Sniper: G.R.I.T.

The Sniper series has had some serious ups and downs in terms of quality. I didn't particularly enjoy the last chapter and when the trailer dropped for 'Sniper G. R. I. T.' I wasn't very enthusiastic about what I saw. The good news is this is a decent sequel and addition to the franchise.

Brandon Beckett (Chad Michael Collins) & Zero (Ryan Robbins) are still working for Gabriel "The Colonel" Stone (Dennis Haysbert) in a newly established CIA offshoot called 'Global Response & Intelligence Team' or G. R. I. T. for short. Six months ago, Lady Death (Luna Fujimoto) was sent on a mission to Malta to assassinate a bad guy called Ivan Bubalo but failed. Now it turns out she's still alive. So the two men are sent in to rescue her, kill Bubalo & his high ranking associates and dismantle once and for all this powerful terrorist cell called the "State of Aragon".

I'd say more about the story, but that would be verging on spoiler territory. What I can say is it doesn't stop there. You get Yuki "Lady Death" Mifune's backstory expanded upon. I'm very happy to report that Brandon takes up the scope multiple times in sniping segments that deliver on the namesake. We're even past the whole "one shot, one kill" notion now. Happy to see Intelligence Pete (Josh Brener) make a return as well. He was one of the few good parts of that last sequel.

There is some real nice scenery of Malta shown. Good camera work - drone shots - that really make the movie have a big budget feel. There isn't many low parts here. Of course, Lady Death was recast. I obviously don't know why, but Luna is not a bad actress. Pulls off many fight scenes and the requisite gunplay needed. Also provides some Japanese dialog. There's some unfortunate CGI violence, gunshots but that has become par for the course in action films these days. However the tone throughout is solid.

The story within 'Sniper G. R. I. T.' won't blow you away, but the action delivers. The cast do their jobs and there's some unique sniper kills though you have to suspend your disbelief when a target survives a direct headshot. Director Oliver Thompson (who did the previous entry) juggles multiple hats here. Not only written & directed, but responsible for some of the music which he collaborated on with actor Ryan Robbins if you can believe it. I thought 'Rogue Mission' was the lowest point of the series, but he redeemed himself here.

Have they really run out of ideas? From the opening scenes of an overweight cult leader with a star on his forehead that makes for the perfect bullseye, the cheap James Bond garage or batcave hidden in the back of a Chinese restaurant after the first first 10 minutes, it does not really improve.

It is like an awkward teenager trying to be funny and cool at the same time, It doesn't work. The comedy is forced and everybody can figure out what is going to happen next 5 minutes before it does, like we know the tracking device is not in the phones. The actor s do a fair job with what they have but the writing missed the whole Target.

Not a usually a brainless cheap action fan, but some of these throughout the series offer some entertainment, especially when tired and not really in the mood to blow energy watching something riveting. I just sort of had this one on in the background while cooking and ended up having to pause it several times when I couldn't watch some of the fun action. It's not particularly smart, and comes off a little beefcake, but it is one of the better offerings in the franchise, in my opinion. It's shot pretty clean, with good production value and has some nuance that had me chuckling a bit, more than once- (Intel Pete is always worth a smirk). Decent formula for mindless gory-but-humorous shoot 'em up entertainment. Even a little bit of story for Lady Death. Ultimately, if you have liked some of these in the past, this is now one of the better ones in my opinion.

As part of the Sniper franchise this movie is likely the worst of them all. It is more of a parody than a Sniper movie. If this wasn't part of the franchise I might have rated this higher. It is silly, light hearted and whimsical. It's more of a comedy than an action movie. So it's been a downhill trend of the franchise from intense drama/action to silly comedy. The script is mediocre and the acting is passable. The character interaction is well done. It generates most of the humor. Lady Death is recast so that specific character dynamic is different. It's a watchable movie that has entertainment value but a total pendulum swing from the origins of the franchise.

"Sniper Glint" starts with a title that sets the expectation of an intense, realistic military film centered around sniping tactics and the precision involved in long-range shooting. However, as the film progresses, it becomes increasingly evident that it falls short in terms of accuracy and technical realism. If you're someone who enjoys military movies with attention to detail, this film might feel a bit disappointing. The portrayal of sniper shots, adjustments to scopes, firing distances, and even the sound dynamics of the shots and their delay seem to be poorly executed, leaving viewers with a sense of disbelief.

Initially, one might wonder if the filmmakers intended these inaccuracies as part of a satirical or comedic approach. However, the film does not seem to embrace humor in any way, nor does it appear to use sarcasm effectively. Instead, it seems like a missed opportunity, where the technical errors detract from the tension that a film about sniping should ideally create. If the filmmakers were going for realism or intense drama, the inaccuracies feel jarring. But if they had intended to make a parody, they didn't lean into the comedy enough to make it noticeable or engaging.

Moreover, the choice of name for the main character, particularly the protagonist, feels simplistic and uninspired.

The performances of the actors are generally good, and they seem to do their best. However, it's clear that even the strongest performances can't fully salvage the film when the plot and direction lack coherence.

Without giving away spoilers, the ending is another point of contention. It's the kind of conclusion that leaves viewers scratching their heads, wondering "Why now?" It feels abrupt and disconnected from the rest of the film. It almost seems as though the film's conclusion was hastily tacked on, lacking the necessary emotional payoff or narrative closure to leave a lasting impression.