Without Remorse (2021) – Movie Review
After returning home and being attacked by a hit squad, Navy SEAL John Kelly goes on a mission of revenge. In doing so, he uncovers a conspiracy that will engulf the United States and Russia in World War III.
Without Remorse was a decent action thriller loosely based on the 1993 Tom Clancy novel of the same name. The movie had good action and a story that, while somewhat predictable, was engaging and entertaining from beginning to end.
The film has been in development since 1993 when the novel was released, with actors such as Keanu Reeves and Tom Hardy considered for the role. In Sep. 2018, Michael B. Jordan was announced as the lead role with Taylor Sheridan (Sicario, Yellowstone) to rewrite the 90s script.
Michael B. Jordan was great in this. He seemed to fit the role of Navy SEAL out for vengeance really well, although I’m usually a fan of his roles. Jodie Turner-Smith, however, who played Jordan’s superior, I just wasn’t a fan of. I’m not sure if she just didn’t fit the role or isn’t a great actor, but something seemed off there.
Without Remorse’s end credits scene teased that they could continue on with a Rainbow Six sequel, or possibly even something bigger like a connected Tom Clancy universe with ties to the Jack Ryan series, also released on Prime Video. The potential is there, the only question is if Amazon is going to take the leap. I don’t know much about the universe, having never read the books, but I’d love a Jack Ryan and John Clark crossover. There are also plenty of other stories they could add to this universe, including all of the books and video games.
A movie is in development by Netflix for Tom Clancy’s The Division, set to star Jack Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain, Nightcrawler) and Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty, Interstellar), and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber(Skyscraper, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, We’re the Millers). It is unclear as of now if this will take place within the same universe.
Overall, I’d rate Without Remorse 3 ½ / 5 stars. While predictable, It was definitely good enough to watch, and I got to watch it for free in the comfort of my home. It doesn’t get much better than that. I’d probably recommend this over Mortal Kombat if you had to pick one, but that’s just up to personal preference. I enjoy most action thriller movies but am also interested in seeing what future steps Amazon takes in combining Michael B. Jordan’s character with John Krasinski’s Jack Ryan.
Without Remorse was released April 30 and is available to stream on Prime Video.