An ace marksman-living in self-exile in the Arkansas wilderness after causing the death of an innocent person-is convinced by his former associates that they need his help to prevent an assassination. But he is double-crossed and framed for the presidential assassination he was trying to prevent. He is forced to go on the run while trying to track down the real killer and discover the truth of who betrayed him.

This movie offers plenty of nostalgia for the audience. Typically assimilating the old sentiment of 'good guy versus bad guy' plot, and adorned with a few unnecessary twists, we get what seems to be another "Fugitive" film with slightly more bang.

It is, however, a very focused production. Little has been done to stray from the predictable and derivative storyline. A brief look at the poster and synopsis rekindles a sense of deja vu and in all likelihood, you would be disappointed at how early you've foreseen the ending. Still, the movie doesn't disappoint entirely.

Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg) is a former Marine Corps sniper who returns for one last assignment after being coaxed by high-ranking government officials to help save the US President from an assassination bid. Swagger's endurance and sharp-shooting skills are beyond conventional. After taking two bullets to his chest and abdomen following a set-up, he still manages to walk away. He cunningly evades the nationwide hunt ordered on him. He is, as they say in the movie, "the best we've ever had." Whether or not US military men are really trained to bionic proportions as conveyed in this movie is beyond me. Wahlberg is great as the rugged, rough-around-the-edges Swagger and the chemistry with his on-screen love interest, Sarah Fenn (Kate Mara), beautifully works up to a momentum.

The charm of this film is the polished effects. Swagger makes a war-zone out of the peaceful ranches of Virginia and its surroundings, at times more than necessary to whet his vengeful appetite. However, fans of true-to-life special effects and artillery explosions will find much grace to this composition. Director Antoine Fuqua just can't escape from capturing that over-used scene of the protagonist walking away heroically as the object in the background (in this case, a house) detonates into a wall of flames. Ah, the nostalgia of it all.

"Shooter" is very much a tribute to many of the 'cops and frame-up robbers' films. Plot outline and character integration are lacklustre as audiences have grown accustomed to its theme. Every so often, the guns wielded by weapons expert Swagger are more interesting than the story itself. Swagger's knowledge of his firepower and sniper protocols is food for thought. But of course, by now, we already know the basic formulas for this movie. Everything else is just supplementary.