THE SHOOTER / HIDDEN ASSASSIN (Ted Kotcheff, 1995)

[Jox]

The Italian DVD is a rip of the US one (no forced subs but it's the shortened version with the new US title HIDDEN ASSASSIN).

[Coligion]

I finally got to see this the other night. I watched it off of the Miramax Action 6-Pack, which I had originally picked up for the best domestic release of Equilibrium. Overall, I thought it was just so-so. I enjoyed the cinematography and locations throughout the film, but was not too engaged with any of the story/characters.

[Jox]

It should have been a much better film, was supposed to give Dolph more depth and character to work with but it would have benefited less pedestrian script & plot and a more catchy direction from a rusty Kotcheff who tried to make a seventies-like thriller but that wasn't the trend in 1994-96...

[savagesketch]

I think it stands as one of Dolph's better acting efforts. The period of 94-95 was an interesting transitional period where he was trying new roles with experienced, good directors, and he was turning in some of his best performances, i.e. MEN OF WAR, HIDDEN ASSASSIN, SILENT TRIGGER...

[dolphage]

I think it stands as one of Dolph's better acting efforts. The period of 94-95 was an interesting transitional period where he was trying new roles with experienced, good directors, and he was turning in some of his best performances, i.e. MEN OF WAR, HIDDEN ASSASSIN, SILENT TRIGGER...

I agree. He had a different approach and vulnerability in a lot of those movie. Now, he's back to his classic "action star" acting, but he's better at it than ever! Because he can draw on those years of "dramatic" training/acting when the moment calls for it.

[Nikolai Cherenco]

I think it stands as one of Dolph's better acting efforts. The period of 94-95 was an interesting transitional period where he was trying new roles with experienced, good directors, and he was turning in some of his best performances, i.e. MEN OF WAR, HIDDEN ASSASSIN, SILENT TRIGGER...

sign

[Jox]

Spanish TV spot

[leigh1975]

I will never understand why films like Joshua Tree, Men Of War and Silent Trigger (actually, Silent trigger I kinda get, that's a hard theatrical sell) went straight to video, but The Shooter got a wide theatrical release in the UK. It's not exactly a blockbuster contender. And yes, I did see it on the big screen!

[Jox]

JOSHUA TREE, MEN OF WAR came out in theaters pretty much worldwide (except for the US, UK and Germany), THE SHOOTER came out in Europe (thanks to being a Euro co-production) except Germany, and SILENT TRIGGER only in Japan, Italy and smaller markets but by 1996 Dolph was really out of the limelight though it was totally a theatrical film (in how it was produced). In the U.S., MEN OF WAR was bought by Miramax from Sony to actually release it in theaters, it scored hight at test screenings but they ultimately changed their minds (not believing in Dolph's star power as a lead hero). As for JOSHUA TREE I'd assume it's similar reasons, riding on UNIVERSAL SOLDIER's success would have been an obvious choice, but then again the U.S. has always been Dolph's weakest market (also where the marketing was the worst so)... I got to see them all on the big screen in France except SILENT TRIGGER (DTV after 4 years of excruciating wait)!

[Mosquito]

Hah, maybe they have such a guilty conscience because that they left out Germany for so many releases, now we get the best and earliest DVD/BR releases.

[leigh1975]

What's the specs on this Italian edition? Short/long, widescreen, languages?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shooter-Attentato-Praga-Dolph-Lundgren/dp/B0041KX0C0/ref=sr_1_129?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1355166288&sr=1-129

[Jox]

It's the same as the U.S. edition (widescreen OAR 1.85, DD 2.0) but short version (89 mins instead of 104)

[Jox]

Taïwan laserdisc

[Jox]

Brazilian DVD cover
(uncut 104 mins version)

(click for high-res)

[Jox]

Ted Kotcheff is the subject of an documentary in the work called "The Apprenticeship of Ted Kotcheff"
http://theapprenticeshipoftedkotcheff.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DreamDestinationsMovie