Hidden Assassin

At the beginning, there is a prologue that explains the following: If a foreign national commits a crime on U. S. soil, the U. S. government reserves the right to capture that suspect anywhere in the world and return him or her to the United States for prosecution. Jurisdiction over this activity falls to the U. S. Department of Justice's Marshall Service. The Cuban ambassador has been assassinated in New York. A hired female killer is the prime suspect in the murder. She allegedly shoots the ambassador to the U. N. and escapes back to her home base in Praga. To prevent another terrorist attack during the US-Cuba summit to be held in Prague, Czech Republic, the CIA sends Michael Dane (Dolph Lundgren), one of its best federal agents to his homeland. It seems that Simon Rosset (Maruschka Detmers) is the executioner, she's a professional assassin who is now co-owner of a restaurant along with Marta (Assumpta Serna). Michael Dane's partner in the mission is his CIA friend Alex Reed (John Ashton). The suspected killer is a lesbian restaurant owner, Simone Rosset, but Michael starts to doubt she is the murderer, that's why she's long retired and is being set up. But as usual everything is much more complicated than it seemed at first; and therefore Dane has to work much more with his brain than with his muscles to survive. Seduction is a deadly weapon!

A thriller with nonstop action and noisy chases from beginning to end. It deals with the two protagonists, Dolph Lundgren and John Ashton, who become more and more involved in a complex plot of political conspiracy, betrayal, violence, and plot twists. So the two agents are assigned to prevent another attack of the terrorists at the US-Cuba-summit in Prague . Along the way the duo attempts to find the truth amid lots of double-crosses, and pursuits. Resulting to be an uneven thriller with its ups and downs, which is acceptable enough, but does not delivers the necessary tension and intrigue in its action scenes. Stars Dolph Lundgren who gives his mediocre and ordinary acting as a CIA agent gets caught up in political intrigue after he gets brought in to solve the murder of a Cuban ambassador. While Maruschka Detmers is supposedly an assassin who shot an ambassador, providing a passable acting. Other actors include John Ashton as the sympathetic CIA colleague, Gavan O'Herlihy as the CIA boss and Spanish players as Assumpta Serna and Simon Andreu as a nasty Cuban agent.

This routine motion picture was averagely directed by canadian filmmaker Ted Kotcheff, he provides many action scenes but it doesn't make sense in any case. His film career started in England with Tiara Tahiti (1962), a social comedy, Life at the Top (1965) and Two Gentlemen Sharing (1969). Kotcheff returned to Canada in 1972 to make The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974). This film, thought to be one of the best Canadian films ever made, won the Golden Bear First Prize at the Berlin Film Festival. Kotcheff also directed Fun with Dick and Jane (1977), starring Jane Fonda and George Segal and Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978), starring Jacqueline Bisset and George Segal. His next film, Wake in Fright (1971), was made in Australia. Kotcheff got great success on action cinema ( First blood, Uncommon valor, The shooter) and comedy (Switching channels, Fun with Dick and Jane ). Nevertheless , today he only realizes TV episodes (Law and order, Family of cops, Red shoes diaries). 'Hidden assassin' rating : 5/10. Acceptable and passable But only for the wonderful sightseeing of Prague, where most of the action takes place, beautifully photographed by Spanish cinematographer Fernando Argüelles. If you're a fan of Dolph Lundgren, you'll want to see this entry in his already somewhat monotonous action films.

****SPOILERS**** After the Cuban Ambassador to the UN is assassinated in New York City the CIA, with the help of Cuban government officials, trace the killer to be the daughter of an exiled anti-Castro Cuban living in the Czech Republic who's a professional assassin named Simone Rosset and using the name of Yanna Natova, Maruschka Detmers.

With a major meeting by the Cuban and US government set in Prague to re-establish diplomatic relations between those two countries it's expected that Simone will disrupt the meeting by trying to kill both the Cuban and US officials expected to sign that agreement.

Sending US Marshall Michael Dane, Dolph Lundgren, to arrest Simone and bring her back to the US to stand trial for the Cuban Ambassador's murder Michael is met by his long time friend and US government agent Alex Reed, John Aston, to help him in finding and arresting Simone.

