Cross
Prime Video’sCrossis the latest adaptation of the hit thriller novel , but just how unlike is the series from the original Morgan Freeman movies?Prime’sCrosscastAldis Hodge as the title character , who is seemingly doom to chase down ceaselessly creative serial killers . Whilethe James Patterson booksalso have a motion-picture show version with 2012’sAlex Cross(starring Tyler Perry ) , the Morgan Freeman movies are by far the most famous adaptation .
Freeman breast bothKiss the GirlsandAlong come a Spider , which adapted the first two Patterson novels . AnAlex Crossfranchise felt like a natural move for Freeman afterSe7en’ssuccess , but the reception toAlong amount a Spidersaw him move on from the character . It ’s over 20 year since Freeman last play the fiber andtheCrossTV series is a total reinvention of the franchise for a unexampled audience .
8The Morgan Freeman Alex Cross Movies Actually Adapted The Books
Prime’s Cross combined the book’s characters with an original storyline
The most notable difference between the Freeman and Hodge rendering of Alex Cross is that the film in full adopt the source material . In aTVLineinterview , Crossshowrunner Ben Watkins explained that when trying to decide which Quran to adapt , he instead decide it would be more interesting to take the characters and drop them into a fresh tarradiddle . This is an odd tactic consider the novels are bestseller and there are over 30 to choose from , but the show has been a winner disregardless .
EveryAlex CrossMovie & TV Show
Release yr
Rotten TomatoesScore
Kiss the Girls
1997
34 %
Along Came a Spider
2001
Cross follows the life of Alex Cross, a skilled yet troubled homicide detective balancing his role as a devoted father and relentless crime investigator. Haunted by his wife’s murder, he navigates personal turmoil while persistently pursuing justice in the face of dangerous adversaries.
32 %
Alex Cross
2012
11 %
2024
76 %
WhileKiss the GirlsandAlong add up a Spiderpulled right away from their respective novels , they contract some liberties . buss the Girlsgreatly strengthen down the violence and darkness of the seed schoolbook , while its sequel was critique for its many diversion from Patterson ’s work . This include killing off serial sea wolf Gary Soneji ( Michael Wincott ) , who was a resort antagonist in the Holy Scripture and was far more complex villain than the film portrayed .
7Morgan Freeman’s Alex Cross Is Much Older
Freeman was around 60 when he starred in Kiss the Girls
InCross , Hodge is depicted as a family man in his mid to late 30s , which lines up with the character infix in the original novel , Along come a Spider(1993).Kiss the Girlshad to add more years for Cross to match Morgan Freeman ’s own age , with the worker being around 60when the thriller was shoot . While Freeman ’s Cross gets into some chases and the occasional shootout , he ’s more cerebral than strong-arm .
… Morgan Freeman ’s Cross is so fire out with his task in Along Came a Spider that he ’s essentially retired when it opens .
In fact , Cross is so burn out with his chore inAlong come a Spiderthat he ’s essentially kip down when the sequel open , before being scuff into another case . Hodge ’s Cross is a blend of both intellectandbrawn , being able to quick read defendant and parse clues - while being totally willing to plain down door and point guns . In short , he ’s nowhere near retiring , asthe upcomingCrossseason 2should prove .
6Cross' Family Are Sidelined In The Morgan Freeman Movies
Cross rides solo for most of the Morgan Freeman films
In the PattersonAlex Crossnovels , the claim quality ’s family plays an important part . Crossfollows this guide , with his grandmother Nana Mama ( Juanita Jennings ) have a major supporting role , while his forte-piano prodigy Logos Damon ( Caleb Elijah ) and daughter Janelle ( Melody Hurd ) get subplots of their own . The Morgan Freeman duology takes the paired glide path because whileKiss the Girlsinvolves him trying to rescue his kidnapped niece , his family line scantily appearsin either of the films .
crossbreed time of year 1 has subtly tease the reaching of a script villain , which has interestingly made the original wrench reveal worse in more way than one .
