Shooter

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to the titles below, Black Snake Moan also comes out on DVD today, but from my review you can see that I wouldn't highly recommend that film. It's interesting, but not entirely noteworthy.

Shooter
This movie tried to make Mark Wahlberg into a bankable action star, and though that didn't really work, this overlooked shoot-'em-up is definitely worth watching. Designed to stoke your most far-fetched conspiracy theories and entertain you in the process, Shooter follows an endearingly righteous sniper named Bob Lee Swagger (Wahlberg) as he tries to squirm out of being framed in a shady government plot. The somewhat silly premise is bolstered by a good supporting cast — particularly up-and-comer Kate Mara as the widow of Swagger's former partner. For more, check out my review.

One more suggestion if you read more

Mark is on a world tour to promote Shooter and this time he stopped off in Berlin. Marky Mark is still looking buff these days but he apparently didn't love the real Marine training he had to go through in preparation for the film. He said, "I didn't enjoy it at all. I pretended to enjoy it, I acted like I was going to like it, but I'm pretty lazy and it was very intense. Once you're on their turf they like to push you around a little bit. They like to test you and see if you're man enough to handle it or they'll call your agent - so I toughed it out."

Somehow we can't imagine that he's able to look that good and still be lazy. Besides this is the man who was hanging on my wall in his underwear all throughout my high school years (and then some). I guess being a father of two has made him want to be lazy when he can. Can't blame him, especially if he still looks as great as he does today.

For more pics including Antoine Fuqua and Lorenzo di Bonaventura just read more

I knew there was a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie coming out, but I'd heard so little about TMNT that I was surprised to see it No. 1 at the weekend box office. Taking in an estimated total of $24.4 million, it knocked 300 to second place after its two-week reign. I guess this just goes to show that you can never underestimate the power of kids — or CGI turtles who are also mutant ninjas.

Both TMNT and 300 are Warner Bros. productions, so you can bet that studio is happy after this weekend. As for me, I was bummed to see that Shooter only came in third, debuting with $14.5 million in sales. I know many people were looking to this movie as a test of Mark Wahlberg's star power, and while third place isn't bad, it may not be what the actor needs to get more A-List roles.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

First, let's get one thing straight: Mark Wahlberg's new thriller, Shooter, is full of shooting. Possibly more shooting than I've ever seen in a movie. So if that sort of thing bothers you, you'll probably want to skip the latest from director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day). But if you can put up with some oh-how-convenient plot twists and gratuitous cleavage and bulging-bicep shots, Shooter is a captivating, conspiracy-drenched action flick that's part Fugitive and part Bourne Identity, with lots of post-9/11 paranoia thrown in.

Wahlberg plays Bob Lee Swagger, a top Marine sniper who leaves the force after the death of his spotter (aka, a sniper's very important partner) during a botched mission. He's living like a liberal Ted Nugent in the Wyoming mountains, hunting his food and reading The 9/11 Commission Report, when he's approached by some covert government types (led by Danny Glover) with a mission. It seems the government has received a presidential assassination threat involving sniper tactics, so the guys want Swagger to figure out how the crime would be committed in order to help prevent it.

Swagger accepts, only to discover that the whole scheme has been orchestrated to frame him for the assassination attempt that soon goes down. And that's just the first 25 minutes, so read more

Jeremy took a break from working on Season 3 of Entourage to support his boss Mark at the premiere of his new movie, Shooter. After playing a supporting role in The Departed we're happy to see that Mark is back to taking center stage. The action film, which also lets Kate Mara from Brokeback Mountain do some of the ass-kicking, looks like it has a little something for everyone. Plus, we can't imagine any of you will need to be dragged to see a few hours of Mark on the big screen! To check out more information about the movie, including the trailer just click here.

For lots more pics including Djimon Hounsou, Jenna Elfman, Danny Glover, and more just read more

Earlier this week I brought you the awesome news that Mark Wahlberg may star in a movie based on the GI Joe cartoon series. First, however, he has to promote a little film called Shooter, which had its Hollywood premiere last night.

Produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura — who will also produce GI Joe, by the way — Shooter is an action/thriller that follows an ex-military sniper with a ridiculously manly name: Bob Lee Swagger. Swagger's living in exile when he learns of a plot to assasinate the president and reluctantly returns to service. He's framed for the attempt, however, and has to elude the authorities while seeking revenge on the people who double-crossed him.

Check out the trailer for Shooter, which opens March 23. My favorite part about the trailer is the fact that Swagger taught his dog how to bring him beer. To watch, read more

Mark Wahlberg participated in the celebrity Mercedes-Benz Pro-Am tournament in Maui this week. He must be celebrating his SAG Award nomination today (along with his castmates) for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. He was phenomenal in the film, the only problem was, there wasn't enough of him in it. Luckily, he has the starring role in his new movie Shooter so we'll get to see him all the way through. In it he plays a marksman who is framed for attempting to kill the president.

Shooter opens March 16th. To check out the trailer and more pics of Mark just read more