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From Amazon.co.uk
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
Product Description
DVD Special Features
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Language in Dolby Digital 5.1: English
Subtitles: English/Arabic/English for the hearing impaired
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 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.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the biggest flops in film history is a good movie (within reason)
17 Aug 2006
By BS on parade
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.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
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
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
I wont go into plot because other people have already but the storyline is great and the acting more than does it justice. Kurt Russell is perfect as the retired killing machine turned friend and manages to carry the whole movie without saying more than ten words. It really says a lot about his fantastic acting and huge screen presence. The supporting cast is just as good with Sean Pertwee, Connie Nielsen, Gary Busey and Jason Scott Lee. The story is a lot more human than a lot of recent sci fi movies and although the budget may not have been huge the effects are spectacular. Kurt Russell gets to kick some butt like we all know he can and delivers a superb emotional performance. I highly recommend this film to anyone who loves action movies or is a fan of Kurt Russell because it's one of his best films in recent years.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Soldier is a big dumb action movie which doesn't pretend to by anything else and I think it's glorious. In the future, Soldiers start their training in Childhood. This is demonstrated by a series of montages showing Todd (Kurt Russell) as he grows from a small boy receiving tuition in a government facility through soldier training and various conflicts on different parts of the globe and space. The crux of the movie is the arrival of a new breed of genetically engineerd Soldiers. A deadly competition to see which soldiers are the best sees Todd's team loose to the new super soldiers. Believing Todd dead, the authorities dump him on a trash transporter en route to a waste planet. He isn't dead of course and we find that other inhabitants have settled on the planet, their own ship crashed and with no means to contact the outside world they resigned themselves scavenging the garbage. Todd is adopted by a family and he settles in. Russell spends most of the film silently obeying commands; his child like curiosity on witnessing human emotion and interactions is effective but doesn't carry enough weight within the movie itself. The Super soldiers arrival on the planet, to take part in a training mission, (which inexplicably involves attacking the peaceful inhabitants) drives Todd back into action. He deftly dispatches all of the baddies using a colourful array of deadly weapons and the obligatory unarmed combat scene between him and evil baddy Jason Scott Lee (who gets even less lines) is well staged. There's even a hopeful, feel good ending to wrap up a neat little movie.
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3.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant sci-fi action
Delivered by zoverstocks who are prompt and reliable. I'd recommend for all used DVD purchases
The film is good. Read more
The film is good. Read more
Published 10 days ago by Dixiepeach
5.0 out of 5 stars
soldier
did not know this dvd exsisted until i seen on amazon well worth a watch better that i thought it would be
Published 27 days ago by andypuddy
4.0 out of 5 stars
underated action/sci fi flick
I remember owning this on dvd when it first come out and I watched it 6-7 times in about two years
My only fault with the dvd version years ago was that like so many films... Read more
My only fault with the dvd version years ago was that like so many films... Read more
Published 1 month ago by gary john king
2.0 out of 5 stars
Should be called "Lost in Space" as it is missing a scenario, missing...
All great fan of Kurt Russell as I am, I still hated this film and I hardly managed to finish watching it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Maciej
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
I loved the film when I first saw it. There was depth and meaning to it that compelled me to buy it
Published 3 months ago by Spirit
1.0 out of 5 stars
I HATE IT IT IS A FAULT
RIGHT IF THEY COULD MAKE A FILM RIGHT , EVERY TIME THESE FILMS ARE TERTRIBLE , EVERYTHING AN WHATEVER I DONT LISTEN TO REVIEWS ANY MORE I ONLY LISTEN TO THE TYPE OF PEOPLE WHO TELL... Read more
Published 3 months ago by juliedilworth
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
This film is quite old but not 'dated' you just have to keep watching it over and over again, Great
Published 5 months ago by Ryl
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good movie, just not as good as some of Kurt Russel's other films.
If you liked the Escape From New York movies then you're sure to like this. Though some of the effects are crappy it does have a great plot and some very good acting.
Published 7 months ago by M. Emilia Nogueras Corral
1.0 out of 5 stars
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 12 months ago by Hull
4.0 out of 5 stars
good fun
A subtle action film if that's possible. Goodies v baddies and the goodies win - eventually. What's new? Read more
Published 13 months ago by Redwing
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