#53: Without Remorse by Tom Clancy

Source Material, Volume 1

When I saw that Michael B. Jordan (Creed, Black Panther, Just Mercy) was going to star in a new action movie based on a Tom Clancy novel, I got super excited. I snatched up the book and inhaled it in about 2 weeks, finishing on a plane ride to Kentucky. I watched the movie on the return flight.

Today’s Bite-Size Review is Volume 1 of Source Material, a new series where I’ll talk about a book and its big (or small) screen adaptation.

Quick facts

Publication date: 1993
Length: 750 pages
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.18/5
My Review: I enjoyed it! It worked for me. John Kelly was an awesome character. I found it entertaining and engaging. I look forward to reading Rainbow Six.
My Rating: 4/5

Release Date: April 30, 2021
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell, Jodie Turner-Smith, Lauren London, Guy Pearce
Rotten Tomato Score: 45%
My review: Did not work for me. Aside from one or two scenes, I didn’t enjoy it. The plot was bland and some of the acting was downright grating.
My Rating: 2/5

The Book

I enjoy a good political thriller from time to time. Most of the stories I’ve read are about highly capable men being unstoppable heroes. These appeal to me in a wish-fulfillment kind of way. I’ve read Flynn’s Mitch Rapp, Child’s Jack Reacher, Fleming’s Bond, and Ludlum’s Bourne; each hero has qualities I admire (if not envy). In the Clancy universe, the heroes are Jack Ryan (Clear and Present Danger, Patriot Games, The Hunt for Red October) and John Kelly/Clark (Without Remorse, Rainbow Six).

Without Remorse was one of the better political thrillers I’ve read. I devoured it. The plot was entertaining, engaging, and intricate but not overly complex. It has a sturdy cast of characters but I never lost track of who was who. It takes place in the 70s during the Vietnam War, a fascinating time in American history. Veteran Navy SEAL John Kelly suffers unimaginable tragedy early on and then again several chapters later. His brokenness and loneliness lead him to take on two missions: One for revenge and the other to rescue. While Clancy isn’t the best at conveying the emotions of his characters, I managed to feel Kelly’s emotional state: His grief, guilt, and motivation. He was someone I could root for and I wanted him to succeed.

The Movie

Contrast those feelings with what I felt during the movie: Frustrated. Sure, Michael B. Jordan is charismatic and dynamic and a talented actor, but I never felt his pain or the sincerity of his mission. I couldn’t really connect with him or root for him.

It’s obvious that my expectations after reading such a cool and exciting book were too high. I should have seen the red flags, such as the 1 hour and 50 minutes run time for a 750-page book. How did The Hobbit, a 366-page book, get 3 movies totaling 8 hours and 10 minutes? It doesn’t make sense and I think Without Remorse would have done better as a 5 or 6 episode limited series.

Action movies are made to be watched on a big screen with a booming sound system in a dark theater, not on a phone in an airplane. I confess my experience of the movie has that footnote. But footnote on that footnote: I’ve been thrilled on planes before and know it can be done. This movie didn’t inspire me but I’ll recommend the book to anyone looking for a smart thriller.

Have you read this book or seen this movie? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Kyle