Sniper

I love it

Sniper_360P

Despite its interesting premise, 'Sniper' is quite tedious. With a tighter script and sharper directing it could have been electrifying; instead it plods along with little tension.

Beckett is an experienced military sniper with 74 kills but a troubled conscience and no future. Miller is an Olympic marksman but no kills or experience. The two are put together to assassinate a potential dictator in Panama. However the journey to the job brings out conflict between the two men and the job is put in danger. This starts out as a typical `rookie with old pro' type thriller and I didn't expect very much as a result. However the film tries to be patient and thoughtful rather than out and out action. The plot moves slowly through the jungle but really it doesn't say anything new – how many times have we seen the old pro revealing to the rookie the true cost of killing etc. The pace is good through and it is quite enjoyable until the end where believability is pushed just a little bit too far. Berenger is good – but really he just seems to be trying to redo his Platoon role as often as he can. Zane is not a great actor but does OK with this role – his changes are not well explained but he does OK. Support from JT Walsh is always welcome but he has little time or material here. Overall this is worth a look but despite the intelligent sheen on it, it is really just another spin on the mis-matched partners thriller genre.

This will be somewhat short. First, don't listen to the critics, as it is not as bad as most say it is!! Sniper uses a classic movie formula, which many dismiss immediately as flawing the movie. While sniper does not reflect the 100% truth about how our country's Military Snipers work, it does give those who know nothing about the Professional Sniper a glimpse into the world of the Sniper. And yes, the movie has many flaws, but what movie doesn't? There are many good scenes and good acting by Tom Berenger. I have to say the 2 worst scenes are at the beginning of the movie with Billy Zane in the Helicopter followed by Zane in the Marine's bar scene. The best scene in Sniper is with Berenger in the middle of a field with the opposing force sweeping it!! Also there are plenty of good shots of the jungle and some classic shots using the camera as though you are looking through a riflescope. And yes, the Sniper Motto is `one shot, one kill'. Judge Sniper for yourself!!

I saw this already about 4 year ago, and liked it a lot better back then. It's still quite an entertaining watch though, cause snipers are cool (and you know it!). The acting is lame however, Zane is terrible and Berenger doesn't do a lot better. It's like a buddy-sniper movie in the jungle. People die, there's a dispute between the snipers, the old trainee suddenly shows up, they talk about the emotions of killing and how it changes you. O yeah there's also some sniper action, not on a realistic level compared to other movies, but it's OK. It's really the kind of action movie you really love as a kid and later on still like, not because it's good, but because it makes you feel nostalgic.

When I saw "The Sniper" for the first time as a teenager, I was very impressed. Today, after seeing plenty of action movies and doing a deeper evaluation it does not seem to be that perfect but still very enjoyable. The storyline keeps an intriguing atmosphere by letting the spectators guess whether Richard will really kill Thomas or vice versa as well as underlines the terms of honor and friendship. Thomas Beckett - a mature, professional mercenary is some kind of a mentor to the younger one. Even though they do not get along in the beginning, at the time of the executive decision, both make the right choice. The movie pleases action movie fans with genre-specific violent action scenes and a closer demonstration of sniper tactics.

"One shot, one kill, no exceptions." A must see if you are into marines or snipers. two big thumbs up! Great overall storyline, great camera work, good drama, action, details, and more. Pretty close to the real thing. But this isn't a film to breakdown and pick out the editing faults. this is to sit back and have a good 99 mins. The plot has some depth but this movie isn't really about making you think. its about enjoying the sniper lifestyle and action. sniper 2 and 3 are pretty good follow ups but the first is still the best overall movie. Tom Berenger does a great job playing his character and showing the hidden side of the sniper life. the plain of dealing with all of the death. Must see for sniper fans.

I will warn you here: I chose to believe those reviewers who said that this wasn't an action film in the usual sense, rather a psychological drama so you should appreciate it on that basis and you will be alright. I am here to tell you that they were wrong. Completely wrong. Well, no, not completely; it is very disappointing if you are looking for an action flick, they were right about that. But it is also very unsatisfying on all other levels as well. Tom Beringer wasn't too bad, I suppose, no worse than usual; but what possessed them to cast Billy Zane in this? Was it some sort of death wish on the part of the producers? A way to made their film a guaranteed flop? In that case, it worked. If they were actually aiming for success, then why not cast somebody who can act? Oh, and might as well go for a screenwriter who knows how to write. Ah, yes, and a director who knows how to direct. As someone who sat through this mess, actually believing it would shortly redeem itself, I can assure you it never did. Pity, it could've been a good film.

Deep in the jungles of South America...lies a professional army veteran. A pro with firearms, this sniper aims using deadly efficiency and he eliminates his targets in a silent, slick manner. Familiar with the territory, proficient in both armed and unarmed forms of combat, this soldier, fluent in both English and his native Spanish is a man who shoots first, and asks questions later. His covert missions are usually top secret...and he works alone too. This time though, he has company. For it is imperative that this new assignment be accomplished as quickly and stealthily as possible... Or else...all hell will break loose in a whirlwind of fury... Tom Berenger is an experienced, suicidal marine who has acclimatized himself to handling all forms of jeopardy. Newcomer Billy Zane is an amateurish tyro...who cannot make his first kill. In the vast jungle-lands of Panama, the two snipers are assigned to assassinate a Colombian druglord who has the potential of gaining power in the government. The two men arrive only to find themselves caught in a maelstrom of vehemence. The two encounter conflicts with their enemies...and eventually each other... The pressure is on! SNIPER is a mediocre motion picture. This film tries to be more of a psychological drama than an action thriller. True, there are lots of macho philosophizing; slow motion bullets flying at close range; bold, tough guy effrontery, and an almost all male cast with no female leads. What makes SNIPER more unique though is that this movie has better character angles than expected. Billy Zane, for one, actually shows the right stuff in this movie. Zane does a superb job portraying a rookie sniper with a conscious...and a short fuse. He demonstrates the vulnerability, the problems, and the integrity of a soldier coping with the focus of his mission...and the nature of his deeds. Berenger does a fine job also, delineating a cocky, over-the-top Sergeant with an itchy finger constantly on the trigger. The two leads have created a couple of emotionally ambivalent characters (although fabricated in a banal manner) who must deal with their purpose...and each other's weaknesses. Excellent performances by Tom Berenger and a young, show-stealing Billy Zane lift SNIPER from turning into a complete fiasco. Consequently though, in spite of some well executed action scenes and an inkling of tension permeating throughout the movie, SNIPER is surprisingly tepid in the adventure genre. The technically well-staged action scenes for example are somewhat unpolished and they lack finesse. The photography is also swift; just the rest of the movie, including character development doesn't really come close to swiftness. This ambitious character study just misses the mark. The nuances of character are there, but the film as a whole is no different from most other action pictures. Unfortunately, the pace in SNIPER is extremely vapid, with more screen time spent on characters talking and running around rather than generating any real action. In spite of the faults evidently gathered in SNIPER, this flick is a tolerable action movie. The action isn't really exhilarating, and the thrills in SNIPER are left to be desired for. Still, Billy Zane and Tom Berenger salvage this film from transforming into a complete mess. They work well together and though the plot is itself contrived, and these two characters are atrociously full of clichés, the two main leads do add credibility to their parts. Director Luis Llosa (ANACONDA, THE SPECIALIST) has designed a dubious, but OK, just not great film. If you are not demanding a high caliber thriller, then you'll find this motion picture to be serviceable. RATING: ** out of ****.