After tracking her down during a number of car and train chases as well as a dangerous jump, from a high bridge into the Danube River, that almost killed both Michael and Simone, Michael finally captures her. Later as Michael is about to take Simone to the Prague airport to fly with her back to the US, to be tried for murder, Simone tells him that she never was in New York the day of the Ambassador's killing and never left the Czech Republic in five years; Simone also tells Michael that she'll never live to stand trial. Simone's prediction comes sadly true when she's assassinated in a Prague hotel room after Michael saved her life from a number of assassin attempts that he foiled.

One of Dolph's better efforts showing that he could act as well as haul and kick butt that he's so well known for. Realizing, too late to save Simone's life, that it's evident that there are those in higher ups in both the US and Cuban governments who don't want that signing to take place Michael goes to the signing ceremony in Prague to prevent it from being disrupted by the real assassins of the Cuban UN Ambassador.

Great action scenes that leave you black and blue just from watching them with Dolph Lundgren at his best as the reluctant hero who breaks with his superiors, to stop the very assassination that he was assigned by them to prevent, who think that the real killer is already dead.

Maruschka Detmers is the biggest surprise in the movie by being every bit as good as Dolph in the action scenes but also touches the heart-strings with her both sensitive as well as tragic performance as the doomed Simone. Tremendous final under the streets and on top of the buildings of picturesque Prague with Dolph Lundgren, bloody T-shirt and all, saving the day by putting the bad guys on ice as well as single-handedly restoring US-Cuban relations for the first time in some forty years.

I got it because I'm a Maruschka Detmers fan, and I wasn't disappointed in her part, however limited it was in showcasing her talents. I didn't take this movie seriously, and I'll bet the actors had fun making this movie.

The scenery and location were very impressive, the interaction between the main characters was good, with a touch of (unintended?) comedy throughout. Some of the scenes were unbelievable, but that just added to the feeling that you couldn't take this seriously as an action-adventure movie. For example, how could Michael pass by all the security points, evil bad guys pursuing him unscathed? If it isn't taken seriously, well that's the fun of it.

I had never seen Dolph Lundgren act before, and was comparing him to Arnold... both are hard workers.

The story line is this movie's weakest point, along with a few minor characters who obviously were put in the movie for appearance but no acting ability whatsoever.

Overall, I liked it and after repeated viewings, I still enjoy it.

Hidden Assassin (its proper name is The Shooter) is not just another mindless Dolph Lundgren actioner. It's a fairly well-plotted and exciting political thriller with some fine acting and great action sequences. But the real best thing about this movie is the setting. Filmed on location in Prague, the film looks beautiful and often stunning. Dolph plays a US Marshall (surprise, surprise) who is sent to Prague to find the assassin who killed the Cuban ambassador. Detmers is a beautiful bisexual assassin who Dolph gets caught up with, and before long the two of them are walking on dangerous ground while trying to stay alive the whole time. The suspense is always growing, as we never know who the killer is, wondering if it's Dolph's boss or even Detmers herself... I really like this movie. It's entertaining to watch and full of twists and surprises. Overall, I would probably recommend this one over some of Dolph's most well-known movies (Red Scorpion, Universal Soldier). Though without it's share of plot-holes, this remains a fun and very enjoyable romp.

Though this film would be classed as mediocre by most, I rate this movie fairly high. The scenery is fantastic, the soundtrack is interesting with its combination of suspense and smooth jazz, and with Dolph Lundgren side-kicked with John Ashton you get a smooth, even dose of action, adventure and comedy.

Though the movie does seem slow at times, and you tend to forget the characters names or the reason why Dolph is actually there in the first place, the movie does provide decent suspense and action throughout.

I didn't like the fact that Dolph's main wound (his arm) was self-inflicted and rather, well... pointless. However, the rooftop-gunfight scene (end) and the part where Dolph takes out a sniper with a handgun are simply a must see! (Believable? It is within Dolph's power, ha-ha!)

The ending is simply awesome. Enough said.

This movie is fantastic, you'll either rate it as a masterpiece or just a decent, action flick; but nothing lower.