Good concept, poorly executed.

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

I watched this because the thumbnail on Netflix was of Richard Gere in denim. It was so awfully acted though like far too many action films of the '90s, I suppose, but this one wasn't even good in other regards. The only good thing about this movie was that it features Helsinki. That made me very excited.

The Jackal (1997): Dir: Michael Caton-Jones / Cast: Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, Sidney Poitier, Diane Venora, Jack Black: Remake of Day of the Jackal that gets reduced to formula and a game of cat and mouse. Bruce Willis stars as the Jackal, an assassin whose disguises mainly consist of wigs but his methods are savage. The C.I.A enlist a criminal played by Richard Gere to help track down Willis. Graphic violence becomes the norm including a scene where someone's arm is blown off. It is obvious the Gere and Willis will meet and have a violent confrontation that will solve absolutely nothing. Director Michael Caton-Jones handles the action but the production is nothing marvelous. Willis and Gere have little screen time together and when they are within the same general location it is indicated with a really lame glare via Willis as if he senses Gere's presence. Willis also phones up some homosexual guy whom he shoots dead for no reason. Also wasting time is Sidney Poitier and Diane Venora who hopefully didn't get their hopes up on this film actually turning out good. Jack Black appears to supply Willis with arms only to have his arm blown off before being finished off with a second blast. This sort of junk has been done countless times but for the two leads it will hopefully lead to a better film to embark upon in the future. The screenplay has more bark than bite. Score: 1 / 10

FBI Director Carter Preston (Sidney Poitier) chases the Jackal (Bruce Willis) in attempt to identify him, find him and discover his target. All that is know for certain is that the target is American, important and the world will know who it is once his target is killed. Bruce makes his way around the world, assembling the parts of his plan. The only person they think can identify the Jackal is an Ex-Irish Republican Army militant Declan Mulqueen (Richard Gere). The plot has many twists and turns. Jack Black, a female Russian spy and other characters add spice to this well built cast. If you enjoy thrillers this one will get you at more than one spot. Just as you think you have it all figured out....you don't. This one has been in my collection since the day it was released and I recommend it for those who love these movies.

Original film had an intelligent story line, and suspense, with brilliant acting. Only decent actors in this were Richard Gere and Sidney, even though Gere's character seemed to be propaganda for a terrorist organisation. Remember how president Bush said if any person in any country has anything to do with terrorism in any form, and that country doesn't act against those people, then the whole country is against the USA? That part of the film shows how hypocritical the USA was before 9/11.Apart from that, Bruce ran around shooting like one of his mindless action characters in other films. I actually got bored half way through and turned over for a while because it seemed to lose all form of storyline, until deciding to give it another chance to watch the rest. Reenactment of the original film scene where he was pretending to be gay to hide out at another gay man's house became a little better, but it didn't improve much.Then I read a review on here about how another person approached it as a parody, which made it actually funny and I could see their point.