6/10
Back On Track
27 September 2023
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.
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