Sniper: G.R.I.T. - Global Response & Intelligence Team

Another year, another "Sniper" movie, or so it seems. This 2023 movie titled "Sniper: G. R. I. T. - Global Response & Intelligence Team" is actually the tenth movie in the franchise. Believe it or not.

The storyline in this 2023 movie was a bit weak in comparison to some of the other movies, and held up against the 1993 original "Sniper" movie, then this was a whole different league, and not for the better.

Writer and director Oliver Thompson put together a bland storyline. The narrative in the movie was moving forward at a somewhat slow pace. And that made sitting through "Sniper: G. R. I. T. - Global Response & Intelligence Team" somewhat of a mundane ordeal. And for a movie based on snipers, there was a surprisingly little part of the movie's storyline actually devoted to or focused on actual sniping action. Nay, "Sniper: G. R. I. T. - Global Response & Intelligence Team" was more of an action movie than a sniper movie.

There were even some futile attempts at introducing some comedy elements into the movie, which played out with little or no success, to be truthful.

Sure, if you haven't seen other "Sniper" movies, then I suppose this 2023 movie could be considered good.

The acting performances in "Sniper: G. R. I. T. - Global Response & Intelligence Team" were fair enough, and it definitely was a nice enough thing that Chad Michael Collins, Ryan Robbins and Dennis Haysbert returned to reprise their roles from previous movies.

Watchable for the action movie that it was, "Sniper: G. R. I. T. - Global Response & Intelligence Team" somewhat deviated and strayed too far from the original concept of the franchise for my liking.

My rating of writer and director Oliver Thompson's 2023 "Sniper: G. R. I. T. - Global Response & Intelligence Team" movie lands on a five out of ten stars.

What happened to this franchise? It's hard to believe the Sniper franchise has spanned over 31 years with 10 movies but the last two are terrible. I like the cast but the execution, the dialogue and the unfunny jokes ruined this one, just like the previous one. It's hardly about sniping anymore and this one seems to be heavily inspired by videogames like Hitman and Sniper Ghost Warrior and the guards even act like NPC in those games. Even the introduction of the targets are exactly like I have seen in those mentioned games. I mean the action is fine but a lot of scenes are just dumb and ridiculous. If they decide to make another one, please return to your roots.

"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.

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.

The set up in the first few minutes tells you it is going to be a silly, campy movie. If you keep watching it past that, you've asked for what you are getting. Since I was immediately prepared, I got into the mindset of being a twelve year old boy in the 1980s and just went along for the ride. It can be a lot of fun to watch if you're in the right mood.

A bit disappointed that Dennis Haysbert has been reduced to this. He's capable of a lot more, and I'm sorry if the powers that be in Hollywood don't see him as bankable. He's the reason we chose the movie. Better casting luck next time, Dennis.