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	Movie Review - Shooter (2007)     (What this rating means)       Director: Antoine Fuqua Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Michael Peña, Danny Glover, Kate Mara, Rhona Mitra, and Ned Beatty Rated: R (for strong graphic violence and some language) Length: 124 minutes Genre: Action/Drama/Thriller Tagline: Yesterday was about honor. Today is about justice. Studio: Paramount Website: Shooter Release: March 23, 2007 PLOT Mark Wahlberg is an elite marky marksman who can eat lightning, crap thunder, and hit moving objects from about 12 miles away. Or something like that. After a mission gone wrong, he turns to a life of solitude in the mountains. However, when he is told that his help is needed to foil an assassination attempt on the president, he decides that he can't turn his back on his country. Not surprisingly, this is all a set-up, and the Funky Bunch's fearless leader is framed. Mark is forced to go on the run and figure out who set him up and why. A bunch of shootin' ensues. JOHNNY'S TAKE Figuring out whether or not Shooter is the type of film in which you'd like to invest time and money isn't exactly a tough nut to crack. This is basically Mark Wahlberg's stab at an 80s era, one-man-army action flick. In other words, Wahlberg gets greased up, slaps on the tightest t-shirt he can find (when he can actually find the time to put it on), and sprints around shooting people and blowing stuff up, all while bullets whizz by but never bother to graze him. Oh, and throw in a little political conspiracy theory for good measure. Seriously, folks, there's only so much you can expect from a movie with character names such as "Bobby Lee Swagger" and "Nick Memphis." Sounds like characters from a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie. My sister, who attended the screening with me, had no problem annoying the daylights out of me by going, "MMMMMM, HE'S SO SEXY!" every time Wahlberg appeared on screen, but she couldn't handle it when I started laying down some sweet jokes like, "My name's Bobby Lee Swagger, and this is my friend Jimmy Dean Strut." "Shhhhh! I'm trying to watch the movie!" she'd complain, as if she were precariously close to missing out on some crucial plot element. "My name's Billy Badguy Nashville," was my retort. She rolled her eyes, shook her head, and proceeded to act like Wahlberg can walk on water immediately after turning it into wine. Don't get me wrong; the guy makes some good movies, and he does a fine job here being all Mark Wahlberg-y and stuff, but let's not pretend this is more than it is. I know Amber wanted me to assign a new rating system so that I could give Shooter more than five marks, but come on. This is a fun, entertaining, popcorn-munching action flick where the explosions go boom, the guns go bang, Wahlberg flexes his Johnny Betts biceps, and the bad guys demand that you want them dead as quickly as Wahlberg can remove his shirt to do it. If you can accept that (and find a way to ignore Danny Glover's ridiculously annoying lisp - did the guy recently have a stroke? He can barely talk) then you'll likely have a good time. I like a good action flick, particularly ones where cool snipin' action is involved, and although Shooter does rely on some tried and true clichés, it makes its mark *snicker* as a solid entry in the genre by complimenting its well-made action sequences with an above-average story and by avoiding cheesy one-liners that only Stallone's and Schwarzeneggers' mothers could love. Check the brain, kick up the feet, salt the popcorn, and enjoy the ride. And if you have a girlfriend or sister who has an unhealthy obsession with Mr. Wahlberg then take every opportunity to poke fun of the guy and his "beard." I assure you it'll make for a more entertaining experience. ODDS & ENDS Based on the novel Point of Impact by Stephen Hunter. The 550-page novel was adapted into a 120-page script. During the course of his sniper training, Wahlberg was eventually capable of hitting a target 1100 yards away. For a while I thought Michael Peña was Adam Beach (the crybaby in Flags of our Fathers). Has anybody ever heard of somebody with the last name of Memphis? If so then I seriously doubt there are any Mexicans with such a name! Mark Wahlberg cannot grow a decent beard. Scraggly patches of hair on his face? Sure. A beard? No. Mark Wahlberg was in Fear with Reese Witherspoon who was in Best Laid Plans with Josh Brolin who was in Hollow Man with Kevin Bacon. MAMA'S APPROVAL Profanity isn't extreme, but there are a handful of "f" bombs mixed in with other unpleasantries. No nudity, but Kate Mara doesn't mind prancing around in a bra. Violence gets a little rough with head shots and vigilante justice galore. Leave the kids at home for this one. TRAILER COMPARISON The trailer's a pretty accurate guide of what to expect. THE GIST If you're a fan of Mark Wahlberg action films then Shooter should suffice.	RETURN TO HOME PAGE Ghouls Eagle Eye Righteous Kill Tropic Thunder Traitor Death Race Star Wars: Clone Wars The Dark Knight Journey to the Center of the Earth Hancock Weekend Results: 1. Beverly Hills Chihuahua($29,300,465) 2. Eagle Eye($17,709,817) 3. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist($11,311,751) 4. Nights in Rodanthe($7,368,259) 5. Appaloosa($5,050,310)

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