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Universal Soldier [1991]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Universal Soldier offered director Roland Emmerich and screenwriter Dean Devlin their first venture before going on to make a mountain of money as the creators of Independence Day and Godzilla. Teaming up for this action flick disguised as a science fiction thriller, muscle hunks Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren play embattled Vietnam soldiers who kill each other in combat. They are subsequently revived 25 years later as semi-android "UniSols" in a high-tech army of the near future. Their memories were supposedly wiped clean, but flashbacks occur to remind them of their bitter hatred (Lundgren committed wartime atrocities; Van Damme had tried to stop him) and the warriors resume their tenacious battle while a journalist (Ally Walker) uncovers the truth about the secret UniSol program. With energy to spare, the standard action sequences are adequate for anyone with a short attention span. And besides, with Van Damme and Lundgren in the lead roles, who needs dialogue? --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

Editorial
Video Description

DVD Special Features:

Teaser Trailer
Trailer
"Making of Universal Soldier"
Behind The Scenes Footage
Director and Scriptwriter's Commentary
Languages: English DTS 5.1, English Dolby Digital 5.1, German Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English, German, Dutch, Turkish.

Editorial
Synopsis

Luc is a genetically enhanced supersoldier pitted against his former comrades in arms as he tries to remember his past. Andrew is also a universal soldier who, driven by a hatred born decades before in Vietnam, wages a deadly pursuit against traitorous Luc. But something goes wrong and these war machines begin to revert to their past selves and slip away from their creators.
Editorial
From the Back Cover

Luc Devreux (Van Damne) and Andrew Scott (Lundgren) are members of a military unit known as Universal Soldiers - a government project to create the perfect warrior, devoid of pain, emotions...or memories of their lives before they were turned into Unisols. When TV news reporter Veronica Roberts (Ally Walker) discover's the unit's true nature the Unisol's go to kill her but Devreux finds vestiges of humanity inside him, resuces her, and they escape across the desert. Pursuing them is the maniacal sergeant Scott, driven by explosive rage born in a past war, which he still thinks he is waging...

Van Damme: Perfect cardboard robot but doesn't convince when he has become human
Review date: 2007-12-12 Rating: 6 out of 10

In a war zone Luc Deveraux stops his officer Andrew Scott, killing innocent civilians. However both die in the struggle. Years later they are part of a reanimation programme all Universal Soldiers - perfect fighting machines controlled like robots. However Deveraux has memory flashbacks causing him to flee with a reporter, his commander also experiences memory residues and takes the remaining soldiers to go after Deveraux.

One of Van Damme's and Lundgren's best films - although that's not saying much. The plot is pretty basic although there is some reasonable moralising about the soldiers. The action isn't fancy but it's solid and, unlike it's sequel, it's not afraid to be violent. While it's not a classic it does allow some good scenes and is a bit better than the usual Van Damme fare.

The cast are mixed. Van Damme is a perfect cardboard robot but doesn't convince when he has become human. He is the brunt of some good jokes too (`what accent?') and gets to bare his ass in customary style. Lundgren is actually quite good and his character develops from robot into war-weary soldier quite well. Ally Walker is so-so but she doesn't convince.

Overall this is enjoyable but it isn't perfect. For action fans it's solid enough to satisfy.

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Reviews


MIXED FEELINGS
Review date: 2007-09-27 Rating: 6 out of 10

The start was encouraging and my 3 stars stop here.

Dead Vietnam soldiers are brought back and made into a zombie-like anti-terrorist unit. Their memories have been erased and they are given orders directly from their controllers.

The men receive a daily injection of medicine, which keeps their brains blank. To function, they require cooling to stop their bodies overheating.

Then the story becomes silly (if it hadn't already). Jean-Claude starts to remember things, particularly that his fellow soldier, Dolph Lundgren, killed him in real life.

Jean-Claude makes a run for it and is then pursued by his former comrades, now led by Dolph who now has a necklace made out of human ears !!

Watch half an hour then switch off

THE FUTURE HAS A BAD ATTITUDE
Review date: 2007-04-12 Rating: 8 out of 10

Universal Soldier might be dumb and derivative but I couldn't care less, it is also one of the most entertaining action films to be released in the 1990s and provided signature roles for two of my favourite trash icons, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren. The film also serves as a testament to the last good movie made by Roland Emmerich before selling his soul to the Hollywood machine.

This film has long been a favourite with genre fans. Universal Soldier was a theatrical box office hit but really developed its cult following on video. I watch this film every couple of years and I'm always struck by the quality of the writing, directing and yes, even the acting. This is simply a well crafted movie and an excellent example of a film that is so much more than the sum of its admittedly tawdry parts.

