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List Price: $9.99 | | Label: Universal Studios
Salesrank: 14244
Released: April 28, 1998 |
| Our Price: $3.05 |
| Used Price: $0.50 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
The best way to enjoy this 1997 thriller is to forget the much better film that inspired it (1973's The Day of the Jackal) and get whatever kicks you can from this heavy-metal remake. It's not bad as hokey thrillers go, but all of the original film's suspenseful finesse has been traded in (not traded up) for bigger, bolder action and nonsensical plotting. It's as if Hollywood had forgotten to create excitement without resorting to overblown action and heavy hardware, but there's ample compensation in the casting of Bruce Willis and Richard Gere. Willis is the elusive assassin known only as the Jackal, whose latest target (he uses a cannon-sized gun that's anything but inconspicuous) may be the first lady of the United States. Gere plays a former IRA terrorist who is recruited by the deputy head of the FBI (Sidney Poitier) to trace the Jackal's maneuvers, and Diane Venora offers some gutsy support as a Russian-born agent who assists Gere on his mission. The movie has fun turning Willis into a master of disguise, and Gere adds much-needed gravity to counter the plot's escalating absurdity, but this is the kind of film that falls apart if you think about it too much. Still, that doesn't stop the Collector's Edition DVD from offering an impressive array of bonus features, including a director's commentary, a "making of The Jackal" documentary, deleted scenes, an alternative ending, cast interviews, and more. --Jeff Shannon
The Jackal - Collector's Edition Reviews:
Checked it out to test my theory that Bruce Willis has never made a bad movie 
2009-11-18 - I always think back to when he came on the scene on Moonlighting. Liked his character of course, but it never occurred to me that he would become a great actor like he has. Since then he's established himself as the sure thing in movie quality. He had to go a bit with this character, bad guys make him work harder I think. As mentioned by others some of the special effects were cheesy but consider the time it was made, 1997. It's an edge of your seat thriller from start to finish and has a very satisfying ending. Great cast, even Richard Gere turns in a good performance, and it's good to see Sidney Poitier again. He does a great job. I highly recommend this movie for action thriller fans.
Bruce Willis rocks!! 
2009-09-05 - This film is essentially a modernized remake of the famous film (which was based on the famous novel) "The Day of the Jackal" by Frederick Forsyth. It features modern day politics and, of course, modern day technology. What the film really features, however, is an excellent cast dominated by Bruce Willis, who turns in a superb performance. Instead of being a kind, sensitive type, as in "The Sixth Sense" once again Willis is a cold, brutal, and competent killer. He pulls it off brilliantly, and it is Willis' performance that carries the film. Sidney Portier and Richard Gere also turn in fine performances. Gere, in particular, manages to really come across as an Irishman--none of the phony-sounding accents that have grated on several otherwise good performances in other recent films. (Harrison Ford in "K19" comes immediately to mind).
Mostly the film moves at a good clip and holds the viewer's interest. The storyline, which retains many similarities to "The Day of the Jackal" rarely drags, and includes plenty of action. I enjoyed this film, and will watch it again. Recommended. RJB.
It tries, and in the end it fails 
2009-05-24 - The only good things about this movie are Bruce Willis, Sydney Poitier, and Jack Black. And that's about it; the rest of the movie is anything but special. It's an almost worthless movie if it weren't for the three actors mentioned above. The plot had some interesting elements, but what ruins the film are pretty much everything else. Richard Gere, especially, turns out to be quite annoying and incredibly dull. The chemistry between him and Diane Verona's character didn't work at all. I almost felt like I skipping their scenes and focusing only on Willis.
The good editing, music, and cinematography turn out to be a waste in The Jackal. I should have watched the original 1973 film instead.
Credibility-Aside, It's A Fun Watch
2009-05-23 - Here is an almost-typical modern-day crime film in which a hired killer goes after a political figure and the FBI tries to stop him.
The cast of Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, Sidney Poitier and Diane Venora is first- class. All of them play interesting and likable characters - even the villain! Gere did a credible job with an Irish accent and Venora the same, playing a Russian. It was fun watch Willis with his various disguises. The story keeps your interest all the way. It does it right by not having too much action, but shocking and memorable when it does occur. If you have good speakers there is some great sound in the last 20 minutes. A good movie if you like suspense.
If I mention some of the "bad" stuff, it gives away the ending. Suffice to say you see a number of scenes where credibility goes out the window.
Overall, however, the film is definitely worth a look.
Let the classics live and leave aside the remakes; would you?
2009-05-04 - This remake of the classic Forsyhte's best seller, was directed by the hypertalented Fred Zinemmann. I should admit the first half of this remake really captured the full attention of the audience.
Bruce Willis made his second best acting after "Twelve monkeys", despite of the fact he doesn't get to acquire the gelid expression of Edward Fox, he gets to involve the spectator.
The problem with the film resides in the unnecesary amount of secondary roles, with Sydney Poitier looking extremely uncomfortable with the role, with Richard Gere whose baby face makes incredible his role as an Irish terrorist and the presence of a Russian agent makes the movie had fallen into a very entangled web of dramatic lines whose final resolution affects the primary plot.
