An introduction is needed to welcome newcomers to the Sniper franchise and who Thomas Beckett (Tom Berenger) is. He is a Master Gunnery Sergeant and throughout the many films released since the 1993 original, he’s rising up the ranks. In Sniper: G.R.I.T., Global Response and Intelligence Team, he’s ready to join a new team to take on terrorists all over the world, and that also includes a religious zealot who kind of reminds me of a certain someone in a cartoon.
To be fair, I had to catch up to find out what has happened since the first film. After the one theatrical release, I didn’t realise there were many more direct to video releases. Thankfully to play catchup is easy; they are now available to stream online on platforms like Google Play, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.
Ten films later, it’s nice to see this franchise is still going strong. This series created by Michael Frost Beckner and Crash Leyland has their devout fans, and it’s outpacing Mission Impossible at this rate! What’s offered is lively popcorn grade entertainment. The latest takes a step back, since someone forgot to work some digital magic to give this work that cinematic look. What’s presented doesn’t have that filter to give it that dust. After rewatching the earlier movies, it seems the production team either could not rent the cameras they wanted to use or decided to use different equipment.
After all these years, he’s still got it. But ever since his team learned there’s a Yakuza assassin also on the prowl, they better look behind their backs every once in a while! That’s because if Yuki “Lady Death” Mifune becomes their rival, they’re in trouble! Unfortunately, according to past cast credits, the actress playing this character has changed. Replacing Luna Fujimoto is Sayaka Akimoto, and only long time fans will notice.
In this story, Beckett (Chad Michael Collins) and Zero (Ryan Robbins) are sent to Malta to rescue her. I couldn’t help but snicker at this turn of events. She botched a mission, and it’s now up to them to finish the job. Gabriel “The Colonel” Stone (Dennis Haysbert) is also back, and I think he’s like Flint, leading the newly formed Global Response and Intelligence Team to deal with terrorist threats! If this concept doesn’t sound familiar to anyone, then they haven’t watched G.I. Joe in any of its forms.
Technically, this group operates under the I.M.F. rules, and that’s okay. Also, some of the action is dialled down as production couldn’t pull off what made the earlier films explosive. Thankfully, Akimoto’s moments in the heat of battle makes up for what I thought was missing.
Sometimes, what fans of this genre need is something simpler to enjoy at home than on the big screen. The producers realise it, and perhaps that’s why they steered away from the Hollywood system, so this series can remain true to itself. Although I didn’t need to watch every past film, I’m glad I at least revisited the original film and Assassin’s End since that’s when Lady Death entered the picture. When Billy Zane is part of this calvary, I’ll watch anything he appears in! (Unfortunately, he’s not in this entry.)
I’m open to the idea of turning this franchise into the aforementioned cartoon. It’d give the group a sense of what to fight for. Yo G.R.I.T.? While that doesn’t resonate as famously as the G.I. Joe’s war cry, that’s where I believe this series is headed.
3 Stars out of 5
Sniper: G.R.I.T., Global Response and Intelligence Team Trailer
