Which one do you prefer?
I know they are very different movies, but it´s funny to compare :)
The Hunt for Red October or Down Periscope?
(I love them both!)
I love both films.
I would have to say though I am more partial to Down Periscope however.
Red October has a lot of BS in it (not present in the book, Clancy did his research, but in the film there is a LOT of BS)
Down Periscope has a lot of BS too, but it was not meant to be taken seriously. It is a Comedy. As a matter of fact, despite the BS and the Comedic way in which they are portrayed in the film, what you see are very real examples of realworld tactics still in use today.
The Drunken fishermen was a prime example of Deceptive lighting practices along with acoustical deception.
Bottoming the boat was a good example of Sonar bottom field capture, where sonar bouncing off the ocean floor cannot distinguish from the sub resting (or near) the bottom.
The Tanker scene was a good example of Sound masking (though you only have to be on the same bearing... not directly under it or having to go between the screws, that was ridiculous).
and many others besides.
Also my old ship Makes a cameo in it. One of the many decommed warships behind the stingray when they are cleaning her up are the ships of the Belknap and Leahy class guided missile cruisers or CG's. Hence my name CGSailor. My ship, USS Halsey, CG-23 was there.
I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water!
I too love both films. In fact, I haven't watched a sub movie I didn't like - of course I may not have watched all of them yet :)
I've never read Tom Clancy's books, but I do enjoy movies made from them. I found it curious that a lot of people complained about a Scot (Sean Connery) playing a Russian commander, but I've never heard anyone complaining about a Swede (Stellan Skarsgård) playing the other Russian Captain, and his saying at one point "About bloody time" - a decidedly UN-Russian thing to say during the Cold War.
I've never read Tom Clancy's books, but I do enjoy movies made from them.
Then you've done yourself a disservice.
As good as the films made from his novels are (with the notable exception of that piece of Gos se "Sum of all Fears") the books are far more better and lacks the Hollywood artistic license taken with a lot of the reality and accuracies.
Two of his books have a strong Submarine theme to them.
Red October naturally...
And Debt of Honor in which we get into a Naval shooting war with Japan.
DoH has not been made into a Movie. Nor has his other book "Red Storm Rising" which has an absolutly awesome story arc involving Subs.
RSR is not a Ryanverse Novel in that it does not feature any of the recurring characters (Like Jack Ryan) from his other books. It is set in a separate fictional world from the rest of the books.
In fact 2 of the story arcs feature subs.
1) We follow one of the main characters as Commander of USS Chicago (LA Class attack Sub) as they conduct themselves during a New NATO vs Soviet Union WW3.
In particular is a death defying suicide mission right up into the Barents see and just off the Soviet coast.
2) And we follow the Commanding Officer of USS Pharris (which gets hit and nearly sunk) and later, he takes command of USS Reuben James (a Perry class frigate), this Arc shows the world of submarines from the perspective of those who stalk and kill them from the Air and Surface (Anti-submarine warfare)
I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water! share
I love to read. I will definitely have to get myself his books.
...and yeah, I only have the movie "Sum of All Fears" because I have kind of an OCD thing about collections, and it is sort of a part of the Jack Ryan movie collection. And of course, that same OCD thing means that once I start buying his books, I will have to buy them all. But it will be money well spent.
And of course, that same OCD thing means that once I start buying his books, I will have to buy them all. But it will be money well spent.
Why yes... Yes it will.
With the notable exception of perhaps 'Red Rabbit'.
total borefest. (IMHO)
But even Red Rabbit has some interesting background information on Jack's past and fills in the blanks between Patriot Games and The Hunt for Red October.
If you are just starting to read his novels.. I would suggest Chronological order. Not published order.
Without Remorse
Patriot Games
Red Rabbit
The Hunt for Red October
and then the rest are in proper order from there on in...
Without Remorse goes all the way back to the latter days of Vietnam. It gives you the Backstory on and the Creation of the CIA legend known as "John Clark"
Jack Ryan is just a young college student home for the holiday and thinking on joining the Marines. Only a bit Cameo as Jack's Father is the Detective trying to discover the person behind a rash of drug dealer slayings.
Patriot Games is the First featuring Jack Ryan as the main character (though Red October was published first). He is a Teacher of Naval History at Annapolis in London to give a Speech, The following incidents with terrorists leads to his recruitment by the CIA. His closeness with the royal family leads to his being appointed CIA Liaison officer to London.
Red Rabbit tells of his being the CIA Liaison Officer in London. It is also where he meets the FBI Liaison Officer and the two become good friends and the FBI agent becomes a recurring character throughout the remainder of the books.
It is in the Capacity of being the Liaison Officer that Red October opens with as the Brits ask Jack to take some disturbing Intel back to Langley for analysis.
I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water! share
Good to know - thanks for the info. I do prefer reading in chronological order, so it's handy to know which books come when.
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