The first two sequences of this movie set up the two conflicts: the -thematic- conflict between the soldier Todd and his suppressed humanity, and the -physical- conflict between Todd and his bio-engineered replacement. Both sequences are quite gripping in different ways.
Peoples' screenplay falters somewhat by resolving the first of these arcs half-way through the movie, which means the second half is little more than a straightforward action romp.
Nonetheless, kudos to the makers for creating an genre action piece with heart and even a bit of soul and especially to Kurt Russell who conveys much with very little.
Not a great film, but one worth seeing.
Plot summary
Sergeant Todd is a veteran soldier for an elite group of the armed forces. After being defeated by a new breed of genetically engineered soldiers, he is dumped on a waste planet and left for dead. He soon interacts with a group of crash survivors who lead out a peaceful existence. The peace is broken as the new soldiers land on the planet to eliminate the colony, which Sergeant Todd must defend.
Uploaded by: OTTO
May 07, 2022 at 07:30 AM
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A good movie in two parts
Action-packed with morality
I liked the movie it was engaging from beginning to end. I thought Kurt Russell was wonderful. This one really showed the brutality of war and Men who start Wars.
Good and solid
I don't know what I was doing when this movie originally came out, because I watched this first time today. This was, and still is a movie for me.
Background, lighting and camerawork reminded me of Aliens. Plot was similar to several movies of this genre. I have a feeling that lot was borrowed from Universal Soldier. I detected glimpses of the Terminator-franchise as well. Generally I hate it when I can pinpoint copying or "paying homage" (I'm looking at you, Waterworld...), but the team behind Soldier managed to make the experience enjoyable.
Todd was suitably awkward given his long military career and training. The couple who took him in were in my eyes your basic married-with-children husband and wife very much in love with each other. Their son was a nice surprise. Quiet and sensible kid who didn't get anybody in trouble or killed. Even villains of this movie were tolerable. Predictable as heck but not annoyingly childish.
Solid 8 stars.