pro-gun article about the movie "Shooter"...

[M.E.Eldridge]

Is the movie of the same name as the book or is it named differently?

 

[Old Dog]

I'm surprised so many here have missed out on Stephen Hunter's books ... We've had numerous threads over the past few years noting that he's THE author when it comes to firearms details ...

While some may bemoan the choice of Wahlberg to play Swagger, if Hunter himself says he's thrilled with the movie, I suspect most of us will be thrilled as well ... 'Course they had to update the plot (and I admit, I always kinda pictured Sam Elliott as Bob Lee).

ME Eldridge -- the book the movie's based on is "Point of Impact." Excellent read.

 

[Eleven Mike]

I'm surprised so many here have missed out on Stephen Hunter's books.

Some people just don't place much priority on reading novels, or just not those from the "Men's Interest" section. Now where did I leave my Dickens?

 

[Correia]

I love Stephen Hunter's books. I especially love the Earl Swagger novels novels the best.

That said, I'm betting this sucks. If it is good, I'll be shocked. I just can't stand Mark Wahlberg as an actor. He has no range, and I don't think I've ever been convinced by any performance I've seen him in. He's kind of like Kevin Costner, but without charisma.

 

[Travis McGee]

I want to see how they are going to make 35 year old Walburg into a VIet Nam era sniper.

 

[Old Dog]

Gosh, guys, seems like y'all are so wrapped around the axle about the screenplay changing the protagonist from a Viet Nam era vet to a younger guy -- and bumming about the choice of Wahlberg to play the character -- that you're criticizing the movie before you even see it.

Did anyone actually read the article and note Hunter's own comments?

This month, Paramount Pictures will release Shooter, a new film based on Point of Impact, one of 13 thrillers Hunter has written and published in his spare time. He has seen a rough cut of the film and, so far, is thrilled with the film's accuracy. He expresses his pleasure with typical exuberance.

"Shooter is by far the best sniper movie ever made," he says. "I tried to bring to that book what it takes to make a shot, and I think the movie captures the essence of the art form.

"Shooting is an intellectual and an integrative process that requires discipline, physical stamina and attention to micro-details, such as the humidity level and the Earth's rotation. The movie is extremely attentive to that process, and that makes me very happy."

As for Wahlberg, yeah, he was a knucklehead as a young man (how many of us weren't knuckleheads back in the day?), but perhaps he's maturing. I for one have thought he was respectable in his last couple film outings.

 

[nico]

Great article. I definitely look forward to seeing the movie. It's pretty cool that he's local too. I'll have to keep my eyes open when I go to On Target from now on.

 

[bogie]

Campers, how many of us were younger folks who thought guns were kinda, well, bad things, only to learn later on in life that they are actually kinda sorta pretty good to have around?

Personally, I started shooting at age 8, but I know there are folks here who didn't have that advantage.

 

[ZeroCool]

Cool

I frequent that range when I need an indoor range to shoot at. I didnt know someone of such prestige in the shooting world shot there too.

I thought Marky Mark was great in The Departed. I'm sorry to see that he is apparently anti-gun. Maybe this movie, with the real life training he went through will change his mind (as it does to many who think they are anti).

Also, while I hope the movie does well, there is no way it will do a $65 million opening weekend. I would be really, really surprised to see it do 20. There is relatively little hype for this film and the most hyped movie of the year so far (300) "only" did $70 million.

I predict $65-80 million total gross. Please prove me wrong.

 

[ckyllo]

I read on the shootermovie.com web sight that he had a pretty good work over by the guys at Front Sight. It was also mentioned that they had him making 1100 yard shots in his training there. The websight also has a web based shooting range where there is windage and elevation adjustments required to make the shots. I plan on seeing it when it comes out.

 

[bogie]

Guys, with Marky, we've got our foot in the door...

He's been to the range. And he's actually good at it.

Now, does anyone know anyone who knows anyone who is famous and who also shoots? Drag his butt to the range again.

 

[hagar]

Anybody can make an 1100 yard shot with a good rifle, even a Hollywood actor But doing it time and time again in varying wind conditions is not easy. Last 1000 yard match I went to, between my first series of 20 shots, going to the pitts, and then shooting again, it warmed from about 40 degrees to about 65, and my elevation changed about 2 feet (2.5 minutes).

 

[jerkyman45]

With a guy like this I can't help but see the move, I was a preview and it looked good but I figured like most movies they would be horrible about guns, now it appears that isn't the case. I'll be there opening weekend.

 

[Yakko]

From watching the preview it looked like a remake of "Most Wanted." Keenan Ivory Wayans played the main character. The plot as I can remember: a former Marine sniper, is sprung from jail and recruited to join a highly secret team to prevent an assasination attempt on a political figure. (I can't remember who.) The team's actual goal is to kill the figure and set our hero up as the fall guy. The rest you can guess.

 

[57Coastie]

Last week I read the book, "Point of Impact," which led to the movie. It was well worth a read, even if the reader is not "one of us." But a dedicated rifle shooter and hand-loader will find even more in it to enjoy. The writer knows whereof he speaks.

Jim

 

[dfaugh]

He has seen a rough cut of the film and, so far, is thrilled with the film's accuracy.

Wait'll it hits the theatre.