here, and I hate its guts

Well, cable you had to pay a premium for a bunch of channels you may not even watch.

I have a Verizon unlimited plan so Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ are all included for free.

I watch Netflix the most often so it's well worth the cost for me.

Amaon Prime means free shipping so that's well worth the price.

I happen to have "free" cable/internet through my HOA. Not truly free since clearly some of the HOA fees go towards the cost, but I do pay an extra $20 a month for increased 500/500 speeds.

So long story short I have Netflix, Hulu, ESPN+, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and basic cable all for not that much. I can watch whatever I want with far more options than I used to have back in the day watching Satellite TV growing up in my parents' house. I can watch what's live on Cable or watch countless TV programs or movies on demand streaming. If there is a TV show on HBO Max or Paramount + or some other network I can get a one month subscription to binge watch the show and whatever else may be of interest before the month expires and I cancel my membership.

Idk, doesn't sound all that bad to me.

I’ve finished four episodes so far. It’s really good. Funny moments, intriguing, and suspenseful.

Wife insisted to keep binging. 5 episodes in. Well done TV. Interesting, suspense is good. Twists are not TV stupid. Funny when it tries. Worth the time so far.

I just by chance watched the movie (with Tom Cruise) yesterday. Never seen any Jack Reacher stuff before, but I did like the movie. I think I'll give this series a spin for sure.

Meh, I like the choice of paying for content that I actually want to see without being forced to subsidize crap channels on cable that I literally never watched.

I get HBO Max included in my ATT Fiber, Amazon Prime I pay for just to get the fast shipping, so any video content is a bonus. All the other streaming services I sign up for and watch when they have somthing I'm actually interested in watching, then cancel when I finish.

Much, much, much better than cable. I might spend $30/month on streaming options with a much broader seletion than I ever got for cable, and that crap starts at like $80/month now.

Watched through it all in one day.

Enjoyed it overall, thought it was cheesy in some places.

I need to reread Killing Floor now since there was a lot that I had forgotten.

This show isn't breaking new ground as BL said, but it is enjoyable.

It took a bit to not see Reacher as Thad Castle, but once I took him more seriously it was a good quick watch

It was a pretty good watch. I laughed at a shitton of the wisecracks from Reacher.

I was REALLY was not expecting this out of Roscoe.



Hooo boy.

I stayed up till about 2am last night watching all of these. I like them and is much more in line with what Jack Reacher was instead of Tom Cruise Jack Reacher.

I knew it was going to happen at some point by the way she was playing the character. Which reminds me; just about all of the acting in this is enjoyable. It's like watching an ensemble of character actors. Fun stuff. I'm even willing to overlook the horrible job some of them are doing of faking a Southern accent.

Got some perky ones. Needs to go into the next ranked celebrity one.

Renewed.by Amazon for a 2nd season

Enjoyable watch, if a bit formulaic

Binged it in a day. Enjoyed it.

Wonder which book they'll follow for S2

Yeah. I noticed that. There is definitely some cheese in this sandwich but it's still tasty.

This show is an 80s action movie stretched into 8 TV episodes and it's awesome. Give me some kickass fight scenes, tits just because and a few explosions and that's all you need.

We really are a simple species

Too bad Ubeja never lived to see this air. RIP

I watched the 1st episode last night, liked it. I was like is that ****ing Thad Castle? yes it is

Which pretty much describes the novels to a T.

I really, really enjoyed the whole thing, especially the exposition in the finale. So many shows just totally skip, or barely gloss over that stuff these days.

Amazing job by Amazon.

Yup.

Extremely cornball between gratuitously violent.

So....just like the books.

The problem with the books and why I eventually stopped reading them is that they're just awfully repetitive. Same thing every book. Oh sure, some difference in the details, but every story is basically the same.

Makes for a good limited serious and probably even a few seasons of it, but it does have a shelf life.

My mind's eye impression of Roscoe was hotter. And for some reason a brunette.

Essentially Jessica Biel.

But Amazon Roscoe had a fantastic ass, so she's got that going for her. The rest was fairly underwhelming.

Same for me, I think I only read maybe three of them. Still, I'll be grateful for a couple three more seasons from Amazon like the first one.

No Tom Cruise. No 5'7'' man. May watch.

I think I read 4, but the 4th was mostly a grudge match between me and the book.

Wife and I watched it Sunday. It was fun. Not particularly deep, though the plot got a bit confusing with all the running around that went on, NY, Atlanta...**** I dunno, all over the place...ya gotta be willing to turn your brain off and just enjoy the ride. It's a good time. It's no Jack Ryan that's for sure, but it's really not supposed to be.

Although I have to laugh, guys are always willing to challenge that dude to a fight...in reality, I think paid or not these dudes would be like...ah...no...

Fun show that I'll keep watching. I liked Alan Ritchson in Titans too.

Right? I thought the same thing. Maybe when Tom Cruise played the character in the movies, it was somewhat believable. This guy, though, is a huge man. Nobody is going to be willing to do that with him.

Next season will adapt

Directly into my veins, please.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tC-rRhQcnlI?si=G0DOIjL5mT4gGFJp" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

This looks fantastic. I absolutely loved the Jack Reacher books. I did like the Tom Cruise movies but they were not Jack Reacher movies. This is a Jack Reacher show.

Is that Alan Tudyk or just someone that looks a lot like him? Don't see him listed in the cast.

In either event, I like the twist. Like I said, my complaint with the novels was how repetitive they got and frankly there just wasn't any character development. They're empty calories.

But this is an interesting plot development; always like a 'getting the band back together' bit...

Reacher doesn’t need character development.

That's cool. I only read the first 3 or so of the books, so will be new territory for me. Enjoyed watching scenes in the first season and recognizing them from the books, but will be good to get fresh material.

I feel like the books have fallen off since Andrew Child has taken the mantle. He’s changed Reacher a bit.

Can't wait. Really enjoyed season 1

loved the 1st season, even watched it twice. Thad Castle is the best Reacher no doubt

also my favorite scene of season 1, love when the legs come down like you know what's about to happen

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6uc9rgacybI?si=sNXb1WnZljuRhEa_" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

LETS ****ING GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw this thread and decided to watch it. I love this shit. Alan Ritchson is a big bad mofo lol.

I first saw him on Titans on the old DC platform and liked his character on that too

Not of huge significance, but apparently Season 2 is dropping a bit earlier than previously announced. First 3 episodes drop on 12/14 at 7pm EST now.

Excellent