Shooter (4K UHD Blu-ray) review

[David Vaughn]

Studio: Paramount
Release Date: March 15, 2022
Rating: R
Film: 4/5
 
Plot
Bob Lee Swagger is our hero and is one of the best marksmen in the world.  Three years earlier while on a mission in Ethiopia, his spotter, who just happened to be his best friend, was killed.  He leaves the military to live his life in seclusion in the Rocky Mountains with his trusty dog, but one day a government agent ends up on his doorstep asking for some help.  Someone wants to kill the President of the United States, and Bob is the only man that can figure out where the shooter will strike.  Bob reluctantly agrees to help to fulfill his patriotic duty, but this decision will impact his life, as well as others, in unimaginable ways.
 
My Thoughts
Marky Mark has come a long way in the past 20 years or so.  From a boy band to top billing in a Hollywood thriller, who would have guessed?  What impresses me most about Wahlberg, is that he takes his roles seriously and acts in a very convincing way.  Whether it is as a police officer in The Departed, a football player in Invincible or a porn star in Boogie Nights, he has had quite a career in Hollywood and is still attached to A-list projects to this day.  His role in this film was fun to watch, although the story itself is a bit of a stretch (but still a ton of fun).  In a lot of ways, Ben Lee Swagger turns out to be a modern-day Rambo, but the well-acted Rambo from First Blood, not the killing machine from the sequels.
 
The 4K transfer on this film looks like a modern-day production and not a 15-year-old one. The image is clean and well detailed and has a ton of contrast. One might complain that it’s a bit overcooked, but I looked up my original HD DVD review from 15 years ago and I noted the same thing then, so it probably is something in the principal photography or baked into the transfer.
 
The audio track seems to be the same DTS-HDS MA 5.1 track from the original release, which is fine because it sounds pretty good overall.
      
Video 9.5/10 (AVC)
 
 Audio 9/10 (DTS-HA MA 5.1)
 
Special Features:
 

• Survival of the Fittest: The Making of Shooter
• Independence Hall
• 7 Deleted Scenes
• 4K + Digital Copy

 

 
 
Conclusion
Director Antoine Fuqua got his start making music videos and eventually found his way to major motion pictures with hits such as Training Day and The Equalizer. I put this film just a sliver below those other two, but it’s the smallest of slivers. It’s wildly entertaining and although it can be a tad far-fetched, the action is intense, and the cast is excellent. I’m happy to see the film get a 4K release and the Steelbook packaging is excellent. Highly recommended.
 
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS2000 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 88” 16x9 Fixed Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
SVS PC-Ultra Cylinder Subwoofer
HSU VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer
SVS SB-3000 Subwoofer
JL Audio Dominion F110 Subwoofer x 2
Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner

[bmoney]

Another one I never heard of but will
Be grabbing thank to your review

[AVSCraig]

Another one I never heard of but will
Be grabbing thank to your review

I hadn't heard of this until recently ( the last year ) either. Quite enjoyed the Blu-ray, so I'll wait for this to go on sale before I double dip.