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Amazon.co.uk Review
Kurt Russell hits new heights in laconic action heroes with his portrayal of Sergeant Todd, born and bred to be a soldier in a futuristic army. Raised to kill mercilessly, living only for battle, he finds himself at the twilight of his career (and so-called life) when a regiment of genetically enhanced warriors threatens to make his brand of soldiering obsolete. Despite his extensive skills, he is no match for the best of breed of the new order and he's left for dead on a planet that serves only as a junk heap. There he encounters a ragtag group of castaways and in his own strange and silent way slowly begins to learn how to be less a killer and more a human. All is disrupted, though, when the genetic regiment arrives on the trash planet and decides to eradicate the local human "trespassers". Though Todd had been overmatched before, this time he has more than ever to fight for--a home and friends. Soldier is one of those rare sci fi movies that relies more on plot and action than special effects (though the trash planet is effectively wrought). The pace of action in the last half of the film is relentless and exciting and Russell's portrayal of the old warrior as he warms to human emotions relies more on expression than words--in fact, he barely utters more than a half-dozen lines. --Todd Nelson
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DVD Special Features
Interactive Menus
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Language in Dolby Digital 5.1: English
Subtitles: English/Arabic/English for the hearing impaired
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I wanted to hate this movie. I'd read about it and just knew it was going to be terrible. It cost $80 million and grossed something like $5 million in America. Just how awful could this movie be?
My brother was watching it and I watched about five minutes of it. I hated to admit it to myself but I liked what I saw (the bit in training were the kid who falls behind gets executed).
Eventually I decided to give it a shot. Loved it. It's derivative and twee (one of the montages of Russell living in the community just takes the piss). Still it worked on its own terms.
I don't mind the extended scenes of the community. This stuff usually bogs an action film down. I don't know why, but I found it to be bearable. Even enjoyable to some extent. The cute blonde kid is on screen for mere minutes for example.
Some people say the movie looks cheap. The fake plastic look to the movie has nothing to do with money - the movie was well financed. It's more likely because the exteriors were filmed in large indoor sound stages. Indoors pretending to be outdoors never looks good.
Forget your preconceptions of how unoriginal it is etc. If you accept it as a silly 80's style sci-fi action flick then you wont be disappointed. The end massacre is quite similar to the extended action shoot out in Hard Target. So if you enjoyed that movie then you should like this.
If you can, go for the R1 release as it has a very informative commentary on it by the director and his friend who co-produced. It's probably the best commentary I've heard as these things are usually dull. Not this one. He really goes into details on how it was made.
My brother was watching it and I watched about five minutes of it. I hated to admit it to myself but I liked what I saw (the bit in training were the kid who falls behind gets executed).
Eventually I decided to give it a shot. Loved it. It's derivative and twee (one of the montages of Russell living in the community just takes the piss). Still it worked on its own terms.
I don't mind the extended scenes of the community. This stuff usually bogs an action film down. I don't know why, but I found it to be bearable. Even enjoyable to some extent. The cute blonde kid is on screen for mere minutes for example.
Some people say the movie looks cheap. The fake plastic look to the movie has nothing to do with money - the movie was well financed. It's more likely because the exteriors were filmed in large indoor sound stages. Indoors pretending to be outdoors never looks good.
Forget your preconceptions of how unoriginal it is etc. If you accept it as a silly 80's style sci-fi action flick then you wont be disappointed. The end massacre is quite similar to the extended action shoot out in Hard Target. So if you enjoyed that movie then you should like this.
If you can, go for the R1 release as it has a very informative commentary on it by the director and his friend who co-produced. It's probably the best commentary I've heard as these things are usually dull. Not this one. He really goes into details on how it was made.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
why dont people like this film ? sit back, switch off, and enjoy. Ok ,so its full of cliches, but its done with style. I like casablanca , I like Blade Runner and i like Soldier . Take it for what it is . Forget the budget , the lack of Kurts dialogue, and enjoy the style and the "what if ", idea of soldiers that are bred to be.One of kurt's best , though h'ell never know it. PS I've watched it 20 times at least. Great fun
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Unlike many sci-fi/action films, "Soldier" stays with you, because it touches the heart with a few poignant, memorable scenes, has an interesting script and character development, and though some of it is derivative and silly, the film has Soul.
