The Marksman (2005 Video) User Reviews

It's just a terribly acted movie.

[qriz976 · 3/10 · 8 September 2005]

OK, I don't hate Snipes or action movies... But this movie is really just crap. The counter players of Snipes (especially his teammates) should be special forces of some kind, but they act as if they just got off college and don't have a clue what they should be doing (even the captain). Snipes seems to be the only capable man and that's just not enough to make a good movie. The only thing that should be good in a movie, acting by professional actors, just is NOT.

So that's why I hated this movie, it's just too lame. Maybe they didn't invest enough time in EVERYTHING.

I don't really want to make more lines dirty and invest more time in reviewing this movie, but I have to because of the possibility of actually posting this. So if you want a good movie, go watch Fight Club or the James Bond series or something like the new Batman Begins. But leave this movie alone. It would be a waste of your time if you are a critical movie watcher. (maybe you just have to be stoned or drunk with some mates to enjoy this movie, or you just have to love terrible movies)

Eastern Europe Tripe

[keith-73 · 3/10 · 1 December 2005]

I've seen some bad Wesley Snipes movies (and this is one of them) but I've rarely seen a bad Wesley Snipes performance. His acting style is much better than the junk here, but if he continues to make these loser films, he will indeed lose his "Teflon" status. THE MARKSMAN is a horrible example of BAD MOVIE-- shot in the economically depressed "eastern Europe" where the local governments offer "creative incentives" for film companies to come there and blow things up, this movie reeks of "been there, done that".

Trying to make a Jerry Bruckheimer action film on a low budget is just plain painful to watch. The costumes looked cheesy and the action scenes contrived. There's one scene where Painter (Snipes) is wearing a camouflage cap so big, it bends his ears out and makes him look like an elf. Later, the hat is so small it looks like a party favor perched three inches up his bald skull.

EVERYTHING about this story is contrived. ONLY THE BOX ART is good looking, the rest is slam bang crash boom from the eighties repackaged as entertainment. YOU'VE SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE-- just say "no!"

Bearable to watch... as long as you don't expect great things.

[Maarten1985 · 4/10 · 23 February 2006]

Before buying DVD's I usually check out the ratings and comments here on this website. But for some reason I was feeling very bold one day and I decided to buy some DVD's. On was Lèon, the other being The Marksman.

When I got home I decided to take a peek at the ratings for The Marksman. I sure can tell you that I've never felt as cheated like that before.

After more than a week I decided to give the movie a try today. I didn't expect much of it, based on these comments. And indeed, it wasn't anything special.

It basically comes down to this: it's a mild-entertaining ("OK") military action flick that was designed for, and should remain on, the television. It's the kind of movie you'd see when you're bored to death and you just want to do or see something to past time. You'll learn to appreciate it to some degree, not like it, as long as you don't expect anything fancy on plot development, character development, special effects or even acting abilities.

I also really don't think the movie would be better or worse without Wesley Snipes in it. His character is as hollow and predictable making it an easy character for a rookie actor to play. I believe having Snipes in the movie is just a publicity stint to get some copies of VHS and DVD sold to people who like seeing Snipes and would buy this movie to see Snipes.

*** Possible Spoiler ALert *** There are however certain issues that are not only very vague, but also reticules and far fetched.

To name a few: we learn that Snipes' character had a romantic relationship with a women positioned in the US Government. Not only is she white (which in most cases isn't a problem) and nearly 10-20 years older than himself. She is also not even close to being his type.

The ending of the movie was very strange to say the least. The rocket explodes on the secondary target and all the resistance is gone. Even Flintov's second of command seems to have vanished. He did swore to stop the Americans.

*** End Of Spoiler Alert *** Anyway, like I said: it's an OK movie as long as you don't go into details. But I share the opinion that this movie could have done better and that Wesley Snipes should be careful which movies he picks to star in if he still wants to have a good career.

