So once again do we have "The Jackal " as the main theme of a movie. Only this time it is the actual terrorist who is the center of attraction.A movie which tries hard to weave the elements of fact and fiction together but fails to do so convincingly.The story revolves around the life of a Naval Officer from the U.S. who as luck would have it, looks strikingly similar to The Jackal.With this the story moves on as various international intelligence agencies indulge in a game of cat and mouse to do their bit.With slightly type-cast acting and characterisation , not to mention the fantastically sketched out plot the movie somehow doesn't dissolve in the tummy.On the whole the movie has many bright spots in terms of the story and technical aspects but fails to come across as a superb thriller due to hastened plot progression and disproportionate reel allocation to relatively less important and insignificant features of the storyline.

I really liked this film. It was on one of the obscure digital channels and we happened to notice it in the schedules. The film is full of action and yet it is totally believable as it is based, I understand, on actual events. I have always much preferred films which are understated (notwithstanding the action this one is!) as opposed to those in the bang bang shoot shoot the hero never gets shot despite 50 men firing Kalashnikovs at him at point blank range variety, if you know what I mean. I would put this film in the same category as the Harry Palmer series; Spy Who Came in from the Cold variety etc. The performance were excellent from all the leads. Brilliant combination of Aidan Quinn, Donald Sutherland (always like his films)and Ben Kingsley. They always give such believable performances. I have always thought that Aidan Quinn has not received the recognition he deserves. He can play any part and never overacts: a total natural. In Stakeout for example (not my favourite film by any means), which was essentially a black comedy, he exuded menace to the point of psychotic - brilliant. In the next film he is able to play a character for whom the audience has total sympathy.

This movie undoubtedly is a copy of Don, BOllywood flick starring Amitabh Bachhan released in 1978.Apart from that it is a great movie, in fact far better than the Bollywood version. Aidal Quinn might not have matched Mr. Bachhans performance but the movie is better paced. From the Box Office point of view, I think that this movie was tailor made for Tom Cruise. With such a a good story it would have rocked the box office.Know what guys Bollywood in fact this year has remade the earlier version by the same title, DON and it is better and stylish than the both the English and the Hindi versions that came before it.

I will not comment on the story as such. I agree with most peoples comments that this is a good all round action movie with a well told story and good acting.This film deserves 100% for cinematography for its opening sequence. The opening shot is stunning and I have not yet figured out how they did it. The movie is worth watching for that shot alone! A pity therefore that the DVD that is currently out is just the movie and no information is given as to the making of the film. Let's hope somebody comes up with the special edition.And the even better thing is that the opening sequence also becomes the ending leaving you totally guessing! Great stuff. A must have for a collector of classic film moments.