European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 25, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 14 scene stars and stripes sunday March 25 2007 8 c 0 d q o co 1 u o u shooter on target Wahlberg a Good fit in action role in terms of Hollywood machismo there Arent Many bigger shoes to fill than those that Charles Bronson and Clint Eastwood wore in the death wish and dirty Harry films yet Mark Wahlberg slips into those steel toed stampers confidently in shooter a High Aliber action movie that gives 70s revenge fanta sies a contemporary spin Wahlberg plays Bob Lee swag Ger a military Marksman in embittered retirement after an Offeh books african Mission backfires he re Mains a Patriot but after being abandoned in the Field by his superiors he keeps the world at arms length living in a Mountain Cabin with his rifles and his dog for company when an envoy from Washington Danny Glover informs him that an Assassin is stalking the president and asks for help to pinpoint Sites the sniper might use the Veteran reluctantly agrees before you can say Grassy Knoll swagger is framed for murder and running from the Law with the help of his Best friends widow Kate Mara and an Fri agent Michael pea just hatched from the Academy swagger Hunts the real killers professionals who Are As deadly resourceful and relentless As he almost the result is a film with a Frothy head of political paranoia thrill minute pacing and an 11 on the scaleof10 destruct Ometer shooter is a Guy movie Par excellence one straight ahead action scene clicking smoothly into the next the film looks great with rugged locations High tech artillery and helicopters buzzing like wasps theres no love Story very Little Jok ing around lots of tutorials on dress ing a gut wound with household supplies and Cam painting weapons its no Surprise the film feels As Well machined As a Robinson Arma ment m96 expeditionary Rifle its loosely based on a novel by Stephen Hunter a pulitzer prizewinning Washington Post movie critic who knows just where the suspense scenes complications explosions and twists need to go and its brought to the screen by director Antoine Fuqua a skilled hand at adrenaline pumping adventure and Manly emotion he guided Denzel Washington to a bes Tactor Oscar As a rogue cop in 2001 s training Paramount Mark Wahlberg is a sniper on the run and on the Hunt in shooter new on base if you go shooter is playing at the follow ing on base facilities Yokoto Zama Hovey Humphreys Osan red Cloud Stanley Foster futenma Kinser and Schwab on the web visit the official web site at  Wahlberg performance bristles with Sel Confidence with his Beefy weightlifters build he looks like the Man to bet on in a Brawl his sidekicks Are afterthoughts Damsel distress Mara seems to matter about As much As his beloved dog and peas Green Fri agent is on hand mostly to repeat plot Points so viewers dont lose track the most colourful supporting player is former band Levon Helm As an old coot conspiracy Buff who brings the House Down with a gag about a 44yearold shovel the distinctive aspect of shooter is How forcefully it hits the theme of government corruption the villains Are Crafty Washington types including Ned Beatty As a for tongued us senator who turn to political subterfuge when they realize they cant outrun the avenging everyman by the finale swagger is a full fledged Folk hero on the Road to new adventures there Are several More books prime for film adapt it looks As if Wahlberg has found an action franchise that fits him like a pair of Calvin kleins shooter is rated r for Strong graphic violence and some language i said w v if it we rent for the super bowl movies i said which was released stateside in Early february might never see the tight of the big screen but since theres one weekend a year that considered the virtually exclusive Domain of women viewers studios seem to think they can toss out any old Chick flick and get enough nibbles to justify releasing it because i said has actors with definite followings Diane Keaton Mandy Moore Gabriel Macht Angelina Jolies brother in the Good Shep Tom Everett Scott thing you Muren Graham Piper Perabo and Stephen Collins eth these Arent nobodies or Nee Dowells but somewhere Between their Talent and the final product things went awry the relationships seem fake the Dia Logue feels unnatural the situations Are contrived the plot turns Are formulaic Daphne Wilder Keaton reared three daughters on her own Shes Able to leave the older ones Maggie Graham my Mae atone but she cant meddling in the life especially love life of her youngest Milly though Beautiful and successful Milly Doest have much Luck with men Daphne decides to do her own secret Tor a mate for Milly and winds up with Jason a handsome but architect Daphne unintentionally also draws the curiosity of Johnny who charming but must be written off be cause Hes a musician Milly clueless of her moms interference ends up dating both men and liking each though not i said so has some things going for if Beautiful sets and locales great clothes with a few misses and cute Guys primarily but its too Ham handed to be enjoyable that applies to Keaton especially daphnes technologically impaired shtick gets old fast Shes Over the top even when she Doest say a word there Are too Many scenes of her search ing for an awol cell phone playing hot potato with fancy cakes and scream ing at Milly to make the right her Choice obviously this is a romantic comedy fantasy not a drama and not anything resembling real life Daphne and her daughters have sitcom dialogue in sit com situations group massages clothes and shoe and they manage to manipulate a few laughs in the rare moments the film attempts to be serious the effect is ridiculous Moore int annoying like Keaton but Shes too Bland to make an Impact because i said so will Appeal Only to those who like cookie Cutter films because i said so is rated pg13 for sexual Content including dialogue some mature Iemoli material arid partial nudity Betsy