Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)

Director:

Mic Rodgers

Writers (WGA):

Richard Rothstein (characters) &
Christopher Leitch (characters) ...

Release Date:

20 August 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Prepare to become obsolete

Plot:

The "universal soldiers" must fight the whole army. When the military's supercomputer S.E.T.H gets out of control

Plot Keywords:

Computer | General | Reporter | Military | Stripper

Cast

Jean-Claude Van Damme	...	Luc Deveraux
Michael Jai White	...	S.E.T.H.
Heidi Schanz	...	Erin Young, KTXD
Xander Berkeley	...	Dr. Dylan Cotner
Justin Lazard	...	Captain Blackburn
Kiana Tom	...	Maggie
Daniel von Bargen	...	General Radford
James Black	...	Sergeant Morrow
Karis Paige Bryant	...	Hillary Deveraux
Bill Goldberg	...	Romeo / UniSol 2500
Brent Anderson	...	Technician #2
Brent Hinkley	...	Squid
Woody Watson	...	RL Gate Guard
Jacqueline Klein	...	Betty Wilson
Maria Arita	...	Kitty Anderson, KTXO

Also Known As:

Universal Soldier 2 (USA) (pre-release title)
Universal Soldier IV (USA) (informal alternative title)

MPAA:

Rated R for nonstop strong violence, and for language and nudity.

Runtime:

82 min | Argentina:89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Brazil:16 | Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | France:-12 | Germany:18 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Caddo Lake, Texas, USA

Company:

Baumgarten-Prophet Entertainment

Trivia:

When S.E.T.H. cracks his kill-code, it flashes up on the screen, starting with "NCC1701", which is the registration code of the starship Enterprise.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Romeo climbs off the car when Luc kicks him out of the hospital window, a specific pattern of damage is visible on his back (melting of his uniform). He then enters the hospital and rips off his armor and shirt. Later, in Luc and Romeo's final confrontation, Romeo is wearing the same uniform (indicated by the damage on the back) still neatly buttoned/buckled up.

Quotes:

S.E.T.H.: When I was a man I longed to be a machine. Now I'm better than both.

Movie Connections:

References "Star Trek" (1966)

Soundtrack:

Hatred

The Return Could Have Been Better

Van Damme returns to one of his best action roles, with a very weak storyline, and very irritating, stereo-typed characters.

When the action is going, IT'S GOING. Van Damme's aging, but, still has the moves. He's also a widower with a young daughter.

First plot problem, his daughter has access to the "Top Secret Project" building for the Universal Soldier program, and uses it like a daycare center. No other workers had their kids there, so what made her so special, except to put her closer to the action.

Second plot problem, the female reporter. She arrives for and interview, is excorted inside the factility, and when all hell breaks loose, she and her cameraman remain instead of being escorted out. Another excuss to put a character close to the danger.

Third plot problem, the irritating and unreal attitude the reporter has. Instead of showing the least amount of fear over the killing and mayhem going on around her, she's doing her "I-a-reporter-with-a-scoop" dialogue. I was hoping that Romeo or another soldier would take her out.

Fourth plot problem, Kiana Tom, Van Damme's butt-kicking sidekick at the beginning of the movie, is left on the sidelines for most of the movie. Her character replacing the reporter would have enhanced the whole story and added to the action.

If you can overlook the plot problems, the show is at least bearable.