with 2002 sum of all fear in close 2nd and this one remain the best of all 4 represent it have harrison ford a ryan and solid sub plot ( the one involve dafoe a john clark [ liv schreiber in soaf ] be the best . ) and moral dimension and especially in the ambiguous sense toward the end . i have read many of clancy book and and many be very good ( well and the early ryan series be great but after debt of honor they go downhill . ) and however they be all very long ( mostly 800p plus ) and detailed and complex and so adapt them into 120p screenplay must be a nightmare and but clancy actually participate in the writing of this one along with steve zallian ( schindler list ) and john millius and no less . so it turn out we get a decent enough one . in all fairness and the script be great and feature a slightly different end than the book . if you add good actor and tight direction ( noyce know jack ryan and ford and since he already direct patriot game ) you can not go wrong and and this fly high . smart and tight and utterly convincing and believable and well execute and this be that rare brainy action film that do get you involve and hang on the edge of your seat .