# Jack Reacher vs Ethan Hunt
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [November 25, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057 "2012-11-25T12:36:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@GC111](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GC111)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/1 "2012-11-25T12:36:22Z")
Great debate important for our time.
Who takes it and why?
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### Author:  [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2012, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/2 "2012-11-25T14:46:19Z")
reported for forum change.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/3 "2012-11-25T15:35:20Z")
> [@GC111](#):
>
> Great debate important for our time.
>
> Who takes it and why?
When did Jack Bauer die?
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### Author:  [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/4 "2012-11-25T16:07:18Z")
Reacher would win in any kind of square go, or a contest of raw intelligence, but Ethan has on a good day more resources at his disposal. It is a fair conundrum. Jack Bauer isn’t even in the game.
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### Author:  [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/5 "2012-11-25T19:04:37Z")
One on one with no gadgets? Reacher in under a minute.
That’s assuming the original-sized Jack Reacher, not the economy-sized Tom Cruise model.
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/6 "2012-11-25T19:20:47Z")
> [@Cayuga](#):
>
> One on one with no gadgets? Reacher in under a minute.
>
> That’s assuming the original-sized Jack Reacher, not the economy-sized Tom Cruise model.
Nitpick:Economy size is usually a larger size package that costs less per measure.
Cruise is more like travel size.
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### Author:  [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/7 "2012-11-25T20:48:39Z")
Reacher, if he’s prepared.\*
\*meaning, he’s had some coffee and at least 15 minutes sleep in the last 48 hours.
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### Author:  [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/8 "2012-11-25T20:52:59Z")
Ethan thinks Reacher is a suspect, attempts to apprehend him. Reacher looks at the situation, decides not to smash Ethan at this time. They talk, the situation develops, Reacher helps Ethan out with whatever problem he’s having, then goes on his way. Play **Incredible Hulk** walking away music.
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### Author:  [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2012, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/9 "2012-11-26T01:37:52Z")
> [@Tangent](#):
>
> Reacher, if he’s prepared.\*[/SIZE]
Spoiler alert [/future book, Reacher will stop eating and go to an all liquid diet. That way, he will never be caught taking a Nixon when he needs to kick ass.]
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### Author:  [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/10 "2012-11-26T02:02:18Z")
The one played by Tom Cruise, 'cause it’s his movie, dammit.
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### Author:  [@GC111](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GC111)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2012, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/11 "2012-11-26T11:08:09Z")
Epic replies, keep it going.
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### Author:  [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2012, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/12 "2012-11-26T11:39:48Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#):
>
> Play **Incredible Hulk** walking away music.
This is perfect - Reacher just gets on a bus to Hulk music.
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### Author:  [@running\_piglet\_cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_piglet_cheese)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/13 "2012-11-26T15:40:03Z")
Reacher by a landslide. Ethan takes too long to devise a strategy/plan, but Reacher looks once and goodbye Mr. Badguy. Quick and to the point.
BTW who’s bright idea was it to cast Tom C as Reacher? He is so NOT Reacher in any shape or form. Reacher wannabe. Reacher would just reach down, pat Tom on the head and tell him to wait here while he took care of the situation.
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### Author:  [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/14 "2012-11-26T16:02:51Z")
Travis McGee!
From what I’ve seen of the Reacher previews, are they going to start the film with a notice “Extremely loosely based on a work of fiction”?
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### Author:  [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)
#### Post date: [November 26, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/15 "2012-11-26T23:17:40Z")
> [@running\_piglet\_cheese](#):
>
> Reacher by a landslide. Ethan takes too long to devise a strategy/plan, but Reacher looks once and goodbye Mr. Badguy. Quick and to the point.
>
> BTW who’s bright idea was it to cast Tom C as Reacher? He is so NOT Reacher in any shape or form. Reacher wannabe. Reacher would just reach down, pat Tom on the head and tell him to wait here while he took care of the situation.
You’ll never see me agree that Cruise in any way resembles Reacher, and as far as I can tell from the trailer, the writers didn’t try very hard to write a Reacher movie. However, I will say this: Tiny little Tom Cruise can play a badass. My cite: Collateral. If they populate the movie with a bunch of short people, his size won’t be as noticeable.
I think [the actor that plays Alcide on True Blood](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0542133/) would make a great Reacher. He’s got the size, he’s age-appropriate (as is Cruise, really), and also, I think, the acting chops. Another Doper suggested him some time back, and I thought it was a great idea. I’ll be very surprised if the movie reminds me of the books, but I’ll see it on DVD when it comes out, and hope it’s a decent action flick.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Cat\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Cat_Z)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2012, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/16 "2012-11-27T03:29:31Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#):
>
> This is perfect - Reacher just gets on a bus to Hulk music.
Reacher does not get on a bus. Reacher sticks out his thumb.
An aston martin stops.
It’s…Bond, James Bond, happy to give him a lift!
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### Author:  [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2012, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/17 "2012-11-27T09:28:35Z")
I haven’t read the books but I saw commercials, is Jack an angry, abusive ex-boyfriend who beats up clerks at auto parts stores?
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [November 27, 2012, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/18 "2012-11-27T13:56:06Z")
> [@running\_piglet\_cheese](#):
>
> Reacher by a landslide. Ethan takes too long to devise a strategy/plan, but Reacher looks once and goodbye Mr. Badguy. Quick and to the point.
>
> BTW who’s bright idea was it to cast Tom C as Reacher? He is so NOT Reacher in any shape or form. Reacher wannabe. Reacher would just reach down, pat Tom on the head and tell him to wait here while he took care of the situation.
There’s an entire [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=653875&highlight=jack+reacher) of outrage that I started quite some time ago. Well, the outrage is mostly mine, as people defend the choice of Cruise because he’s good box office. Apparently the author has no problem with it either, the whore. Reacher would twist off Hunt’s tiny little head, stuff it down a cannon barrel, and launch it up Hunt’s own ass.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/19 "2012-11-28T01:28:39Z")
Who vs who?
Never heard of either one of them.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2012, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-reacher-vs-ethan-hunt/642057/20 "2012-11-28T02:41:52Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> Who vs who?
>
> Never heard of either one of them.
Ethan Hunt: Mission Impossible character played by Tom Cruise
Jack Reacher: recurring main character and major badass of the novels of [Lee Child](http://www.amazon.com/Killing-Floor-Jack-Reacher-Child/dp/0425264351/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1354070440&sr=8-2&keywords=Jack+reacher), also being improbably played by Tom Cruise.
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