The Marksman misses the mark

[krywolff · 1/10 · 27 September 2005]

I choose The Marksman while renting at the video store because I wanted a DVD that would be entertaining to watch and not a big risk. I figured that if Snipes signed onto the movie it couldn't be that bad. I wasn't expecting a great story, but at least some good action with the occasional action movie cliché.

I think this movie must have been made as a practical joke to Wesley Snipes. They probably showed it at his birthday party. Every member of the cast overacted every scene. It was like every speaking character had their own monologue.

The special effects were comical. During a jet fight scene they show an explosion that is supposed to be one of the jets blowing up. A few seconds later when another jet supposedly explodes, it appears to be the same explosion optically reversed, right down to the last piece of debris flying through the air.

I would expect a movie to be this bad that didn't have a famous actor in the lead. But I never thought a movie with Wesley Snipes could be of this poor quality. He needs to have his head examined.

Don't waste your time!

[cinched · 1/10 · 10 September 2005]

Being a Snipes fan, I thought this might be worth the money to rent. DON'T BOTHER!! The plot was trite, the acting worse than a middle school drama production and the action unconvincing. I mean, come ON! Army RANGERS that look frightened?! Costume coordinator should have been fired before they began....military costumes ALWAYS include headgear of some kind, especially in a combat situation. The dialogue, what there is of it, was written by an elementary school child that's trying to imitate tough guy conversation from his GI Joe cartoons. With little success! The cartoons are a better viewing experience and they are FREE!! This one should pay the audience! BAD, BAD movie! This one rates an F grade!

Total Garbage

[uzibeatle · 1/10 · 15 September 2005]

The first 10 minutes of this movie says enough it is a cobbled up poorly directed pile of reeking crap. THe story is horribly obvious from the outset to boot. Tired and trite standard themes that have been done before and with far more style.

I must say after this viewing I can say any time one sees Wesley Snipes listing in a movie it is a fairly safe bet that the movie is not worth watching. Pity Wesley seems to be associated with people who can't make a movie worth watching.

Save your time and don't bother. I'd say it isn't even worth a rental when time comes. Waste of bandwidth.

Yes, it really is that bad....

[gradyharp · 1/10 · 25 October 2005]

Sad to see films like this mess get the backing of the studios when little films of far greater significance and value lie in languor. This story (bad guys in a foreign country get close to atomic capabilities that would threaten the world until one turnaround soldier man saves the day and the globe) has been told so many times that the audience can sing along. The use of a lot of night shooting is obviously well considered as there isn't much to see anyway.

What happened to the Wesley Snipes who used to make really interesting films? Obviously the producers felt his star power could drive this dud as the remainder of the cast is unknown (though many seem to be really fine actors without the benefit of a script).

Thought about not wasting time reviewing this film, but then on the other hand, if enough people speak out about the bad movies that just keep coming down the pike, perhaps the studios and theaters will begin to pay attention. Grady Harp

Sucks!

[dave-j-maloney · 1/10 · 5 December 2005]

Cruising the video store and picked up as a fan of Snipes. Didn't realize he had been involved in such a stinker. Terrible, terrible, terrible. Confusing initial attempt to set stage for world wide danger, continuity staff (if any used) were asleep at the switch. Army Ranger in tower would shoot out window with AK-47 and then the inside shot when he ducks from bullets had him holding a HK. One of the scientists when alive was a woman with long blond hair, all dead ones were men. Avoid at all costs!

Even Snipes action scenes were not up to his usual standard. His 'stealthiness' in kicking the Rangers' butts during the training mission consisted of him running through the woods at night and they just couldn't see him. Then later he outruns a jeep with a guy firing a mounted machine gun at him. Stinko!

Not so Bad

[ejviana · 7/10 · 2 October 2005]

If you're a gamer, especially a Tom Clancy video game fan, this movie is for you. You cannot help but to think of the Tom Clancy Games Such as Ghost Recon, Ranbow Six Three and Splinter Cell. The plot of this movie is about a Ukranian Madman attempting to obtain nuclear weapons in order to restore the former Soviet Union and after the Russian Government has failed to do anything about it, it's up to the American special forces to rescue American hostages and restore peace and safety, and only one man, the Painter, can do the job... It is as if it was written with these games in mind. The plot, the characters are all from these games.

