Customer Reviews

Shoot to Kill

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

 

 

"Shoot to Kill" is a solid action adventure that stars Sidney Poitier who makes his return to the screen after a 10 year absence as a determined FBI detective on the trail of a killer who has murdered a hostage and a fisherman and makes for the Canadian border. No longer a young man, Poitier's Warren Stantin has all he can do to keep up with his trail guide Jonathan Knox [Tom Berenger] who guides him through treacherous mountain terrain in pursuit of this calculating killing machine who has seized another hostage, Knox' girlfriend, and forces her to guide him through rugged country to British Columbia. The film's scenery is beautiful and offers fetching views of the mountains of the Pacific Northwest and makes subtle parallels to 1972's "Deliverance" during the search for the killer and a party of hikers. The resentment between Agent Stantin and mountain man Knox, thick and palpable at first, later thaws and both men come to respect each other. Kirstie Alley's gritty Sarah keeps her captor on his toes during her unwilling mountain hike. The DVD release is in beautiful color in the widescreen format and the sound is excellent.

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.

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!

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!

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.

My tape copy is dying from overuse. It's almost November 11, 2003, so I may just make it another 3 more weeks until this comes out.

This movie was HIGHLY UNDER-rated. I like Tom Berrenger a lot but wouldn't rate him at the top of the actors list. However, the synergy that occurs between Tom and Sidney Poitier helps Tom to perform better than usual, though in all fairness Tom was EXCELLENT in Platoon. In any event, this was a well-made and acted movie that deserves your attention.

Some might find the beginning of the movie a little harsh/violent, but this adds intensity to the story (i.e. it is not the usual pointless, wanton, Hollywood shock violence we're used to).

I think this is a film that both men and women will enjoy thoroughly. There's the rugged outdoors stuff for the guys- Berrenger seems to fit in well w/rugged, outdoors roles like this and Last of the Dogmen. Then there's the suspense/thriller/murder-mystery genre factor for the gals. How can it miss ?

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.

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.

Okay I absolutely love this movie. I am not giving it three stars for the movie but for Touchstone Studios dropping the ball. I talked to one of their employees several months ago when they let me know this was coming out this month. Even Amazon showed it to arrive November 11th, 2003. Now no indication of what happened and I can't find out anything at Touchstones website. A Best Buy employee indicated it looks like it got postponed until March. My latest news is that it is suppose to be released April 6th. I'll believe it when I see it. Touchstone I don't know what your problem is but you are missing out on a number of sales on this DVD I am sure. Finally out on DVD as of April 6th. I bumped this up from one star to three stars because although the movie gets five stars Touchstone made me drop it two for being so slow getting it to DVD.