Customer Reviews

Shoot to Kill

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

A man holds a diamond merchants wife hostage for diamonds. When the FBI finds out they send Sidney Poitier to negotiate for the release. Things go very wrong and the merchants wife and maid are killed. The killer tries to escape to Canada by killing a fisherman headed for a guided tour in the mountains of Vancouver, British Columbia. Poitier enlists the service of Tom Berenger to track the murderer who has now taken his girlfriend hostage. Thrilling and funny this movie is one of the best I have seen. Poitier and Berenger are great as bickering old FBI city smart agent and young headstrong mountain guide. If you like either of these actors you will probably love this movie. Any fans of Poitier will love this movie. Far more exciting than "In the Heat of the Night". If you enjoyed the remake of "The Jackal" with Sidney you will love it. Those Berneger fans should love it as well. Not as gory as "Platoon" or "Sniper" it still has some scenes that will have some closing their eyes.

Many people I ask have not seen this movie, and I recommend it to them. The movie takes place mainly in Washington state. It has beautiful scenery especially near Pugent Sound. The musical score is well done, and the acting is superb. Sidney Poitier as the aging FBI agent from the city and Tom Berenger as the young rugged outdoorsmen work great together with there constant bickering. Their mutual appreciation for one another slowly grows until they admire one another. Sidney saves Tom from a bear in a way that will have you laughing. Tom saves Sidney from the cold in a way that will have you wondering about what he means about mountain men with a chuckle. Good direction from Roger Spottiswoode. Sidney was 61 at the time this was filmed and he turns in one of his better performances. Kirstie Alley as Tom's girlfriend does a great job as a kidnapped guide. The whole movie keeps you guessing for some time as to the bad guys identity. Nice performances by the guided group. Many recognizable faces that have played bad guys, now all but one are just average guys. This is by far one of my favorite Action/Adventure/Mystery movies that I watch at least twice a year. Even my wife, who doesn't normally like this type movie, finds this one entertaining. Mostly because of the comradery that develops between Poitier and Berenger. I can't wait till this comes out on DVD. I have pre-ordered it and November 11th, 2003 can't get here soon enough. Now that Touchstone postponed the release I have re-ordered it ... .

This is a GREAT movie. I hate gory movies - this wasn't gory. The first time I saw "Shoot to Kill" I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. For the first part of the movie you don't even see the killer's face, so when you finally DO see him in a group of other men, you don't know which one's the bad guy. And just when I thought I had it figured out -- bam! -- it turned out to be someone else! Even after knowing which guy is the bad guy, you can't sit back and relax... it's still so suspenseful as to what's going to happen next, both when the killer is in the scene as well as when the scene revolves around Sidney Poitier and Tom Berenger. The location of the film is beautiful, too. I can't say enough good things about this movie -- it's simply terrific, and if you haven't seen it -- you should!! I was so disappointed that the DVD wasn't released when planned, because we'd been waiting a long time... I'm happy that we finally got it on DVD!

For movie fans of my generation, Sidney Poitier was simply Virgil Tibbs from In the Heat of the Night. My parents watched that one over and over. I didn't appreciate that one until later, but Shoot to Kill was my first experience watching Poitier in action. I love the outdoors, and watching this film is always refreshing. The scenery is breathtaking and despite the action, the background carries much of the films weight. The whodunnit aspect is done very well and the supporting cast does a remarkable job holding their own against Poitier. This is one of the 80's best and most overlooked. Looking forward to November 11th.

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.

I absolutely adore this movie! I have been waiting forever for it to come out, then got notified that it was, then it wasnt. What's happening? This is a cast of greats who were very well cast. The movie is suspenseful, has breathtaking scenery, great acting....but.....it's worth seeing the film just for the bear scene and the moose scene! (won't spoil it anymore than that!) Now PLEASE bring out the DVD so we can purchase it!

This film did not a received a lot of exposure at the time of its release, but it clearly shows what good acting can do. Sidney Poitier did many of the stunts himself and this was when he was in his 60's. Tom Berenger was also excellent in his roll and the two characters played well off of one another. I already own it on laser disc and can't wait to own it on DVD. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good action thriller. It does not disappoint.

This entertaining and engaging action-adventure will have you on the edge of your seat. If you loved Cliffhanger and The River Wild, you will love this. I don't care how you see it, just see it. You won't be sorry. While you're at it, check out Sneakers, Little Nikita, and The Jackal. Sidney Poitier gives just as good a performance in these.

With the title Shoot to Kill -- I was waiting for Jonathan Knox to pull out his rifle [like in Sniper] but ah well.

FBI agent Warren Stantin [Poitier] had the obnoxious attitude that went with twenty years on the force, believing he could keep up and survive in the wilderness with Knox.

The lead up to our villian's disappearence into the wilderness was quite excellent. His evasion tactics were unpredictable. [I didn't see it coming].

I could see Sarah becoming his hostage and she did a good job of trekking through the mountain byways to a highway.
Still had to hold my breath for her safety.

Climbing the rock walls and living through the blizzard added a depth to the bonding of these two men. So different from each other in their outlooks on life, yet they were there for each other. Stantin on a horse? Oh, Oh!

Them poor ole fishermen, their outcome was inevitable - the finding of them a bit eiry?

I had to chuckle at the method of making Mr. Snobby talk - and switching boats? Yep! I was with them on that [almost].

Well, once again, Knox saves Stantin - Yep! thoroughly enjoyable - beautiful wilderness scenes - good action - well paced story - not a classic but worht seeing [adults]

I will admit that I am a very independent chooser of movies - I go with what I like and not on the advice of others.
This would not be for everyone - but is entertainment.