| In the Book |
In the Movie |
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President Fowler is portrayed as incompetent, easily manipulated, and unable to handle pressured situations. He personally dislikes Ryan because his National Security Advisor and lover Elizabeth Elliot despises Ryan. |
President Fowler is portrayed as apathetic toward world affairs and unable to handle pressured situations. He does not meet Ryan until the end of the movie. |
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Ryan provides financial support for the family of killed-in-action soldier Buck Zimmer, as established in the end of Clear and Present Danger. |
This does not happen; the movie does not follow the timeline established in the books and thus Ryan has no previous history before this.
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The President, National Security Advisor, and Director of Central Intelligence all dislike Ryan for political or personal reasons and look for excuses to fire him. |
The President and National Security Advisor do not like Ryan because they believe he is an apologist for Nemerov; the Director of Central Intelligence likes Ryan. |
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Ryan's relationship with Cathy is strained because of an elaborate plot that convinces Cathy her husband is cheating on her. |
Ryan's relationship with Cathy is strained because he has to cancel dates with her because of his job.
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The German terrorists aim to punish the Soviet Union for "betraying World Socialism'; the Arab terrorists aim to undo the Israeli-Palestinian peace accords. |
The German terrorists aim to create a neo-Nazi European state. |