Fears proves to be explosive

Those lucky few who were able to catch the sneak preview of Tom Clancy's newest picture, The Sum of All Fears, on Monday evening are laughing and pointing because everyone else has to wait until its May 31 release date. As a consolation, this review will try to tide eager viewers over and let them know that it is, indeed, worth watching. The teaser for the film is: "27,000 nuclear weapons. One is missing." But that one missing nuclear weapon seems to wreak havoc on the world and causes a tad bit of dissension between the United States and Russia. With incalculable damage done to the United States after a nuclear explosion, governmental chaos runs rampant and the president looks for someone to blame. Russia appears to be the most obvious culprit. The movie combines a kind of Air Force One and Black Hawk Down montage, but still retains the Clancy touch that makes it unique and clever. Ben Affleck plays the remarkable Jack Ryan, whose cunning and quick-witted character will make the ladies swoon and cause the men to marvel. The unmatched Morgan Freeman also has a leading role in the film as a top CIA official who takes young Ryan under his wing. Also among the all-star cast is James Cromwell, who plays the role of President Fowler, a well-developed and intense character struggling to work for the best interests of the country. The film was undeniably well-done with an amazing screenplay. Not only will audiences be astonished by the storyline, but there are also several funny scenes where laughter can be heard rolling throughout the audience. Many of the jokes allude to the omnipotent powers of the government and add much to the film. The special effects were also very impressive. One specific scene that is difficult to erase from viewers' minds occurs when the previously mentioned nuclear bomb explodes at a stadium on Super Bowl Sunday. On the whole, this film is more than entertaining. Director Phil Alden Robinson could have spent a little more time developing the villain's character, but that is the movie's only significant flaw. Anyone who enjoys governmental conspiracy, espionage, nuclear weaponry or Affleck will surely leave the theater completely contented. Rating: B+