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Soldier (1998)

tomatometer

10

Average Rating: 3.6/10
Reviews Counted: 51
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 46

A boring genre film and a waste of a good set.

13

Average Rating: 3.6/10
Critic Reviews: 15
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 13

A boring genre film and a waste of a good set.

audience

45

liked it
Average Rating: 2.8/5
User Ratings: 41,933

My Rating

Movie Info

Galactic wars of the near future are fought by soldiers trained from infancy to be merciless and obedient. but times change ad bioengineered warriors make veterans like Sgt. Todd obsolete. But don't tell him that!

Mar 2, 1999

Warner Home Video

Cast

All Critics (55) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (47) | DVD (10)

This appealing formulaic action adventure (1998) displays a lot of conviction in its not-too-flashy action scenes and a little levity in the gradual socialization of Russell's character.

March 7, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The action is handled fairly well, but it's routine, and there's no satisfaction in seeing Todd waste men who are no more bloodthirsty than he is.

July 21, 2005 Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | Comment
Houston Chronicle
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I doubt that Kurt Russell has ever had less dialogue to work with than he has in this film.

July 12, 2002 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | Comment
Globe and Mail
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A potent comic-book-style action-adventure.

February 14, 2001 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | Comment
Los Angeles Times
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Action is everything in this sinewy, visually impressive sci-fi military adventure!

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
San Francisco Chronicle
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With a cheerful disregard for characterization and visual texture, Anderson relies on his cgi-jocks and set dressers to flesh out David Webb Peoples's by-the-numbers script.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Village Voice | Comment
Village Voice
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Die-hard action fans will get their money's worth; the rest of us might want to look elsewhere. (Blu-ray edition)

August 8, 2011 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

...poignancy doesn't interfere with director Anderson's primary objective, which is to show people shooting each other and blowing stuff up.

August 8, 2011 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

Despite being hampered by second-rate special effects and too many action film cliches, Soldier does have its fun parts.

March 3, 2006 Comment
FulvueDrive-in.com

Soldier didn't deserve to be treated so harshly critics, but it didn't deserve recommendations either.

June 24, 2004 Full Review | Comment
rec.arts.movies.reviews

Wow. What a terrible movie.

February 8, 2003 Full Review Source: Film Quips Online | Comment
Film Quips Online

Disappointing.

January 20, 2003 Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | Comment
rec.arts.movies.reviews

There's too little character development and no reason to care.

December 8, 2002 Full Review Source: Film Threat | Comment
Film Threat

A doggedly simple-minded diversion of rare purity.

October 15, 2002 Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer | Comment
Cincinnati Enquirer

Everything in this film is criminally bland, except for Russell's badass attitude.

September 10, 2002 Full Review Source: Montreal Film Journal | Comment
Montreal Film Journal

Competent and nothing more.

August 30, 2002 Full Review | Comment
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

Soldier wants to be an intense thriller with cerebral significance, but suffers from self-seriousness and silly cliches.

June 5, 2002 Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | Comment
Boxoffice Magazine

It resonates on more levels than just a simple action film.

January 1, 2001 Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | Comment
Laramie Movie Scope
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Soldier

Braindead, granted, but also very entertaining and a lot better than you might expect. Like in most other productions by Paul W.S. Anderson, there's a complete lack of gravitas and logic to the plot. Basically, it's just a knock-off on Universal Soldier, with settings very resemblant to the Mad Max movies. Kurt

June 8, 2007
CloudStrife84
Mike S

Super Reviewer

In the UK this was the biggest budget ever for a direct to video movie. Mostly because Russell took a reported $20 million pay cheque. What's great is that he clearly put in the work for that money. Looking buffer than ever and certainly capturing the correct look and tone for his character. I watched this not knowing

October 14, 2011
kiriyamakazou

Super Reviewer

    1. Sandra: But one solider... against 17. What are you going to do?
    2. Todd: I'm going to kill 'em all sir.
    – Submitted by Dennis L (4 months ago)
    1. Sandra: How do you know they'll be back?
    2. Todd: Because they're soldiers sir... like me
    3. Sandra: Why are they doing this?
    4. Todd: They're obeying orders sir. It's their duty.
    5. Sandra: Do you know how many they will be?
    6. Todd: 17 more sir.
    7. Sandra: Oh my God, you can't fight 17 on your own. You have to organize us. We're not cowards. We'll do as you tell us. We'll fight.
    8. Todd: No.
    9. Sandra: Why?
    10. Todd: Because soldiers deserve soldier sir.
    – Submitted by Dennis L (4 months ago)
    1. Caine 607: Come in unit 703. Unit 703 do you copy?
    2. Todd: [growling]
    – Submitted by Dennis L (4 months ago)

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April 24, 2007:
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