Really Jack(ed) about Reacher!!

[HoopyFrood]

I know there was a thread on here about Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher. The idea irritated me too, but it was a movie and any resemblance to books living or dead blah, blah, blah.

However my Kindle now shows the new Jack Reacher book from Child and guess who's face is prominently displayed above the title? How could Child have allowed his 6'4" character to be thought of in relation to some 5'5" dwarf?

Excuse me but I'm incensed!!

[new]

Originally Posted by HoopyFrood

I know there was a thread on here about Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher. The idea irritated me too, but it was a movie and any resemblance to books living or dead blah, blah, blah.

However my Kindle now shows the new Jack Reacher book from Child and guess who's face is prominently displayed above the title? How could Child have allowed his 6'4" character to be thought of in relation to some 5'5" dwarf?

Excuse me but I'm incensed!!

I know, isn't that ridiculous??? They did the same thing with John Grisham's boook The Firm. It was a good book, even a good series on TV. Unfortunately they cancelled it. The actor they chose for the lead in the series was tall and good looking. In the movie they used short Tom Cruise. Yuck.

[jgaiser]

As most authors have no say on their covers, Child shouldn't be blamed. Blame the publisher who is *very* interested in linking the book to a hopefully successful movie. More successful, more books, more money.

[ucfgrad93]

I thought you were going to be talking about the release of the movie being delayed.

Originally Posted by nydailynews.com

The U.S. premiere of the Tom Cruise action movie "Jack Reacher" is being postponed following the deadly Connecticut school shooting.

Paramount Pictures says "out of honor and respect for the families of the victims" the premiere won't take place Saturday in Pittsburgh, where "Jack Reacher" was filmed.

The plot of "Jack Reacher," an adaptation of the Lee Child's novel "One Shot," begins with an expert sniper shooting five people in Pittsburgh.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati...#ixzz2FAPWuQx6

[DianNC]

I haven't read One Shot yet, but I remember in Killing Floor Reacher's height and weight (general physique) was mentioned frequently.

I enjoy the series. I just hope I'm not forever doomed to picture Tom Cruise as Reacher every time I read one.

I'll probably skip the movie.

[HoopyFrood]

I'll probably see the movie because I do like Tom Cruise, the actor.

And generally speaking the characters in a movie bear little resemblance to characters in the book that the movie is based on. But the size of Reacher is one of the things that is a constant in the books and helps define him. Grr.

[Andrew H.]

There was an interesting interview with Lee Childs in (I think) the NY Times a week or so ago. He used to be a screenwriter and made two significant points about this issue: (1) there are no American actors who are built like Jack Reacher (he described them all as "shrimps" and said they mostly used camera angles to make them look larger); and (2) having Tom Cruise as a lead means you can have the budget to make a better movie.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by DianNC

I haven't read One Shot yet, but I remember in Killing Floor Reacher's height and weight (general physique) was mentioned frequently.

I enjoy the series. I just hope I'm not forever doomed to picture Tom Cruise as Reacher every time I read one.

I'll probably skip the movie.

Pretty much all the books mention the height/weight at some point, as 6 5" and 225-250lb. Obviously for those who've read the books, having Cruise depict Reacher is absurd.

[DrNefario]

They could be using some Peter Jackson-style special effects.

Or he could be acting taller.

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

There was an interesting interview with Lee Childs in (I think) the NY Times a week or so ago. He used to be a screenwriter and made two significant points about this issue: (1) there are no American actors who are built like Jack Reacher (he described them all as "shrimps" and said they mostly used camera angles to make them look larger); and (2) having Tom Cruise as a lead means you can have the budget to make a better movie.

Lee Child also pointed out that fans are confusing characteristics with character and that he was very happy with Cruise's portrayal of Reacher, happy enough that he would be pleased to have additional Reacher movies made with Cruise as Reacher. Child also said that he could have pulled the plug but was very satisfied with the result.

I have read all of the Reacher novels and I agree with Childs that it is Reacher's character that is more important than his physical characteristics. I am looking forward to seeing the movie. Perhaps I will be disappointed but I suspect that Cruise can pull it off and that the movie will be very good.

With all the complaints about Cruise, who would you have chosen for the role in his place? Steven Seagal ? Seth Rogen ? Perhaps if this was 1970, Clint Eastwood ?

[BenG]

Cruise is around 5' 7''. They could hire really short co-stars like Danny DeVito and Michael J. Fox. Linda Hunt could be his love interest.

Or he could just wear heels and put his hair in a kind of bouffant.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by rhadin

Lee Child also pointed out that fans are confusing characteristics with character and that he was very happy with Cruise's portrayal of Reacher, happy enough that he would be pleased to have additional Reacher movies made with Cruise as Reacher. Child also said that he could have pulled the plug but was very satisfied with the result.

I have read all of the Reacher novels and I agree with Childs that it is Reacher's character that is more important than his physical characteristics. I am looking forward to seeing the movie. Perhaps I will be disappointed but I suspect that Cruise can pull it off and that the movie will be very good.

Another example of different physical characteristics was the film version of Jeffrey Deaver's "The Bone Collector". In the film, the quadriplegic former detective, Lincoln Rhyme, is played by a black actor, Denzel Washington. He's certainly not black in the books. Did it matter? No, not in the least.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

I thought you were going to be talking about the release of the movie being delayed.

Why is the movie delayed? Have they started to feed growth hormones to Cruise?

[HarryT]

The post you've quoted explains exactly why it's been delayed.

[Apache]

Why does the actor have to be American? Liam Neeson would have worked and no one can argue about his acting skills.
Apache