My 'Shooter' movie review

David Koresh · 04-07-2007, 04:38 AM

If you are in the mood to see a half-ass rip off of Bourne Identity then this flick is for you. Mark Wahlberg plays ex-Gunnery Sergeant Bob Swagger, an ex-super sniper who resides alone deep in the mountains of Wyoming (ever seen the beginning of Commando?) after being inconsiderately abandoned by the U.S. military three years prior in a clandestine mission in the Middle East. He is then offered a side job by Danny Glover, who is the head of an unnamed government agency with special interests, to seek out a presidential assassin who will be striking sometime within the next two weeks via long range rifle. Wahlberg must predict where this shooter will set up and take his shot on the day of a public presidential speech.

And the rest is just a bunch of predictable double crossing bullshit that I will leave you to figure out on your own. I know it's difficult to make an original action movie nowadays but this one is chalked full of old imitations. If you like ridiculously unrealistic AirWolf style explosions(apparently the flames caused from shooting a propane tank will take down a helicopter), one-man-versus-fifty-guys-in-a gun-fight choreographies, and lone-man-on-the-run vigilante justice, then you'll love this movie. And I shouldn't forget to mention the Matt Damonesque bare handed handgun disarmament and aikido throws through windows (hip tossed police dog included.)

One nice touch to this movie was the blatant Hollywood political rhetoric. I don't know what the fuck the screenwriters were thinking here. I guess they thought a fat redneck senator reminiscent of Boss Hog, who openly boasts about killing people for oil, would be a believable character.

However I did enjoy the gunfights and the gore. There are many graphic head shots in this movie. Some too good to believe, but the blood-splattered walls and windshields make it worthwhile. I give this movie a 7 out of 10. This movie will be best viewed on dvd while drinking a few beers with your friends.

Mossberg · 04-07-2007, 04:07 PM

You do know it's based on the book "Point of Impact," right?

Mithra · 04-07-2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mossberg

You do know it's based on the book "Point of Impact," right?

The book wasn't that good...

David Koresh · 04-07-2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mossberg

You do know it's based on the book "Point of Impact," right?

Never heard of it. Have you read it?

Mossberg · 04-07-2007, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Koresh

Never heard of it. Have you read it?

No. I just wanted to clarify that it wasen't like someone saw BI and then made this movie. I haven't seen shooter but I plan to because Wahlberg is a good actor imo. I have heard from people that it is like BI without amnesia.

David Koresh · 04-07-2007, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mossberg

No. I just wanted to clarify that it wasen't like someone saw BI and then made this movie. I haven't seen shooter but I plan to because Wahlberg is a good actor imo. I have heard from people that it is like BI without amnesia.

I like Wahlberg too but this role doesn't do him much justice. I blame the screenwriters.

heavy_hands · 04-07-2007, 09:08 PM

I couldn't believe when I saw a thread about this movie getting rave reviews in the OT...some flicks you don't even need to see to know otherwise.

dr quincy · 04-07-2007, 10:31 PM

I've read Point of Impact, and it is a very good action thriller. It differs a lot from the movie. In the book Bob Lee Swagger was the best American sniper in Viet Nam. The author, Stephen Hunter, did a lot of research about snipers and their techniques and weaves it into the book.

The same character appears in a couple of other books, and it is mentioned in one of them that his father had been an Arkansas state trooper who was killed in action. This lead to Hunter writing several books that take place in the 50's with Swagger's dad as the main character.

I'd recommend any of the books: Point of Impact, Dirty White Boys, Pale Horse Coming, Havana, Hot Springs and there maybe a couple of others that I read but whose names I forget. It think one may have been called "Black Light" or something like that and it dealt with the son trying to solve the 40 year old murder case of his dad.

nvmeplz · 04-08-2007, 01:03 AM

I thought the movie was badass. The last sniper scene was awesome!
Overall a decent movie IMO.

kotcfan123 · 04-08-2007, 03:07 AM

i thought it was great the gorey headshots ruled