The basic story starts off with former C.I.A. agent Jack Ryan (Ford) now teaching in the US Naval Academy, retired from active agent status. He and his family travel to London, because he was invited to give a speech at a British Naval Academy. However, he soon finds himself reactivated as a field agent when he intercedes in a splinter IRA terrorist attack in London, which results in not only foiling an attempt at a kidnapping of a British dignitary, but also in the death of one of the terrorists, a 16 year younger brother, Paddy Boy (Karl Hayden), of one of the other masked gunmen, Sean Miller (Sean Bean), who vows to get revenge against Ryan. When Sean escapes, he keeps his promise to cause Ryan a lot of grief and trouble. After the Ryan family returns home, Sean Miller and his splinter IRA terrorist group tracks Ryan down, determined to kill Ryan and his family, and assassinate a member of the Royal family on the same trip.

PATRIOT GAMES is the second movie of a trilogy series of the ongoing adventures of C.I.A. Agent Jack Ryan. All three movies are based on the novels by Tom Clancy. This exciting and riveting screenplay by W. Peter Iliff and Donald Stewart, is a exciting, suspenseful thriller that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. The great cast and the great direction, by Phillip Noyce, brings this great screenplay to life, in the spirit of the novel.

When Alec Baldwin, the star of the first of this trilogy, "The Hunt For Red October," decided NOT to play ex-C.I.A agent Jack Ryan in "Patriot Games," the role went to Harrison Ford, who also plays Jack Ryan in the third film, "A Clear and Present Danger." Considering Ford's ability to grab and keep an audience's sympathy, he was the ideal man for the job.

With the third film, "Clear and Present Danger," Harrison Ford achieved something no actor ever has. He became the star in three different series of popular movies, the others being the "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" series. What a popular guy!

Anne Archer is well cast as Ford's wife, Cathy Ryan, a talented eye surgeon. Both intelligent and attractive, its easy to see why Ford's character loves her. In addition, the two have strong screen chemistry, making their marriage credible.

Thora Birch shines as their young daughter, Sally. Her talent as an actress is well documented in this picture. Her career has not slowed down during her teen years because of her natural ability. She recently was in "American Beauty."

John Earl Jones is most enjoyable once again as Admiral James Greer.

Sean Bean is a great bad guy, hardened and crazed by a hatred of the English, following in his father's footsteps. It is not surprising that he possesses not a drop of mercy or compassion, and is willing to try to kill a woman and a little girl in a shower of bullets, all in the name of getting revenge for a dead brother. Sean Bean went on to play a OO agent turned bad in "Goldeneye."

Richard Harris does a convincing job playing Paddy O'Neil, who is over in America to raise money for the conventional IRA. Of course, Ryan bumps into him in an Irish pub, and verbal fireworks fly! Ryan later finds him a viable source in helping to identify this radical splinter group, that also had killed the conventional IRA leader in London before they left for America.

My favorite scene is an assault by Irish terrorists on Ford's home, toward the end of the film. The scene combines the state-of-the art FX, action, and characters we care about.