So-so movie, pretty awesome action.

Rating: 7/10 (2 April 2007)

I really had no idea what this movie was about going into it, and I still don't really know coming out. Basically, it's your run-of-the-mill action movie, where the guns never stop blazing. I did like this film; it just wasn't extremely well made. Mark Wahlberg plays Bob Lee Swagger  what kind of name for an action hero is that?  a retired sharpshooter. Fresh off his Oscar win, Mark does a good job as the Rambo-type character. In one scene he even fixes a bullet wound with basic items from a grocery store, MacGyver style. He's the type of guy that if you saw him walking down the street, you'd cross to the other side of the road. Director Antoine Fuqua (King Arthur, Training Day) does a good job at pacing the film, and keeping it interesting, and though I haven't read the book the movie was based on, apparently he kept it faithful. The cinematography was nothing special, but at least kept the movie intense.
What I caught from the plot in between explosions is that Bob Swagger is hired to prevent a sniper assassination of the president. Instead, he is set up and is made to look like the assassin. After, it's just your classic tale of revenge on the bad guys. There is much more to the plot, but I didn't catch it or remember it, because I was to excited for the next slam-bang shootout. Another problem aside from the plot is that by the end of the two hours, you get a little tired of the same action scenes over and over, but it still is cool. "Shooter" is a movie pretty much catering to testosterone loving dudes, and the girls will just find it repulsive, and stupid. So guys, this one is for you, and if you're like every other guy and like non-stop action, then you're in for a treat.
"Shooter" is rated R for strong, graphic violence and language.