About snipes, It seems lately that Snipes is trying to capture the younger viewers to maintain his career. out of the straight to video movies he's done, the only one that I found interesting was Liberty Stands Still.

Overall, the marksman is a good busy around the house and watch movie.

The Marksman misfires.

[argentobuff · 1/10 · 12 September 2005]

The Marksman sounded good.But the results are less-than great.It concerns Wesley Snipes in the title role who "paints"(marks)enemy targets so they can be destroyed by air strikes.On one such mission involving a foreign Nucler plant that goes awry.Can Wesley save the Day?The better question is why Seagal is not in this?

What we get is a routine actioner full of so many clichés that it could fill 100 DTV action films.Aside from a couple of scenes,and a genuine twist near the middle;It is totally boring 98 percent of the time.Devoid of any real good build-up or action sequences whatsoever. The movie also reeks of stock movie footage that has been culled from better movies.Even what looks to be Snipes 1994 actioner Drop Zone.Did I also mention NO martial arts throw-downs?

Acting-wise Snipes looks totally uninterested or Bored.He barely speaks and shows zero Charisma that made him a star.Dynasty alum Emma Samms pops up as an Ex-lover/suit.She still looks pretty good,and could get a pilot on Upn instead of wasting her time with this dreck. Many other characters are introduced,poorly written,or disappear altogether that interest is hard to sustain.

I am sure Snipes just took a check.And there is nothing wrong about that.But he should get out now to save his actors cred instead of wasting his time in this DTV wasteland.

not bad for snipes

[james-hart9443 · 8/10 · 21 January 2006]

bought this movie by chance had never heard of it before made a good choice for a change. thought the marksman was good movie usual snipes stuff good shoot em up not a bad plot, although some of the action scenes could have been better. usual Russia versus America thing with as usual the American coming out on top. This film was not like the usual films where the guy gets the girl which made a difference it seemed to be all action from start to finish. Although I had not heard of most of the cast this film to me seemed to be strong and powerful. this film is one that I could let my kids watch as there wasn't that much strong language for a change.

Fun movie

[x_Drizzt_x · 7/10 · 4 September 2005]

The movie had all the requirements to be an entertaining special ops/army movie. Decent plot, nefarious Russian villain, lots of guns, and copious amounts of explosions. The movie had a small twist that, fortunately, didn't detract from the action but heightened your sense of not knowing what you should believe. Wesley Snipes plays the Painter; a highly trained master of stealth with a spotted background exuding a subtle hope of redemption from the following mission. Not that much training is required for this mission, however, as all the Russians graduated from the same marksmanship school that the imperial stormtroopers emerged from. I enjoyed it, it reminded me of Mission Impossible if it had been directed by Ted Kotcheff.

Not worth it.

[markserges · 1/10 · 13 September 2005]

I didn't know Wesley Snipes run out of money. Couldn't figure out any other reason for participating in this movie.

Ridiculous story of a nuclear threat with enmeshment of Kremlin and some Special Forces. Couple of mistakes during the movie cause an additional loss of acceptance: after dropping the parachutists the plane flies a curve...for every radar control clearly to understand that the package is delivered; the way the special forces moves in the tunnels; giving signal to the rescue chopper by bale fire, while Wesley Snipes is equipped with neat fancy equipment;....

Poor plot. Poor dialogs.

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Superfluous

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Save your time and money and pick another one.

One of the worst Snipes movies ever!!!!! (spoilers??)

[spacejuicer · 1/10 · 13 September 2005]

Wesley must be desperate for money to make a movie of this quality. The action is predictable, storyline laughable, and the acting terrible. There should have been a military technical adviser on the set. Every scene having to do with the military was a joke. For example: No military member would or could carry a backpack with leather straps. You cannot call a cell phone from a military radio.

Needless to say there are many plot holes and just bad acting throughout the film.

