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:

Errors in geography: The farm near end of movie supposedly in Louisiana, but mountains visible in background.

Quotes:

Luc: You're discharged... sarge.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in L'appât (1995)

Soundtrack:

Life's Too Confusin' Anyway

Great entertainment!

This may not be Shakespeare but it's certainly more fun. The film is basically elements of various other action movies and it works well. The key to this being the decent budget, the tongue in cheek style and the accomplished direction from Roland Emmerich (Independence Day).

This is one of the few action films from Van Damme and Lundgren to really compete with Arnold and Sly in terms of production values, large scale set pieces and a sense of real fun, with the mindless and excessive violence. Van Damme is above his usual standard with a fairly subtle performance,let no one call it wooden. Ally Walker has charm and is watchable but it is Lundgren who steals the show with a delightfully villainous performance. Amongst fans they consider this one of his best roles.

The action is big, loud and well choreographed. With some fantastic set pieces, such as the opening Hoover Damn sequence and the chase between a prison truck and an armoured truck. There is also the obligatory showcase karate from Van Damme.

Basically is you like a good action film you won't go wrong with this. This is at the time when the brainless action movies were still entertaining without being painfully un-original like modern popcorn films such as XXX, Exit Wounds and various others. ***