Kiss the Girlsfeatures a view where Alex ease Naomi ’s female parent after learn of her snatch and other family members like Nana Cross ( Helen Martin ) and Janelle ( Tatyana Ali ) appear , but that ’s about it . There is no mention of Freeman ’s Cross being married , and Logos Damon does n’t seem to existin the photographic film cosmos . Instead , the Freeman film lean to pair Cross with a female partner ( Ashley Judd inKiss the Girlsand Monica Potter inAlong Came a Spider ) while also do him something of a lone wolf in his personal life .
Kiss the Girls is a crime thriller directed by Gary Fleder and based on James Patterson’s novel. It stars Morgan Freeman as forensic psychologist Alex Cross, who teams up with Dr. Kate McTiernan, played by Ashley Judd, to track down a serial kidnapper. The film delves into suspenseful investigations and dramatic rescues, offering a gripping narrative on the hunt for a cunning criminal.
5Prime Video’s Cross Is More Violent Than The Movies
The Morgan Freeman Alex Cross movies are downright tame by modern standards
Se7enchanged the secret plan for sequential killer movie , both in terms of visuals and how graphic they could be . In the years since the likes ofCriminal MindsandHannibalhave only dial up the fierceness , but the Freeman flick are dialed down in this country . Both films refrain from overt gore or graphic force , though they have a few brutal moments between them . Instead , the horror is often implied and minimize . Prime Video’sCrossis more in line with modern taste , however .
… Cross is far more intense than the Morgan Freeman motion picture ever were .
From the 2nd sequence featuring a woman being viciously beaten , toThe Fanboy Killer / Ed Ramseychiseling the tooth from a dupe ’s mouth , the show has no bother crank up the blood . That ’s not to say it function over the top - after all , it would be hard to beatHannibalin the gore department - but it ’s far more intense than the Freeman series ever was .
4Morgan Freeman’s Alex Cross Lacks “Detective Vision”
Aldis Hodge’s version occasionally slips into “Cross Mode”
A handsome stylistic choiceCrossmakes regard Hodge ’s graphic symbol entering " Detective Vision " at least once per episode . This will see him thinking over a specific piece of evidence or set phrase , and trying to crack the next magnanimous cue in the case . “Detective Vision " happens often enough that his colleague even joke about it , with Cross district out during a briefing while turning info over in his mind . This feels a little like Hugh Dancy ’s Will Graham inHannibal , thoughCrossdoesn’t depict it as a mete superpower .
Freeman ’s Alex Cross is utterly lacking Hodge ’s power too . There are many scenes of him wordlessly rake pic and grounds , but audiences are n’t ask in into his guess process in the same manner . That ’s not to say his brainisn’tprocessing the clues in a similar mode , but in keeping with the more grounded feel of the Freeman double bill , it ’s done more subtly .
3Cross' Partner John Sampson Is Reduced To A Supporting Role
Isaiah Mustafa’s Sampson adds more (old) spice to Cross
Detective John Sampson is a major player in the books too , with he and Alex sharing a sib - like bond since they were basically raised together . The character has appear in the majority of the novel , so it made sensation for him to wreak a big part inCrosstoo . Isaiah Mustafa plays Sampson , often stealing scenesand while he and Cross pal around , he also gives Alex tough love whenever he needs to hear it . Of the threeAlex Crossmovies - including the lambasted 2012 reboot - Sampson only previously come along inKiss the Girls .
Bill Nunn ’s Sampson does n’t get much screenland time inKiss the Girls , and when the stakeout is botched , he disappears from the story .
The late , bully Bill Nunn ( Do the Right Thing ) played Sampson in the 1997 thriller , who is the first to say Cross of Naomi ’s kidnapping . He also takes part in a stakeout to aid Alex , but their dynamic is play down from the script . Sampson does n’t get much filmdom time inKiss the Girls , and when the stakeout is botched , he disappears from the story . By the timeAlong come a Spiderarrived , Cross had a different , very short - lived partner and no reference is made of Sampson .
