27,000 NUCLEAR WEAPONS. ONE IS MISSING.

Roughly a year after the terrorist attacks that pulverized the Twin Towers came the first movie that dared show a similar event, with a story that had European neo-fascists plotting to blow a nuclear bomb in Baltimore and make it look like the Russians did it.

Not always believable, the fourth picture starring Jack Ryan is nevertheless horrifying and comes with a rejuvenation of the character that fits the story. Ben Affleck is fine, but the supporting actors leave more lasting impressions.

Visual effects are expertly and impressively used, without blowing up the entire movie.

2002-U.S. 125 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Phil Alden Robinson. Screenplay: Paul Attanasio, Daniel Pyne. Novel: Tom Clancy. Music: Jerry Goldsmith. Cast: Ben Affleck (Jack Ryan), Morgan Freeman (William Cabot), James Cromwell (Robert Fowler), Liev Schreiber, Alan Bates, Bridget Moynahan, Ciarán Hinds, Philip Baker Hall. 

Trivia: In the novel the terrorists were Islamists, not neo-fascists. Jack Ryan next appeared in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014).