The movie was about Snipes being setup, we as an audience were really setup. Don't waste your money renting the DVD.

Not worth it... Watch FUGITIVE HUNTER for a better DVD flick!

[crazyjanie · 2/10 · 24 October 2005]

Now I like direct to video Action. I like the cheesy lines... thousands of bad guys... but this movie was horrible. My eyes teared I was so bored watching this. My dog cried out in pain.

The plot was weak and the acting was down right terrible. I'm giving it a 2 because I giggled at some of the scenes (I'm sure I wasn't supposed to though) and it had sort of cool fight scene.

All in all don't waist your money. I bought this in a double feature package on Amazon. The other direct to DVD movie... FUGITIVE HUNTER. Now Fugitive Hunter was made cheap you can tell but it grabbed my attention and kept it. Way better flick. Compared to The Marksman I would give FUGITIVE HUNTER a 10! The movie probably that good but hey compared to this Snipes disaster anything would do.

Save your hard earned money.

This is unwatchable garbage. It's as bad as some of Seagal's STD duds

[callanvass · 1/10 · 30 October 2013]

Wesley Snipes has had tax issues for years, so he's gone down the route of Steven Seagal, Dolph Lundgren, Jean Claude Van Damme, among others. That doesn't excuse how abominably bad this movie is. It's just over 90 minutes long, and it feels like well over two hours with how excruciatingly laborious it is. It has stock footage from the movie Navy Seals, Iron Eagle, among other things, and no action to speak of, aside from extremely boring shootouts. I don't know how much this cost to make, but it's really cheap looking, and filmed in Romania. I feel so bad for Wesley Snipes, because he is such a talented action star. He is very adept at martial arts, and is quite charismatic. He has barely any lines here, and phones it in. I don't blame him one bit. He's clearly trying to make some quick cash, but he looks bored to tears. He even appears dubbed on a couple occasions. They try to give him this mysterious character, and it fails miserably. He does no fighting here, so even die hard Snipes fans will be disenchanted. I admittedly lost focus on a number of occasions here. It really is that boring. It has many scenes, filled with uninteresting & poor dialog, which seem to go on forever. It's too boring to be so bad it's good, the action is mostly gunfire. Snipes had barely any dialog. It fails on every level. If you wanna see Snipes at his best, check out Demolition Man, or a Blade movie. This movie belongs in bargain bins, and it'll make you weep about how Snipes has succumbed his standards to this drivel

DUD

Another warm moist turd

[brett-76260 · 2/10 · 17 January 2021]

This movie has so many issues I don't even know where to start. Well let's not start and just go ahead and flush this turd down the toilet. So so bad. Cmon Snipes you have made some awesome flicks over the years so my only question is why??? You know this was bad when u were filming it😂😂😂

Boring army tedium....leave it on the shelf

[The_Void · 3/10 · 11 December 2005]

Not got a lot to say about this film, as it isn't really worth spending any time on - and I've already wasted ninety odd minutes. OK, so I only have myself to blame - it's straight to video, it's about the army and it's a vehicle for an actor that is cool now and again, but is probably only in the film for a quick buck. Still...I expected to at least be entertained; yet despite one action packed, explosion fuelled scene halfway through aside - there's an almost complete lack of entertaining elements here. The film is mostly made up of macho military boredom - and even it's star looks like he'd rather be somewhere else. Watching Apocalypse Now, for example. Wesley Snipes wasn't the only one who'd rather have been somewhere else either - I too looked rather bored, and managed to find more interesting things going on outside the window than on the television set. The plot is overly simple - yet you would think that it's overly complicated due to the terrible storytelling. Basically, it's got something to do with a bunch of hostages - yet they cant just bomb it, so to cut a long story short - Snipes has to bomb his way in an attempt to save the day. There's lots of tanks driving through walls, things been blown up, aeroplanes flying around and guns going off...but I really couldn't care. If you like army stuff and seeing Wesley Snipes being bored, you might like this; but if you have to pay to see it, you shouldn't bother.

