Film review: 'Soldier'
Even the toys in "Small Soldiers" had more personality than leaden killing machines Kurt Russell and Jason Scott Lee in Warner Bros.' wobbly space adventure.
But that is "Soldier"'s one gambit that almost works -- Russell matter-of-factly delivering only a handful of short lines in 90-plus minutes -- as the film rates low on the genre scale and won't win the boxoffice battle.
Directed by Paul Anderson ("Mortal Kombat", "Event Horizon") and written by David Webb Peoples ("Blade Runner", "12 Monkeys"), the trashy sci-fi extravaganza opens with a grim outline of the life of Todd (Russell), picked as a newborn to be trained in combat and raised with other recruits as lifelong soldiers.
From being encouraged to beat the hell out of fellow cadets to knowing that falling too far behind in a group run can mean instant de-enrollment via execution, Todd is notably desensitized and shut down emotionally and intellectually. But after fighting in numerous conflicts with exotic names like Argentine Moons and showing no hesitation slaughtering foes and hostages that get in the way, at 40 he's considered the best of the best by his commander (Gary Busey).
Not a robot but bioengineered to be stronger, faster, longer-lasting and even more silent and obedient, Caine 607 (Lee) is proudly revealed by his sadistic CO (Jason Isaacs) to Busey and his men. A ruthless comparison ensues -- with Todd getting his bristly hair mussed during a 15-mile run. In an uneven fight, bald Caine 607 gets a small scar or two but terminates a few foes including, it appears, our eye-gouging hero.
Waking up in a junk pile aboard a huge space garbageship, Todd is not in great shape but makes it safely to Trashdump World, where he encounters survivors of an ill-fated expedition. He immediately develops a major crush on nurturing, gentle, blonde Sandra (Connie Nielsen) and hangs around with her little boy (played by twins Jared and Taylor Thorne), but the locals find him a dangerous presence.
Unfit to live with normal folk, Todd is banished but quickly welcomed back when Caine 607 and comrades are unleashed to exterminate trespassers on the windy, desolate planet. Overcoming countless opponents armed with machine guns, missiles and flamethrowers, commandeering futuristic assault vehicles and finally battling Caine 607 to the death, Russell's superhero is humorlessly efficient, seemingly impervious to pain but capable of a good cry now and then.
Visual effects supervisor Ed Jones and crew create a cool windworld with apocalyptic refuse piles, and David L. Snyder's production design is suitably fantastic. Trying to keep one engaged with vigorous action sequences but meeting defeat, Anderson and cinematographer David Tattersall don't have much to work with in the minimal, comic book-like story.
SOLDIER
Warner Bros.
in association with Morgan Creek
A Jerry Weintraub production
in association with Impact Pictures
Director: Paul Anderson
Screenwriter: David Webb Peoples
Producer: Jerry Weintraub
Executive producers: James G. Robinson, R.J. Louis, Susan Ekins
Director of photography: David Tattersall
Production designer: David L. Snyder
Visual effects supervisor: Ed Jones
Editor: Martin Hunter
Costume designer: Erica Edell Phillips
Music: Joel McNeely
Casting: Mindy Marin
Color/stereo
Cast:
Todd: Kurt Russell
Caine 607: Jason Scott Lee
Mekum: Jason Isaacs
Sandra: Connie Nielsen
Church: Gary Busey
Nathan: Jared Thorne, Taylor Thorne
Mace: Sean Pertwee
Rubrick: Mark Bringelson
Running time -- 98 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
But that is "Soldier"'s one gambit that almost works -- Russell matter-of-factly delivering only a handful of short lines in 90-plus minutes -- as the film rates low on the genre scale and won't win the boxoffice battle.
Directed by Paul Anderson ("Mortal Kombat", "Event Horizon") and written by David Webb Peoples ("Blade Runner", "12 Monkeys"), the trashy sci-fi extravaganza opens with a grim outline of the life of Todd (Russell), picked as a newborn to be trained in combat and raised with other recruits as lifelong soldiers.
From being encouraged to beat the hell out of fellow cadets to knowing that falling too far behind in a group run can mean instant de-enrollment via execution, Todd is notably desensitized and shut down emotionally and intellectually. But after fighting in numerous conflicts with exotic names like Argentine Moons and showing no hesitation slaughtering foes and hostages that get in the way, at 40 he's considered the best of the best by his commander (Gary Busey).
Not a robot but bioengineered to be stronger, faster, longer-lasting and even more silent and obedient, Caine 607 (Lee) is proudly revealed by his sadistic CO (Jason Isaacs) to Busey and his men. A ruthless comparison ensues -- with Todd getting his bristly hair mussed during a 15-mile run. In an uneven fight, bald Caine 607 gets a small scar or two but terminates a few foes including, it appears, our eye-gouging hero.
Waking up in a junk pile aboard a huge space garbageship, Todd is not in great shape but makes it safely to Trashdump World, where he encounters survivors of an ill-fated expedition. He immediately develops a major crush on nurturing, gentle, blonde Sandra (Connie Nielsen) and hangs around with her little boy (played by twins Jared and Taylor Thorne), but the locals find him a dangerous presence.
Unfit to live with normal folk, Todd is banished but quickly welcomed back when Caine 607 and comrades are unleashed to exterminate trespassers on the windy, desolate planet. Overcoming countless opponents armed with machine guns, missiles and flamethrowers, commandeering futuristic assault vehicles and finally battling Caine 607 to the death, Russell's superhero is humorlessly efficient, seemingly impervious to pain but capable of a good cry now and then.
Visual effects supervisor Ed Jones and crew create a cool windworld with apocalyptic refuse piles, and David L. Snyder's production design is suitably fantastic. Trying to keep one engaged with vigorous action sequences but meeting defeat, Anderson and cinematographer David Tattersall don't have much to work with in the minimal, comic book-like story.
SOLDIER
Warner Bros.
in association with Morgan Creek
A Jerry Weintraub production
in association with Impact Pictures
Director: Paul Anderson
Screenwriter: David Webb Peoples
Producer: Jerry Weintraub
Executive producers: James G. Robinson, R.J. Louis, Susan Ekins
Director of photography: David Tattersall
Production designer: David L. Snyder
Visual effects supervisor: Ed Jones
Editor: Martin Hunter
Costume designer: Erica Edell Phillips
Music: Joel McNeely
Casting: Mindy Marin
Color/stereo
Cast:
Todd: Kurt Russell
Caine 607: Jason Scott Lee
Mekum: Jason Isaacs
Sandra: Connie Nielsen
Church: Gary Busey
Nathan: Jared Thorne, Taylor Thorne
Mace: Sean Pertwee
Rubrick: Mark Bringelson
Running time -- 98 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 10/23/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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