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List Price: $19.99 | | Label: Paramount
Salesrank: 1849
Released: June 26, 2007 |
| Our Price: $9.02 |
| Used Price: $4.26 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg), a former Marine Corps sniper who leaves the military after a mission goes bad. After he is reluctantly pressed back into service, Swagger is double-crossed again. With two bullets in him and the subject of a nationwide manhunt, Swagger begins his revenge, which will take down the most powerful people in the country.
Description of Shooter (Full Screen Edition):
A movie that would not have been out of place in the run of paranoid-political thrillers of the 1970s, Shooter works an entertaining variation on the assassination picture. Mark Wahlberg, carrying over good mojo from The Departed, slides neatly into the character of Bob Lee Swagger, master marksman. Swagger has retreated from his duty as an off-the-books hired gun for the military, having become disillusioned with his government (switching on his TV at his remote mountain cabin, he mutters, "Let's see what kind of lies they're trying to sell us today."). Ah, but the government needs Swagger to scope out the location of a rumored attempt on the life of the president, so a shadowy government operative (Danny Glover) begs Swagger to use his sniper's skills to out-fox the assassin. From there--well, spoilers are not fair, since the movie has a few legitimate shocks and a very nice wrong-man scenario about to unfold.
A novel by the Washington Post's Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Stephen Hunter gives the movie a logical spine, even if the premise itself is the stuff of conspiracy theorists. Wahlberg gets support from Michael Pena, as a skeptical FBI agent; Kate Mara, as a trustworthy widow; and Ned Beatty, trailing along memories of Network, as a supremely cynical Senator. Along with the well-executed action sequences (the previously unreliable director Antoine Fuqua gets it in gear here), the movie includes a few potshots at the Bush administration. No, that doesn't put Shooter at the level of The Parallax View or All the President's Men, but it provides some tang along with the flying bullets. --Robert Horton
Beyond Shooter
More Sniper / Hit Man Movies on DVD | 
More DVDs with Mark Wahlberg | 
The Novel |
Stills from Shooter (click for larger image) Shooter (Full Screen Edition) Reviews:
His country forsook him, but he never forsook his country 
2008-12-04 - The film opens with two US troops being abandoned by their commander. They are not in authorized space. When asked why, the commander said something to the effect that the men were well trained and they would find their way home.
We know one of them did, because we see him years later. Bob Lee Swagger (Wahlberg) has nearly gone off the grid. It's just him and his dog living in a remote cabin.
When he's approached by Colonel Isaac Johnson (Danny Glover) to help foil a plot to kill the US President by determining how the shooter is going to do it, he reluctantly accepts the job.
When the fated day arrives, it's actually the Archbishop of Ethiopia who is shot and the crime's blamed on Swagger. Swagger goes on the run, trying to find out precisely what happened.
"Shooter" is a smart paced and intelligent conspiracy thriller taken from the pen of Stephen Hunter. Excellent acting on the part of the whole crew. This multi-faceted film is well worth owning. You will want to see it again.
Rebecca Kyle, December 2008
What Were They Thinking? 
2008-12-04 - I almost didn't write a review for this film since there are already plenty of bad reviews here. I have a major gripe with Hollywood these days. Movies like Shooter are happening all too frequently. This movie could have been good, but it is not. How did they get Mark Wahlberg, Danny Glover, and Ned Beatty to make this movie? Ok, Glover and Beatty are probably just happy to be working, but that doesn't excuse Wahlberg.
This movie makes Rambo look realistic. If you are able to throw out reason, don't particularly care about a plot or story line, and enjoy watching a one man army, you might enjoy this movie. The government "bad guys" (Glover and Beatty) are so over the top it's nearly comical. Actually it's rather sad to see real talent wasted like this. How does a movie like this even get made? There is no difference between Shooter and some straight to video low budget shoot-em-up staring no-names. If only the movie would have been scaled back and feature realistic dialog and situations, it might have been interesting. Unless Amazon sells this movie for $1, it isn't worth the price.
Why did I wait soooo long.... **spoilers**
2008-11-26 - Well, I just saw The Shooter and I must say, why did I wait soooo long?? Great movie from beginning to end. Mark Wahlberg turns in a solid performance along with an excellent ensemble cast. Had me on the edge of my seat from the sort of botched, attempted assasination to cold blooded revenge in the end. Damn, doesn't it feel good when the good guys win!!! OOOOOOHAAAA!!!
GOOD ACTION FLICK 
2008-10-25 - LOTS OF FUN A GOOD ACTION FLICK MW IS GOOD IN IT AND LIKE HIS MOVIE GIRLFRIEND
Shooter review
2008-10-19 - A veteran double crossed by the government during his early military career is used once again in this fast paced action flick. The unsuspecting soldier is talked into helping 'prevent' the assassination of a president, but things are not what they seem and he's roped into a deep conspiracy. Now he must run for his life while he tries to find a way to reveal the truth. I could slightly guess the formula and where it was leading on this one, but still enjoyed the action packed story.
Chrissy K. McVay - Author