Much of this is due to a superb performance by Kurt Russell, in the almost mute part of Todd 3465, who was bred and trained to kill, and whose only feelings and thoughts are of "fear and discipline".
Todd 3465 was born in 1996 for the Adam Project, and we see him at 38, replaced by a faster and more durable model of soldier. Todd, presumed dead, is dumped with the trash on Arcadia, a "waste disposal planet".
Much of this is due to a superb performance by Kurt Russell, in the almost mute part of Todd 3465, who was bred and trained to kill, and whose only feelings and thoughts are of "fear and discipline".
Todd 3465 was born in 1996 for the Adam Project, and we see him at 38, replaced by a faster and more durable model of soldier. Todd, presumed dead, is dumped with the trash on Arcadia, a "waste disposal planet".
There are no big budget special effects, but the visuals and cinematography (by David Tattersall) are excellent, the direction by Paul Anderson is perfectly paced, and Joel McNeely's score, along with the atmospheric sound effects, add a lot to the film.
Sean Partwee and Connie Nielsen are good as the Arcadian couple who befriend Todd, Gary Busey puts in a fine turn as Todd's captain, and Jason Isaacs plays the bad guy with appropriate meanness.
There are some terrific mano-a-mano fight scenes between Russell and his "replacement" Caine 607, played well by Jason Scott Lee, who was marvelous in "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story", and shows his martial arts expertise in this film as well.
The film is free of foul language except for one instance (and one has to wonder why they ruined a perfect score with it), and despite the violence, would make suitable family viewing, because the violence has purpose and meaning...there is nothing gratuitous in this film, which is another reason I appreciate it, and most of all, it has that rare thing in a Hollywood film, a satisfying ending...one that will bring a tear to your eyes.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Soldier
The dvd was a copy and not set at wide screen, total rip off.
The item was advertised as used so i will now complan and get my money back...not happy
The item was advertised as used so i will now complan and get my money back...not happy
Published 2 days ago by Hull
good fun
A subtle action film if that's possible. Goodies v baddies and the goodies win - eventually. What's new? Read more
Published 24 days ago by Redwing
Soldier - This film is great...no idea why it was a flop...it...
Says it all in the title really.
I watched this film thinking....bet this is a load of rubbish otherwise it would have been a box office hit. Read more
I watched this film thinking....bet this is a load of rubbish otherwise it would have been a box office hit. Read more
Published 3 months ago by rebel raiser
Hate to love it
Caught this on a recommendation from a friend, and figured it was so cheap, if I didn't like it I could use it as a drainage spacer under a potted plant. Read more
Published 4 months ago by jasonhad
Awesome
One of my favourite action films of all time, i just love it...Kurt Russell is a proper badass, 5 stars.
Published 7 months ago by Mr. C. J. Davies
Ok Sci fi
This is an ok sci fi with a basic tough guy routine who eventualy has to deal with emotion the story line is ok if you are a space kinda guy and the action is pretty good it starts... Read more
Published 9 months ago by James
Soldier - Good Sci - Fi
If you like Science Fiction as I do but hate bad Science Fiction, you'll enjoy this film. I was torn between giving it 4 or 5 stars but then I considered other films and series,... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Je Salter
Less is More
Kurt Russell says very little in this science fiction movie but he doesn't have to, his expressions and presence on the screen say it all for him. Read more
Published on 2 Jan 2010 by Rosendo
Not Quite Ready for the Trash Heap.
I am no sci fi fan I will freely admit, but I do watch them occasionally. Few of them linger in the memory and this happens to be one of them. Read more
Published on 22 July 2009 by Bob Salter
FAR ABOVE AVERAGE SCI-FI
Kurt Russell is excellent in this film in the title role. Soldier is a compelling story-driven SCI-Fi film with a message and some good FX. Read more
Published on 4 Nov 2008 by Sick-o
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