Movie Review: Sniper 2

Sniper 2

Starring: Tom Berenger, Bokeem Woodbine, Erika Marozsán, Tamás Puskás, Dan Butler, Linden Ashby, Barna Illyés, Ferenc Kovács, Dennis Hayden, Can Togay, Béla Jáki, László Áron, Lukács Bicskey, Zoltán Seress, Tas Szöllösi, Ben O'Brien, Andrew Hefler, Peter Linka, Ákos Horváth

Director: Craig R. Baxley

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Sandstorm Films, Screen Gems, Sniper 2 Productions Ltd, USA, Hungary, 2002.

Marine Thomas Beckett (Tom Berenger) has retired and organizes hunting trips. He has difficulties in adjusting to civilian life. Although Beckett lost his trigger finger in the first movie, that does not stop him being a marksman. CIA wants him to do one more job, to kill a genocidal Serbian general. He is teamed up with a spotter, a convicted murderer named Cole (Bokeem Woodbine).

Losing a finger did not stop Beckett

Cole

Serbian commando soldier

When Cole is captured, Beckett must team up with underground resistance fighters led by Sophia (Erika Marozsán). But Cole and the resistance fighters have also a secret mission they did not tell about to Beckett. Then the team must get to safety alive fighting Serbian police and special forces led by Captain Marks (Can Togay).

Resistance fighter Sophia

Captain Marks

Whereas the first movie (reviewed here!) had good psychological tension between the main characters this has none. This has more Hollywood-style action scenes than its predecessor complete with gasoline explosions. The Serbian police cars seem to be very dangerous, since they always explode spectacularly when collided. The first half is quite dull, but it gets a bit better in the second half with an exciting sniper duel. Berenger does again good work as grumpy and tough marine and Woodbine is okay but not very memorable as his partner who dreams of freedom. The movie leaves many plot lines annoyingly unresolved. This movie does not rise to the level of the original, and it is quite average direct-to-video sequel.

"Pinto" police cars

Cole evading enemies in ruined town

Beckett doing what he does best

Rating:  Average