Parents' Guide to Fortress: Sniper's Eye

Its predecessor may have only made $45,000 at the box office, but distributors know that action films can be subpar if you've got a famous star (cue Willis) and a striking poster. It would seem that the belief is that, for a "guns and glory" flick, story doesn't really matter -- i.e. that people just want to see a legendary hero kick butt, old-school style. And, unlike in other so-called "geezer teasers," Willis isn't just in one or two scenes of Fortress: Sniper's Eye: Robert is the respected leader, and the film returns to him every few scenes.

But the script was clearly written around his capacity to work. In April 2022, news stories reported that Willis had been diagnosed with aphasia, and Robert -- who was shot during a daring rescue -- conducts most of his scenes from a hospital bed. This scenario allows him to be sidelined while the other characters try to escape the criminals who've returned for revenge. Given Willis' condition, seeing him used in this way feels exploitive, whether or not he signed on for the money or because he loves acting. Plus, the script is lousy, and the plot is utter nonsense. Still, knowing that John McClane finished on his own terms is at least something that can bring a smile, even if this film does not.