I think I enjoyed this more than most. I'm not a huge fan of Tom Clancy's but I liked Red October and other films based on his novels. I had recently watched the film Nobody and did not like it for some reason (while many others did); I had a difference of opinion with the poster Osprey in another thread. I thought, maybe it's a mood thing on my part. So I settled in to watch Without Remorse with popcorn and Diet Coke at hand, determined to keep a positive attitude and not let small things bother me.
Overall, I thought, if this is a made-for-tv movie, it is exceptionally well done; if it is a bigger budget feature film or theatrical release, it is just average but still ok. I thought it was the former (an Amazon series) but turns out it is really the latter (Paramount film).
The flick is getting mixed reviews, some like it, others don't. I went in watching this determined to suspend my negative views ( I can get those at times lol) and to enjoy it. Given all that power of positive thinking I can happily report that I did enjoy it.
The film did not follow the book closely, it more of an adaptation based on the novel. But they kept the larger themes intact (revenge play, Russian paranoia, inside the Beltway treachery, lots of shooting). In the Tom Clancy universe, Jack Ryan and John Clark are Clancy's alter-egos. Jack Ryan is the smart office type (strategic) whereas John Clark is Clancy's Rambo type persona (more physical and deadly). This is a 'Clark' movie.
Keep your expectations in check, if you are expecting a blockbuster film then you might be disappointed; probably why Paramount sold it to Amazon for first release (it's not a blockbuster). But as a prequel for a probable upcoming made for TV series, it's ok. I liked it.