Universal Soldier (1992)

Director:

Roland Emmerich

Writers (WGA):

Richard Rothstein (written by) &
Christopher Leitch (written by) ...

Release Date:

10 July 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The ultimate weapons of the future have just declared war... on each other.

Plot:

Luc and Scott were killed in Vietnam, but the army has a secret project for reanimating dead people as near-perfect soldiers.

Plot Keywords:

Vietnam | Flashback | Chase | Top Secret | Army

Cast

Jean-Claude Van Damme	...	Luc Deveraux / GR44
Dolph Lundgren	...	Andrew Scott / GR13
Ally Walker	...	Veronica Roberts
Ed O'Ross	...	Colonel Perry
Jerry Orbach	...	Dr. Christopher Gregor
Leon Rippy	...	Woodward
Tico Wells	...	Garth
Ralf Moeller	...	GR76 (as Ralph Moeller)
Robert Trebor	...	Motel Owner
Gene Davis	...	Lieutenant
Drew Snyder	...	Charles
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister	...	GR55
Simon Rhee	...	GR61
Eric Norris	...	GR86
Michael Winther	...	Technician

Also Known As:

Crystal Knights (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

103 min | Germany:84 min (TV version) (heavily cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

CDS (digital 35 mm prints) | Dolby SR (analog 35 mm prints)

Certification:

Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Germany:16 (heavily cut) | Germany:18 (JK/SPIO) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Chile:18 | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Ashfork, Arizona, USA

Company:

Studio Canal

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [Roland Emmerich] [44]Luc Deveraux's codename in the UNISOL program is GR44.

Goofs:

Continuity: Luc decoys the soldiers with the wooden "gas station attendant" mascot. But when the truck pulls up, the mascot is still standing where it was when we first saw it. As the UniSols approach, it isn't there any more.

Quotes:

Scott: You're dead soldier...
Luc: No... I'm alive.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "So Graham Norton: (#5.7)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

It's Almost Time To Put The Bottle Down

Admit it – you enjoyed it.

Okay, okay: it's as macho as hell, questionably acted, pretty brutal and not particularly imaginative. But it has faith in itself. Please don't think I mean to give this B-movie any real grandeur, but it does know how to get the blood pumping. If the action sequences are nothing new (cribbed from Arnie and Mad Max flicks), it pushes them home with a relentless logic, and the production values are fine.

There is an element of self-parody, thanks largely to Lundgren's engagingly OTT psychotic turn (he's the best of the bunch) and the film-makers have enough nouse to make JVCD rely on his ability to kick the life out of everyone.

Plot means nothing, the film is nasty, the semi-moral/sentimental tone that descends towards the end is pretty offensive and it's derivative.

But admit it - you enjoyed it. Hell, I thought it was a laugh.