Comwayon A Disappointing Continuation

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Fairaher The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Python Hyena Soldier (1998):Dir: Paul Anderson / Cast: Kurt Russell, Jason Scott Lee, Connie Nielsen, Gary Busey, Jason Isaacs: An ugly and repulsive bag of garbage that gives new meaning to the word "cheap." It contains perhaps the worst production all year. I have seen McDonalds commercials that contained better production effects that what is seen here. Title suggests one being born into an uncontrollable environment, such as someone being forced to watch this film. Kurt Russell is trained from birth to become a mindless fighter and comes to realize that fighting is all he knows once he is placed in a camp with peaceful civilians. He doesn't fit in but realizes that other soldiers are set to attack. So we are given endless gory scenes of Russell in combat including a scene where he plunges his fingers in an opponents eye sockets. Story is unrealistic, predictable and totally dense. Director Paul Anderson should not be proud of this or his efforts involved. Russell's dialogue consists of words like, "Duh." Jason Scott Lee makes more noise than most musicians. Other dull performances come from Connie Nielsen because the screenwriter obviously felt that a female lead or damsel is needed. Gary Busey also appears for whatever it is worth, and that is likely not much. This film is a pointless parade of graphic violence that should be smashed with a sledgehammer. Score: 1 / 10

Giallo Fanatic I still enjoy this movie. Sure it is exaggerated and simplistic, sure it is just another "Rambo" set in the future and a far away planet instead of a forest or jungle. As a kid, I watched it mainly for the action and Kurt Russell. I thought Kurt Russell was mesmerizing as Todd and I could really relate to his character. Nowadays it is mostly for its theme and still Kurt Russell that I watch the movie. (I'll get deeper into the theme). There is lots of action, but on the more naivé and simplistic side. With a Rambo-like character that can take on a whole army without getting a scratch, standard stuff for your average action movie. But although with the simple premise and approach, I still feel interest in this movie. It is not a groundbreaking movie. It is not the most well made movie, but it doesn't take itself too seriously, which is good. With a subtle and convincing performance of Kurt Russell.Now to the real reason why I like this movie: the theme. The theme has been explored many times before but I still find it interesting in this movie. The theme is dehumanization, it has been explored better and deeper, like in Stanley Kubrick's 'Full Metal Jacket'. Also 'Full Metal Jacket' has a much more punching power than this movie. But in 'Soldier' it was quite touching with Todd's character development (Although I like Joker's character development better) and its exploration to its theme. Whilst in 'Full Metal Jacket', we get to see the consequences of dehumanization and its effects on mankind in the end, in 'Soldier' we head in the other direction where our main character begin to act more human and regain his humanity. Kind of like the other side of the coin. But I honestly prefer 'Full Metal Jacket', I feel it is more honest. But 'Soldier' is still an above average action movie even though it is quite simplistic. I honestly feel this movie is worth watching over and over again. Oh, also Kurt Russell doesn't spend half of his time on-screen spitting out cheesy one-liners like you would normally get in its genre, which I quite like.I give the movie 7/10

dworldeater Director Paul Anderson's Soldier is a really under rated and misunderstood action movie starring the legendary Kurt Russell. The screenplay was written by David Webb Peoples who is best known for penning classics like Blade Runner and Unforgiven. Set in a dystopian, futuristic sci fi setting. Kurt Russell is Sgt. Todd, a super soldier killing machine who has since birth only known fear and discipline. In this function, Todd excels. Todd was bred to be a soldier and by age 40 he has spent his entire life fighting and training. He ends up getting replaced by a new genetically engineered soldier that is faster and stronger. He is left for dead under high command and resides on a waste disposal planet in a community of outcasts. Todd has trouble coping with domestic life and throughout the course of the film finds some humanity. The new soldiers lack experience and end up on the waste disposal planet. The commander(Jason Issacs) has declared any survivors are hostiles and are to be used as target practice. What the military does not know is they are occupying Todd's new home and he has a score to settle. Soldier is mostly a straight up action movie, but there is a whole lot of subtext here that the critics of this film miss. As much as Todd excels at warfare, he can't function in normal civilian situations and has no idea how to function like a normal human being. Kurt embodies this character well and spent a year and a half training to prepare for the role. Most action actors are also dedicated to that part of the job. However, Kurt is equally effective in playing Todd's flaws as well. Todd is very effective in battle, but is very awkward and inept in a social setting. Kurt also conveys much of Todd's feelings with minimal dialogue, which Kurt makes look easy but is very difficult for most actors to do. This film bombed at the box office at the time of its release and probably has too much amped up testosterone for the wimpy 90's. Action fans however, should enjoy this. Plus Soldier has a bit of substance as well once you scratch the surface.

weejockxxx Kurt Russell plays a soldier who has been trained from birth to be a perfect killing machine. When he and his squad are superseded by genetically improved versions, Kurt is left for dead on a hostile 'rubbish dump' of a world where he is found by stranded settlers who help him. When the new super soldiers are sent on a training mission to the same world they are ordered to treat any humans they find as hostile, thus endangering all the colonists. This film could have been a walking cliché, it had all the ingredients; helpless families, pretty girl, even a sick (mute) kid. Add to that the writers claim that the film was a "spiritual sequel to Blade Runner" and I had to watch it if only to debunk such arrogance. To my surprise it turned out to be a well thought out, intelligently scripted, fairly well acted movie. The action scenes were not cgi'd to death and the clichés, whilst undoubtedly there, were not overplayed and one scene, where Kurt Russell shed a tear after being banished from the camp for an unnecessarily violent reaction, was genuinely moving. 'Soldier' will never win any Oscars but it's not a bad movie and I will watch it again.