Movie Review: Sniper 3

Sniper 3 

Starring: Tom Berenger, Byron Mann, John Doman, Denis Arndt, Troy Winbush, Jeannetta Arnette, William Duffy, Nophand Boonyai, Dom Hetrakul, Govit Vattanakun, Naraporn Chainin, Zawit Subanunt, Bangongsak Kansai, Aoyama Isao, Ken Streutker, Zakareth Ruben

Director: P.J. Pesce 

Destination Films, Sandstorm Films, Columbia TriStar, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, USA, Thailand, 2004. 

U.S. Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant Tom Beckett (Tom Berenger) is training new snipers. He likes to keep things old school and he is not comfortable with the modern army. He has also health problems so his career is at risk. Meanwhile in Vietnam Detective Quan (Byron Mann) is arresting drug dealers. Quan is also working undercover for NSA. 

Tom Beckettis back again

Detective Quan

Neckett at Neil's wedding

Beckett attends the wedding of son of his dead friend Paul Finnegan (John Doman). Paul was supposedly killed in Vietnam 30 years ago. Beckett has been taking care of Paul's wife Sydney (Jannetta Arnette) and her son Neil (Ken Streutker). NSA sends the best sniper in USA, i.e. Beckett, to Vietnam to take out a ruthless drug lord and terrorist Cobra. However Cobra turns out to be none other than Paul Finnegan. Finnegan was a former CIA operative but he went rogue and now officials want to wipe him out to avoid a scandal. In Vietnam Beckett teams up with Quan. As usual the things get more complicated. Beckett and Quan have to go to jungle after Finnegan.

Sydney Finnegan

Beckett sniping

Back in the jungle

This time more about Beckett's personal life is revealed. Flashbacks reveal Beckett's history in Vietnam War. Also a bit of romance is thrown into the story. Is Beckett softening a bit? This Sniper sequel is good improvement to the average action presented in the second movie. Also Byron Mann differs from Beckett's previous partners. He is not an army grunt but a streetwise and unorthodox law enforcer. The filming locations (Asian city and jungle) work better for marksman film than the urban environment in Sniper 2.

Quan going akimbo

Paul Finnegan

Quan must show his hand-to-hand skills

However the action scenes are again more tuned to the Hollywood style. There are also some nods to Hong Kong films with dual wield pistols and martial arts but without slow-motion. In the end Beckett is retired again (at least until the later sequels!). Sniper 3 is a good action thriller.

Rating: Good