Displaying items by tag: Chad Michael Collins

SNIPER: THE LAST STAND

US, 2025, 99 minutes, Colour.

Chad Michael Collins, Ryan Robbins, Sharon Taylor, Manuel Rodriguez-Saenz, Vusi Kunene, Sizo Mahlangu, Noxolo Klamini, Arnold Vosloo.

Directed by Danishka Esterhazy.

The Sniper franchise began in the early 1990s, with Tom Berenger as Beckett, the sniper. There was sequels and, in the 2010s, the beginning of the current series, featuring Chad Michael Collins as Tom Berenger’s son.

Popular action films, few holds barred.

In this episode, the setting is Cape Verde, a corrupt government, the Russian mastermind, his technical adviser, and threats to the US and the world.

A special squad has been set up, under the leadership of Zero who appeared in the previous films, Ryan Robbins. He then reaches out to Beckett, Chad Michael Collins, to help with the siege of the Fort with the technical experiments. He is to train a local sniper.

The film is full of action, the attack at the beginning, then flashbacks, Beckett’s arrival, camaraderie, introduction to the team, the rookie sniper, the local political rebel, and then the details of the attack, plenty of fighting, explosions, deaths… And, it would seem until the final few minutes, the deaths of Beckett and Zero. But, the supporting forces arrive.

There are plans for a further Sniper action film.

1. The continued popularity of the Sniper franchise, 30 years.
2. Audience knowledge of the central characters, their history, the previous films, their characters, action, capabilities? The situation of the corruption, the siege and attack?
3. The Cape Verde setting, the scenery, the political situation, corruption, rebellion?
4. The opening, Beckett, the young Sniper, training and action, the attack, the leadership, the team, the scientist and the wealthy owner, the explosion?
5. The flashback, Beckett arriving, his background, meeting Zero, the political situation, the members of the team and their experience, working together? Nova, the connection with Beckett and the death of his father? The young Sniper and his history? The bonding, the training?
6. The snipers, testing, pulling the trigger, obeying orders?
7. The attack, the details of the siege, fights, deaths? The sniper and his work? The confrontation, the villain, the leader, deaths? And the experiments, the detonations, the timing?
8. Having to take charge, the attack, the remnant, infiltration?
9. Beckett, the fights, wounded, Zero helping, standing together, the attack? The arrival of the reinforcements? Nova, being shot, the end of the mission?
10. Beckett and Zero departing, the security of the country? And future Sniper action shows?

SNIPER: G.R.I.T., GLOBAL RESPONSE & INTELLIGENCE TEAM

US, 2023, 93 minutes, Colour.

Chad Michael Collins, Ryan Robbins, Luna Fujimoto, Dennis Hayesbert, Josh Brener, Matthew Sim.

Directed by Oliver Thompson.

There have been 10 and more Sniper films following the original in 1992 starring Tom Berenger – who appeared in a number of the later films. However, the later films focus on his son, Brandon, played by Chad Michael Collins. There are variations on the theme, Brandon is the Sniper, his collaborator Zero (Ryan Robbins) skilled in setting up situations. Their boss in several films is played by Dennis Hayesbert. Introduced in one episode is Lady Death, a Japanese assassin who continued in other films – this time, her being captured and the need for her rescue as well as an origin story of her becoming an assassin, the sinister presence of her father.

A lot of action, a high body count, the value of the settings in Malta. But, instead of the straight out serious tone, there is the atmosphere of a buddy movie, and often a tongue-in-cheek attitude towards the characters and events, some sardonic humour.

1. The continued popularity of the Sniper franchise, 30 years.
2. Audience knowledge of the central characters, their history, the previous films, their characters, action, capabilities? The situation of the capture of and the need for rescue?
3. The introduction to Brandon and Zero, their characters, humour, their work together, Sniper, setting up situations? Humour? Gabriel Stone as their boss, summoning them, the situation?
4. Malta, the visualising of the cult, Bubalo as the leader of the cult, his style, the crowds worshipping him, in green, sitting in assembly, his meal, the failure of mission and the death at the table? The group and their personalities, tasks, as explained by Gabriel Stone?
5. The settings in Malta, landscapes, cities, the sea? The compound?
6. The mission, Zero and his infiltration, disguise, not speaking the language, repeating phrases, persuading the members of the group to go to the roof? Brandon, Sniper, the set-ups, the various shops, Bubalo and his emerging, satisfaction, his death, everybody rushing away?
7. The confrontation with the doctor, and her explanation that he saved her? His helping with the escape, hiding, Lady Death and her being shot, his tending her wounds?
8. The suspicious behaviour of the doctor, Zero following him, the discovery of the truth, confrontation? The doctor and his contacts with Prince Caspian, the meetings, the deals, Communications?
9. The background of Prince Caspian, the story of Lady Death, her adoption, the kindly father, the gangster, his training her to be an assassin, her success, her breaking away, his wanting her back, the deals?
10. The tracking, the hired assassin, the group’s attacks on him, his being wounded? Waiting for him to arrive, the realisation of the tracking device, opening up her wounds and retrieving it, the new set up, into the trap?
11. Prince Caspian, his contacts, coming to the compound? Zero, his contacts and getting information, connecting to computers, Intelligence Pete’s personality, Gabriel Stone seconding him, the flight, arriving, using the computer for infiltration and surveillance? Zero and Brandon, the confrontation between Prince Caspian and his daughter? The irony of Intelligence Pete bringing him down? Survivng and brought to trial?
12. Mission accomplished, audiences enjoying all the action sequences, the large body count…? The sense of humour in the screenplay, sometimes sardonic, a different tone to it straight action film?