Universal Soldier owes a hell of a lot to "The Terminator". It lifts a whole raft of ideas from Cameron's action classic, including the basic concept of a good guy with superhuman strength protecting a woman from a bad guy with superhuman strength. Actually, it even borrows minor details like the eye-cam, the nude walk and an act of self-mutilation. Nevertheless, the film never feels like a blatant rip off. Roland Emmerich, while never a particularly original mind, injects sufficient change and innovation into the film to ensure it has a distinct energy of its own.

The film recycles old ideas with great skill due to the excellent screenplay. The action comes thick and fast, and the dialogue is first rate for an action film. Furthermore, it provides several memorable characters and successfully introduces an element of black humour without detracting from the action. No matter how well written it is, an action film is only as good its action sequences and Mr Emmerich does not disappoint. The film contains several fantastic set pieces, from the grandeur of the hostage rescue to the phenomenal truck chase through the desert, which even manages to find time for a mid-chase game of "catch" with live grenades and a string of memorably corny one-liners. Emmerich is in his element, filming explosions and stunts from every imaginable angle. Universal Soldier is also far gorier than his later films and is all the better for it.

The film would not be half as enjoyable without its leading men. Jean-Claude and Dolph both give great performances. And no, I'm not being sarcastic. Jean-Claude was at his physical peak and excels during the action scenes. He performs several signature flying kicks in a great fight with Dolph, which is mercifully filmed in a long shot - I wish the John Woo wannabes from the "cut and paste" school of directing who directed Jean-Claude's later films had taken note. Dolph is great fun as the villain, making crazy eyes for all he is worth and relishing every trashy one-liner. They both are more than adequate in their non-action scenes, which probably has a lot to do with the fact that they are essentially playing refined zombies who walk around naked a lot. The supporting cast is also great. Ally Walker showed a lot of promise as the female lead and has gone on to have a good career in television. Jerry Orbach and Tico Wells, also TV regulars, give memorable performances in minor roles.

Universal Soldier is relentless, the film starts with a bang and never lets up. It might be trashy, but it is never less than completely entertaining. In my opinion, this is one of the seminal action films of the 90s. The sequels, however, are only recommended for experienced action fans who can't get enough of the Universal Soldier films.

Thank you for reading my review.

action and class from none other than van damme
Review date: 2006-09-14 Rating: 10 out of 10

Universal Soldier is a 5 star van damme movie,whether you believe that or not,the simple fact remains that in terms of sheer mindless violence with a hint of a decent storyline this is a great piece of work.Starring both Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren the movie is mad and camp in parts for sure but also delivers in all you want in a violent movie.
The plot invoives two soldiers who kill each other in vietnam and are brought back to life as super human soldiers who are picked to kill vermin and ask questions later,but as van dammes and lundgrens memories start to come back and they realise who they once were the blood is certainly gonna line the streets.
In terms of acting neither main character excel and indeed fail to sparkle but in truth the film runs in a pace hard to ignore and in the end this is class without believeing it to be true.

This Van Damme film has everything you could want.
Review date: 2005-09-15 Rating: 10 out of 10

Universal Soldier was Jean Claude Van Damme`s high point in Hollywood. A huge budget and well respected directors had made van damme`s name reach new heights as the regenerated super-soldier known as the Universal Soldier along side Dolf Lundgren, Ralf Muller (the German giant who also appeared in Van Damme`s Cyborg) and others as part of the Universal Soldier project.
What makes this film so successful is the fact that it has everything that you would want, not just as an action film but as a film for a mainstream audience, where as in previous Van Damme films you had to be a hardcore martial arts fan to really enjoy his films. Universal Soldier balances the humour/action perfectly with well choreographed fight scenes, big explosions, the best one liners that would make schwarzennegger envious.
Ally Walker keeps the balance as the sarcastic, nicotine addicted reporter who gives us a pleasant interval from the testosterone fuelled violence and carries the film along beautifully, you never get bored of watching her on screen.
The stand out moment for me is when Luc Deveraux (Van Damme) has an insatiable appetite at the diner but when he cant pay finds himself being lunged at by the chef and towns folk but of course Luc has his way of fending off these characters while potting balls on the pool table and eating popcorn. A classic moment in Van Damme`s film history. A masterpeice in action film making.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Ed O'Ross
Dolph Lundgren
Ally Walker
Jerry Orbach
Jean-Claude Van Damme

Creators:
Jean-Claude Van Damme (Primary Contributor)
Dolph Lundgren (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Momentum Pictures
Manufacturer: Momentum Pictures
EAN: 5060021171306
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2001-05-28
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 99 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1991
Language: Dutch (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: German (Subtitled)
Language: Turkish (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: German (Dubbed)

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