Decent

[mooreillymike · 7/10 · 7 June 2010]

If you're into the whole military movie genre you'll like this movie, even with the occasional crappy actor or plot fall. People try to compare to modern day movies like Avatar, and if that's what you plan to do, you will also dislike this movie.

In all reality it's a great movie, though it is a little out dated and not the most well planned movie, it's enjoyable. But this is coming from someone who loves military movies like Saving Private Ryan and stuff like that.

I guess it just depends on what kind of movies you enjoy to determine if you'll like this movie.

A Plausible Story Fowled up by Poor Attention to Reality

[Doramius1 · 4/10 · 14 November 2005]

Like others have commented, I too thought the movie had a poor go-about. However, I gave it a better rating. I don't believe the movie is THAT poor. The plot was feasible, and the storyline could be followed, but there were way too many mistakes made from props to costuming. This is probably a reason why I only saw it as a release to video and never in a theater.

I don't think Snipes is a bad actor, though I feel he's not pushing forth to his full potential. He's no spring chicken, though. His movie career seems to have shown up much later than others, and for a man reaching the age of 50, he needs to adjust his style of action roles. I still think he can be cast a great lead in an action flick, but he's got to look the part and make the audience believe it. (on a side note, he's gotta read the script ahead of time and make sure the props & costumes fit the role more realistically)

Best movie ever!

[myles_wackrow · 10/10 · 19 March 2007]

Oh my gosh! this movie rules see it! watch it in slow motion , rewind and all speeds of fast forward it is that good.I just love the way it uses great actors to portray its realistic, original story.

(takes envelope of cash from movie studio)

Watch it! Watch it!if you like any kind of movies watch it.Best movie ever.I love the cool explosions and when Wesley Snipes fights the man with the bread knife classic...

Hoping for a sequel could be called something cool like Marksman 2 or Marksman vengeance or Marksman 'X'treme i would pay double for that 'X' could wesley pull off amovie as good as this i think he has the talent deserves an Oscar and a star on the Hollywood walk of fame unless he alredy has one.

Snipes Is Back!....With another DTV vehicle.

[tarbosh22000 · 6/10 · 5 September 2005]

"The Marksman" is Snipes 4th DTV Movie. It feels like they rushed this film out because "7 Seconds" came out 2 1\2 months ago.

Besides that, "The Marksman" is an enjoyable film. There are some slow moments but there's a sufficient amount of action.

Snipes plays Painter, a soldier who is part of a strike force team for the government. When the Russians start planning to take over a nuclear reactor, his team tries to foil it. But it turns out to be a set-up, and now Painter is only one who can save the day.

If you like Snipes, Russian stereotypes, and no character development whatsoever, you'll love this.

For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

Russians of the Old School

[skallisjr · 5/10 · 13 September 2005]

This is competent, which is okay. But "okay" isn't brilliant. The Smipes character is a tad like a Seagal character, that is, someone mildly contemptuous of those not as good as he is. For instance, when he was part of a group sent on a mission, one of the soldiers asked his name, and he refused to give it. Even if he didn't want to give his real name, he could have at least said something like, "You can call me Joe." The basic story is about some dire doings in Chechnia, and a secret request for cooperative, if covert, help by a crack US military team. As the film progresses, we see the various actions on the front lines, and the behind-the-scenes maneuvering by higher-ups on both sides.

As the story grinds on, we find out that "things are not as they seem," which is standard in many such films. What first seems like a simple plot by terrorists turns out to be something else.

Spoilers: In one sequence, we find out that some "hostages" are double agents. This is because a rouge element in a government is setting the real agenda. But given that, the double agents seem very trusting.

There are only a couple of twists in the film, but there are no real surprises. The film is almost formulaic.

It entertains, but that's all.

More forgettable action fare.

