Shoot to Kill
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Canada
Movie Reviews of Shoot to Kill
Movie Review: Exellent chase movie....
Summary: 4 Stars
Shoot to Kill is one of Sidney Poitier's more interesting movies during the last part of his career. In this movie, he played an aging, city-grown FBI agent on a trail of a wicked murderer and kidnapper played by Claney Brown who flee into the deep wilderness with his victim. Aiding him is a mountain man played by Tom Berenger who have a special interest in this case since the latest kidnapped victim happened to be his girlfriend played by Kristie Alley.
The movie proves to be highly entertaining, well acted and well scripted. Interestingly, Poitier and Berenger played off each other pretty well as mutual respect grows between them as they chased after Brown and Alley. Brown proves to be quite good and I have to admit that Alley wasn't too bad either.
The movie maintained a good even pace and keep the audience wondering about the possible outcome. There are several interesting and funny scenes as describes previously by another reviewer. The movie take a perception of a "fish out of the water" concept. I have to admit that Sideny Poitier is NOT someone I would thought would be in a movie about being in wilderness. Poiter portrayed his wilderness unease quite well. Overall, I hate to think that this movie might be considered to be "overlook" by Sidney Poitier fans. Berenger gave one of his better performances in a "non-historical" role (he's quite good in playing Longstreet and Theodore Reoosevelt in these TNT shows).
The DVD of this movie is your basic stripped down verison. There's no extras to speak off althought the wide-screen 16:9 image proves to be pretty good and sounds were clear and easy to listen. Bit disappointing that it was given such a cheap treatment.
Overall, a highly entertaining movie that can endured repeated viewings by most fans of Poitier or Berenger. Its a movie that deserves to be seen.
Movie Review: Good Escapist Adventure
Summary: 4 Stars
It wasn't until my fourth viewing of this film (and first on widescreen DVD) that (1) I finally remembered who the killer was as soon as I saw him and (2) lost a little regard for this otherwise very entertaining thriller because of the implausible ending. That said, the fact I watched this movie four times over a 12-year span tells you how good it is (especially if you forget who the killer is!)
It's a different kind of adventure story/crime thriller in that the beginning and ending scenes are both in big cities and the long middle part is in the Northwest wilderness. There is some great mountain scenery to enjoy as we tag along with two groups: one which has the killer and his hostage (a slim Kirstie Alley!) and another with an FBI man (Sidney Poitier) and his guide (Tom Berenger), who is the hostage's boyfriend.
****spoilers**** had no problems with any of this story until the last 20 minutes when both parties reached Vancouver. Then, all credibility went out the window as Berenger is allowed to be side-by-side with Poitier as the latter and the killer shoot it out in various parts of the city. It gets worse as it goes on with Poitier a dead duck a couple of times but he never dies. Only Superman could have survived what he did, but he's the "good guy " so he makes it in the end. A little restraint in that ending would have kept this movie just great.
Still, the story offers a lot of suspense, a lot of mystery, interesting action and scenery.....in other words, a lot to like. If you have not seen this, this DVD is highly-recommended.
Movie Review: RIVETING ACTION ADVENTURE IN THE WILDERNESS
Summary: 4 Stars
A rare action movie that manages to rise above its formula, Shoot to Kill delivers mystery, exciting action, and beautiful cinematography.Tom Berenger has done many action/thriller movies, but Sidney Poitier steps out for a change of pace in this movie. Its formula is "double-fish-out-of-water buddy picture", and it stays pretty close to the formula throughout the movie.
Poitier plays an FBI agent who blew an arrest and wound up with a dead civilian, and has tracked the (unseen) thief/killer into the Pacific Northwest. Berenger plays a tracker, whose girlfriend runs a trail guide business. The girlfriend (Kirstie Alley in an outdoor role!) has taken her latest group of travelers out into the woods, and Poitier believes that the killer is among them. If that's not bad enough, a deadly storm looks like it's coming on.
The real fun in this movie is in the first half, where you see all of the men in Kirstie Alley's group. All of them are recognizable character actors, and most of them have played villains in other movies before. So which one of them is the killer? I guessed wrong the first time.
Unfortunately, this gets revealed about halfway through, and the movie returns to the formula. However, the excellent performances and lush cinematography elevate it beyond the norm. I thought Poitier did a great job as the city-based FBI agent, and Alley was surprisingly good as the trail guide.
Definitely worth a watch. Or two.
Movie Review: Excellent action film but you must accept conventions
Summary: 4 Stars
It is a pleasure to watch. Lots of suspense and very well filmed action scenes. Acting is first rate by the four main characters (the bad guy included, of course).
All good things said by other reviewers apply.
However, I cannot rate it 5 stars due to a couple of implausibilities, one of them a fatal flaw to the verisimilitude of the plot.
Other reviewers have pointed out, for instance, that once back in the city Berenger, a civilian, could not have been allowed to participate in the chase against an armed murderer, and even Poitier would not be allowed to go around with a gun in Canada. These are valid objections, but in my view there is a much more serious criticism.
*Spoilers*
The bad guy is a cold blooded murderer, who only keeps Alley alive because he needs her to lead him out of the woods. Then, why --apart from the Hollywood requirement that the good and brave girl must survive-- once he reaches Vancouver, he doesn't get rid of her? And how does the killer keep a very reluctant hostage on check in plain site, while he is moving back and forth in the streets with her at his side? No one notices that she is not happy to go along?
Movie Review: Fine escapism with excellent performances to boot!
Summary: 4 Stars
Poitier may have been in his 60's when he made this one but his physical prowess was equal to those much younger. In one of his few stabs at "action" drama, he is believably good as a city-dwelling FBI agent that is thrust into a wilderness trek in pursuit of a killer. Berenger also fares well as Poitier's antithesis, a rugged outdoorsman that assists the agent in his quest. Kirstie Alley is also on hand as the unknown-to-her "damsel in distress".However, it's Clancy Brown that is fittingly creepy as one of the members of the hunting party led by Alley. His deep and resonant voice sends shudders up one's spine. It's no wonder that he is one of the most sought after voiceover talents around (supplying the voice for Lex Luthor on the most recent Superman/Justice League incarnations, just to name one).
The scenery is stunning and the action is first-rate in this overlooked thriller.