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Sniper (1993)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
7/17, 12/21
7/17:
Here's another exciting Tom Berenger film: Sniper.
A great deal of attention is paid to the accuracy of details and what it's like to be a sniper in the jungle. But some of
them are just plain wrong. I wondered why there weren't many insects and animals in the film. I mean, this is
Central America we're talking about. It turns out the whole thing was shot on location in Queensland, Australia.
Billy Zane plays a newbie but a good one even if he's annoying and arrogant. He's simply a representative of the audience
because they don't know any better, either. Tom Berenger's expertise is perfect; he's a veteran actor and knows what the
hell he's doing. In short, Tom Berenger is fun to watch.
I'm rather disappointed with the last twenty minutes; it seems to be impossible. Hence, I wish the director
went for a higher level of realism. It's not necessary for the mission to be full of conflicts leading to a series of
deus ex machinas. It can go perfectly well, and that's a good movie on its own because the primary focus is on the
sniper lifestyle.
By the way, notice how they have their targets in the crosshairs. If that's so, then hitting them for real will then be
impossible. The rifle has to be raised higher to account for the vertical drop of the fired shot over a
great distance due to gravity. There are steelheads in Montana? Are they sure about it? Well, there isn't any over there.
If you want to fish for some, you'll have to go to Idaho. And the dog isn't able to smell Beckett, who's hiding under a
cover of patch, because of the dung pile? Are they sure about it, too?
All in all, despite the numerous errors, Sniper is an enjoyable military yarn that manages to bring something unusual
to the table.
12/21:
Tom Berenger is excellent in Sniper, and I only question the need to have Billy Zane on board.
Why Master Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Beckett would endanger his own life by allowing it to happen to him is something that
I'll never understand. He accompanied a paper target shooter with zero field experience during the mission. That's a
recipe for disaster. Nonetheless, it's an entertaining movie that's closer to realism than most junk actioners.
All in all, nothing is more true than the line "One shot, one kill, no exceptions" for Sniper.