Jack Reacher (2012) Movie Review.

Jack Reacher is a fictional character created by British author Jim Grant. (Child Lee)

Tom Cruise is Jack Reacher and this movie turned out to be actually a pretty good action comedy! Starting the movie with a sniper scene, the movie starts off as a crime investigation as you do see the sniper and someone else getting blamed.

Yes, the plot was a little predictable, and there are some obvious bad guys that you don't get to know much about just that they are "bad people". However, there are some scenes that are genuinely funny! Tom Cruise tries to intimidate people throughout the movie and nobody really cares. In this case, Jack Reacher is a really dangerous man, and could deliver his threats, but as he is short, his threats were simply ignored.

Robert Duvall's role as an old rifle range owner is also hilarious as he was supposed to support Jack Reacher in the final assault, but his shooting skills was questionable as he was an "old man" He also brought a weapon for Jack Reacher -- a knife, where his opponents had automatic weapons. So yes, Tom Cruise brought a knife into a gun fight.

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More about Jack Reacher (Comic Character)

Jack Reacher is a former United States Army Military Police Major. He was born on a military base in Berlin in 1960. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he served 13 years in the Military Police, during which time he became part of a fictional military police unit, the 110th Special Investigations Unit, formed to handle exceptionally tough cases, especially those involving members of the United States Army Special Forces.

Though he was demoted from Major to Captain in the prequel novel The Enemy, he regained the rank of Major by the time he mustered out in 1997. He received many military awards during his career, including the Silver Star, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Soldier's Medal, the Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart for wounds sustained in the bombing of the US Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983.

Since leaving the Army, Reacher has been a drifter. He wanders throughout the United States because he was accustomed to being told where to go, when to go and what to do for every day of his life from military childhood to military adulthood. He also felt he never got to know his own country, having spent much of his youth living overseas on military bases and at the military school West Point. He usually travels by hitchhiking or bus. As a drifter, the only possessions he carries are money, a foldable toothbrush and, after 9/11, an expired passport and an ATM debit card. He has never possessed a driver's license.

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Overall, the pace and action is actually pretty good. The movie is rather enjoyable and the unexpected comedy is hilarious.

Rating 7/10


-- Robin Low

Singapore F1 GP Night Race September 23 2012

 I would really like to say that the Performances are indeed spectacular, stage is fantastic, screens are 99.9% working (less some dead pixels here and there) And artists are simply engaging and interactive.

 This is the 5th year after all, and the entrance to the gates are done very well and smooth now.

 In the day, there are other races and the Porsche cup is quite exciting.

The apparels are kinda expensive, $100 for a shirt is not affordable to many.
The food and drinks are pricey too, a beer is US$8

The weather is hot and humid, sitting on the Bay Grandstand is nice, but walking around makes you sweat. And besides F1, there are a lot of other performances as well.

But being Singapore there are lots of rules to follow.

Then there are the performances, the stage and artists are pretty fantastic. I am pretty puzzled as many of the fans of Jay Chou, Katy Perrie and Maroon 5 seemed to be young girls and not interested in Formula 1, yet, they have to pay $$$$ to get in and $$$ for food. However, for those who are interested, its great as it is all under one .... fenced up area.

There are also lots of photo ops.

So overall, I would say, if you can endure the loud sounds of the F1 cars, and the outdoor weather of Singapore, the whole F1 experience is definitely more fun that watching at home.

However, it does cost a lot, and everything in there cost a lot as well. For example, my tickets for Pit Grandstand is about US$1000 a ticket. More information can be found here.

So do I think it is fun? Yes, definitely, but do I think it is worth the $$$? I do not think so as there are many other F1 circuits that are as exciting and cost way less.

--Robin Low