SNIPER: RELOADED

South Africa, 2011, 91 minutes, Colour.
Chad Michael Collins, Billy Zane.
Directed by Claudio Fah.

The Sniper series was popular at the box office. The first film was released in the early 1990s and starred Tom Berenger. Now we are with the next generation, Berenger’s son, played by Chad Michael Collins.

While the action begins in the United States, it transfers to Southern Africa, taking advantage of local colour, animals, clashes amongst the tribes, espionage, and white criminals, snipers.

Billy Zane portrays the military instructor, a friend of Tom Berenger. When there are difficulties in Africa, he turns up, helps the hero, and there was all and they resolve all the situations as might be expected.

Straight to DVD release, popular and undemanding entertainment.

1. The previous Sniper films? Continuity? Personalities? Now, the son of the hero? A franchise?

2. The rebooting of the plot, of the characters, the change of venue, South Africa?

3. Some of the history, Beckett, his work, achievement?

4. The son of Beckett, his own expectations, memories of his father, meeting his father’s friends, in his footsteps?

5. The South African locations, the parks, the range of animals and their life? Musical score?

6. South Africa, the connection with the Congo, the story, the rebels, wars, arms deals, the United Nations? American interventions? Secret missions?

7. The opening, the interrogation, the Marines, the United Nations representatives, the local officials, the rebels? The flashbacks indicating themes of the story?

8. Beckett, the officer commissioning him, the team? Africans and Americans? Flying in, the plantation, the owner, their wanting him to leave, his being unwilling? The shots, people fleeing, the role of the sniper, the later revelation of his being American? The deaths? Bekett’s friend and the discussions, and
the hole? Beckett’s surviving?

9. The meeting with Chandler, the hunters, the children in his care, Chandler accompanying Beckett back into the house, the encounter with the daughter, the role of the rebels?

10. The kid, being wounded, hospital? Meeting Abrahamowitz, the men betting about his approach to her, her putting him down, the meetings, the talk, the stories, the sexual relationship, her help?

11. Miller, Billy Zane, Beckett’s friend, in the US, training the snipers, going to Africa, discussions with Beckett, the test and failure, following him into the village, the rescue?

12. The mission, in the village, the information, the American sniper?

13. Rescuing Abramowitz, the deaths, Miller and his intervening?

14. The authorities, the hearing, the decisions?

15. The sniper, his attack, cat and mouse with Beckett, using the light, the kid tricking him, the sniper’s death?

16. The revelation of the traitor, the local authority, motives, arms-dealings, playing both sides of the politics? The discussions, his being taped, arrested?

17. Another sniper film…?