Movie Title: Shooter
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (6/10)
Year: 2007
Shooter official site: http://www.shootermovie.com/
Mmmm… what can one say about the perfect combination of hot hunky sniper, guns, bullets and more government’s dark secret. Not much explanation or expectations needed as… seriously, it wasn’t any new plot or storyline.
If one is pretty much familiar with Mark Wahlberg’s characters in other movies… he is pretty much an easy to cheat person which when he knew about it, it was too late, hence the revenge thing going on.
Don’t get me wrong, he is good at what he is doing, just I felt it was a little boring seeing the same expressions and the same thing over and over again. It needs a little spark and change.
Spoiler begins here.
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This 2007 action movie started it’s show whereby Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg) one the world best snipers was sent to do a job in the name of a peaceful attempt to save the an Ethiopian village. Bob and his partner didn’t actually know what they got themselves in to. What Bob didn’t know was the secret mission work is operated by a black-ops government organization that do what they think America really needs.
When the mission went terribly wrong, Bob and his partner was left there to die as the mission was suppose to be a top secret mission. Bob survived the disastrous mission while his best buddy died right in front of him. Ever since then, Bob retired and stay in a little house by the forest far away as believe he was betrayed by his country.
One day, while enjoying his relaxed life… Colonel Isaac Johnson (Danny Glover) came knocking at his door asking for his help. Being one of the few people who could snipe from a mile away, Bob was told that his country needs his special ability and expert skills to stop an assassination attempt on the President. Bob really didn’t want to work with them but his patriotic feeling made him agree to help out.
Colonel Isaac ensure that Bob only needs to tell him any possible way someone could assassin the President from far while he is giving his speech. He would then check out the surrounding to ensure none of these things would or could happen. Little does Bob know, the Colonel was one of the black-ops government organization that left him and his partner to die back then.
The day has come, Bob sense something is not right. After giving out so many pointers to Colonel Isaac and the FBI agents, they leave out so many hints and flaws like flags (which give the assassins the direction of the wind). Just as he was about to notify Colonel Isaac, he was shot down by a local policeman which was one of Colonel Isaac’s man. After being shot and falling off a 2 storey high building, Bob ran off and bump into FBI agent, Nick Memphis (Michael Pena).
Bob manages to take Nick down and cuff him to a pole and drove of with Nick’s car. The injured Bob manages to escape realizing he have been framed. Nick on the other hand was blamed for Bob’s escape. Everyone was laughing at him saying he was a disgrace to the FBI team. However Nick sense something was wrong as Bob keep telling him he was innocent before he escape with his car.
Thinking he was framed for killing the President, Bob kept telling everyone he did not assassinate the President. Little does he know, the target was not the President. All along, their target was the Ethiopian archbishop, who is also scheduled to speak after the President. The archbishop was assassinated while standing next to the President, in order to make it seem as if the President were the target. Being trained, Bob knows exactly how to keep himself alive.
Knowing he have no where to go, Bob stops right in front the house of his late buddy’s widow, Sarah Fenn’s (Kate Mara) house. Bob have never visited Sarah but he did send flowers to her every year. Bob remember his partner mentioned that Sarah is studying in a nursing school. He thought she could help open him up and take out the bullets. To his surprise, Sarah never actually study in nursing school as she is afraid of blood. She intend to study nursing because Bob’s late buddy likes her to be a nurse (which she didn’t continue after his death).
Sarah have no choice but to save Bob. She manages to take out the bullets and sew him back. Bob was actually impressed with the fact that she can sew that well. Bob then convince Sarah that he was framed. he then asked Sarah to help him get to Nick as Nick is his only hope. Nick then try to check on the details Sarah provided to him. In order to check the details, it requires a special password. Nick manages to slip in and track the records.
The FBI agents notice their security has been violated by Nick and they caught him. They torture him to confess his relations with Bob. When he says he knows nothing, the decided to kill him by faking his suicide. Bob came in the nick of time to save his life. From then onwards, Nick and Bob work together to uncover the truth.
Bob then went to find the “mighty know it all” and ask for guidance and advise. He finally knew there were this great sniper legend in the black-ops organization. Bob is set to look for him. He then get ready for battle and teach Nick a few tricks as he needs his help to be his spotter. Colonel Isaac knows Bob is going after the sniper and throw him out as bait to lure and kill Bob.
The meeting of the two great snipers were scheduled at a small lodge by the farm. There Bob and Nick look out for each other. When Bob manages to get in and talk to the legendary sniper, he told Bob the whole story knowing none of them would survive the day. Bob did came prepared. He and Nick manages to survive the day even when Colonel commands a large troop to surround and kill everyone at that area.
Knowing Bob and Nick is still on the loose, Colonel Isaac ordered someone to take Sarah as hostage. He then talked to Bob over the phone and ask him to turn himself in or he would harm Sarah. However, Bob gave the colonel a surprise when he played the conversation between him and the legendary sniper. They then arrange for a meeting at an icy mountain.
Colonel Isaac arrive at the mountain together with the Senator (the man behind the organization) and Sarah. Just as they saw a figure that resembles Bob, the snipers Colonel arrange to assassinate Bob. It turns out it was Nick and Bob is around somewhere spotting and getting rid of all the hidden snipers. Bob then reveals himself and speak to the Colonel and the Senator.
Upon saving Sarah, Nick and Bob surrender to the FBI where Nick pass their coordinates to them earlier on. Later on, Bob and Nick appears in a closed meeting with the head of FBI, the United States Attorney General and Colonel Isaac present. Bob manages to clear his name by loading a round into his rifle, which was an evidence used in the assassination. He then aims the rifle at the Colonel and pulls the trigger, much to everyone’s shocked, the shot isn’t released. Bob then explains that every time he leaves his house, he swaps the firing pins on his rifles, this unable the rifles to fire until he swaps them back.
Nick then presented the case about the Ethiopian village and told then what Colonel and the Senator did but the head of FBI could not do anything as they have no power to interfere or judge them. All he can do is just set Bob free.
Upon released from his charges, he then seek revenge. While the Colonel and the Senator was relaxing and having a drink at the Senator’s holiday house. Bob then killed the Colonel, Senator and their bodyguards in the house. He then plan the weapon on the Colonel’s hand before blowing up the whole house. Bob then escapes and got into Sarah’s car and they drove away together.
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Spoiler ends here.
Right, while the guys would think it was a seriously cool show, I think otherwise. I don’t blame them. Most guys plan and dream of being a sniper. It’s probably a cool dream. But well, I think the plots are pretty predictable and towards the middle, it was a little boring for me.
There isn’t really a climax to look out for. Seriously… I feel I can just glide pass it without any obstacles. Not to mention the continuity of the show is seriously lacking. I could clearly remember the scene whereby Mark Wahlberg is injured and cut a hole at the back seat to reach to the back. It seems there were loads of stuff there. As Mark drove the car and aims for the sea, the back of the car open up and it was empty.
I probably miss out a few lines as the couple sitting next to me was talking loudly among themselves, but I still wonder why Mark Wahlberg burn the tape record. I wonder why the Colonel’s sniper only hit Michael Pena’s chest and not head. Since one can have bulletproof vest and not head proof stuff. I don’t know, probably I am not a sniper or anyone professional to say this. But if I am a killer and can aim for good. I will go for the head. Yes… headshot! I love it!