2Morgan Freeman’s Cross Had No Love Interest
Aldis Hodge’s Alex has a far more active love life
One of the best elements ofCrossis the path it examine the principal character ’s grief over the murder of his married woman , Maria ( Chaunteé Schuler Irving ) . The impact of her death on him and his family - plus his refusal to search counseling - plays a major part of his discharge in time of year 1 . So too does his burgeoning romance with Elle ( Samantha Walkes ) , though their budding relationship gets jump a few time . Hodge ’s Cross has an extremely combat-ready love life when contrasted with his picture counterparttoo .
Freeman ’s Alex Cross has no dear interests to talk of , withAlong come a Spidereven shake off the romance that develops between him and Secret Service Agent Jezziefrom the book . No mention is made of Maria or Cross even having been wed , so his employment looks like his only passionateness in life . In the same way the cinema labor Sampson and Cross ' family to one side , they ’re also utterly uninterested in the tec ’s private lifespan .
1Morgan Freeman’s Alex Cross Is Far More Mellow Than Aldis Hodge’s Take
Hodge’s Alex Cross carries simmering rage in many scenes
In consultation , Hodge has underlined that he has n’t see either the Morgan Freeman or Tyler Perry movies - which is a voguish alternative . This tolerate him to craft a take on the fiber disjoined from what other performers have tried , and since the tone ofCrossand the other films are quite dissimilar , it was best to have a clean ticket . The most striking difference between Freeman and Hodge is how on the surface the latter ’s emotion areat all times .
The Fanboy Killer in Amazon Prime Video ’s Cross describe references to several renowned real - life nonparallel killers , showing his twisted idolatry to them .
He ’s fast to ire and frustration , especially when called out on his actions . Hodge ’s character is a total of 180 from Freeman ’s Alex Cross , who is rarely upsetor even rattled . In keep with the veteran performer ’s style , his take is often cooly detached from event - even though witness know his truthful tone are prevail deep . It ’s just a more mellow , moving-picture show star take on the material , but Hodge really labor into how frayedCrossis becoming , and his never-ending struggle to poise his job , family and grief all at once .
Along Came a Spider follows detective and author Alex Cross, who is drawn out of retirement to investigate the kidnapping of a senator’s daughter. Partnered with a Secret Service agent, Cross unravels a complex web of clues revealing the kidnapper’s motives extend beyond ransom.
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Cross follows the lifespan of Alex Cross , a skilled yet disruptive homicide detective balance his role as a devoted father and relentless crime tec . haunt by his wife ’s murder , he navigates personal turmoil while persistently pursuing justice in the boldness of serious opposer .
Kiss the Girls is a crime thriller directed by Gary Fleder and based on James Patterson ’s novel . It stars Morgan Freeman as forensic psychologist Alex Cross , who team up up with Dr. Kate McTiernan , fiddle by Ashley Judd , to pass over down a in series kidnapper . The movie delves into cliff-hanging investigations and striking rescues , offering a gripping narrative on the hunt for a cunning criminal .
Along Came a Spider follows detective and author Alex Cross , who is draw out of retirement to look into the kidnapping of a senator ’s daughter . Partnered with a Secret Service broker , Cross unravels a complex web of clues give away the kidnapper ’s motive exsert beyond ransom money .
The Alex Cross dealership , make by James Patterson , heart on Dr. Alex Cross , an African - American psychologist and detective in Washington , D.C. The serial publication blends criminal offence , mystery , and thriller elements , following Cross as he tackle complex vitrine while poise his personal aliveness . Since its origin in 1993 , the enfranchisement has boom into novels , cinema , and an upcoming television series .
The Alex Cross franchise, created by James Patterson, centers on Dr. Alex Cross, an African-American psychologist and detective in Washington, D.C. The series blends crime, mystery, and thriller elements, following Cross as he tackles complex cases while balancing his personal life. Since its inception in 1993, the franchise has expanded into novels, films, and an upcoming television series.