[poolandrews · 3/10 · 30 December 2009]

The Marksman starts as a high level Government meeting is held in Washington DC, some bloke named John (William Hope) & his assistant Amanda (Emma Samms) tell the top brass about Russian bad guy General Egor Zaysan (Dan Badarau) who has recruited a load of Chechen rebels to seize control of a nuclear power planet. It's claimed Zaysan plans to re-core one of the reactors to create a huge nuclear bomb & that cannot be allowed to happened, the US must act & with several American scientists held as hostages there is only one man for the job, marine Painter (Wesley Snipes) who has to planet a homing device on the uncored nuclear reactor to set up a precise missile strike. Can he do it? The fate of tens of thousands of lives rests in his hands but just as Painter thinks the job is done he discovers that he & his team were betrayed & set-up & it's up to him to put things right...

Directed by Marcus Adams this is yet another straight-to-video action film from Sony Pictures shot in Eastern Europe featuring a one time Hollywood action star, in this particular case it's Wesley Snipes. Everything about The Marksman is slow & lethargic, I must admit that it's not the worst low budget action film out there but it largely forgettable. The plot about some mad Russian General wanting to use a nuclear power plant as a huge bomb is something more suited to a Bond film & is a half way decent plot but as I said it's all so slow & forgettable, there are numerous bits where people in suits talk shadowy conspiracies that don't really go anywhere & have little dramatic impact because of the way these revelations & supposed twists are just dropped into the film with nothing to back them up. The whole idea of the elaborate set-up & the reasons behind it are reasonably good & quite ambitious for a film such as this but the script doesn't handle things properly with major revelations just tossed in there with no regard to dramatic impact & the low budget doesn't help either. The character's are all walking clichés, there's the hard nosed but fair Captain, the one man army, the one who has all the one-liners & swears a lot & when the chips are down a heroic one. Snipes character puzzles me, sure he has a troubled past & all that but he barely has any dialogue at all in this, in fact I doubt he has more than five or six lines throughout the entire thing & comes across as pretty uninterested in the whole affair. Also the first fifty or so minutes of The marksman are really slow going, virtually nothing happens apart from US soldiers wandering around at night & it's not until the end when the action kicks in by which time I am sure many will have switched off.

The only thing anyone really needs to know is how good is the action? Well it's not brilliant but it's alright, there's a tank which drives through a wall & little else, there are a few explosions, there's a shoot-out or two & surprisingly there's little or no fist fights which considering Snipes background seems odd & a bit of a waste. Like a lot of these films The Marksman cannabises footage from it's peers, scenes from Top Gun (1986), Iron Eagle (1986), Navy Seals (1990) & Active Stealth (1999) are all edited into this & I think it's about the third or fourth time I have seen that parachute jump sequence from Navy Seals turn up in another film.

Shot in Bucharest in Romania the film has a grey look to it, there's very little colour & I suppose it's meant to invoke the bleak cloudy weather of Eastern Europe or at least people perception of it. The acting is OK for this type of thing but Snipes seems to sleepwalk his way through this & as already mentioned barely has any dialogue.

The Marksman isn't the worst straight-to-video shot in Eastern Europe action film out there but it's not the best either & has little to recommend it despite a slight better & more complex plot than usual, it's hard to recommend this even as something to watch for free on telly.

"Mark" this movie off the list of things to watch!

[Batkid1 · 2/10 · 31 August 2007]

It's not the worst movie ever made, but it's pretty bland, boring and bad at the same time. If the movie has all three sets of "B" words, it is therefore a "B-Movie." But this B-movie won't interest anyone, not even little kids ( unless they've never seen a violent action movie before and, in that case, they're better off with "G.I. Joe" cartoons since this movie will most likely bore them and isn't appropriate for anyone under 15 years of age).

Wesley Snipes isn't in the movie that much and, while being an accurate sniper, is hardly seen killing people and looks bored with this lame film. The other actors don't even have any character development and, for Delta Force soldiers, they aren't very "Delta-like."

The rest of the movie plays out like a live-action cartoon and the villains should've had a trademark villain laugh if they wanted to make it this crappy.

SPOILER: It was such a letdown to have a lazy death scene for the main evil lead. They just recalculate the launc or something like that and have the missile come and hit him in his own cabinet. It's not even as funny as it sounds, it's just a letdown.