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Universal Soldier Play Trailer

Universal Soldier (1992)

tomatometer

22

Average Rating: 3.9/10
Critic Reviews: 9
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 7

No consensus yet.

audience

46

liked it
Average Rating: 2.8/5
User Ratings: 69,296

My Rating

Movie Info

Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren play archenemies from beyond the grave in this action film. During the Vietnam War, Luc (Van Damme), hoping to be sent home, comes upon blood-crazy Scott (Lundgren), who is starting a one-man genocide program. When Luc tries to stop Scott's carnage, Scott fights back and they end up killing each other. But now the government gets involved, cryogenically freezing their corpses and using their bodies in a secret government project call "UniSols" --turning

R,

Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Jun 19, 2001

TriStar Pictures

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Universal Soldier Trailer & Photos

Critic Reviews for Universal Soldier

All Critics (25) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (20) | DVD (13)

Leaves behind almost as many derisive laughs as dead bodies.

November 3, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety
Brian Lowry
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Mostly this is an amalgam of ideas, images and whole scenes lifted from other movies.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Mr. Lundgren, who glowers his way all too convincingly through the role of a rabid bully, may well be the only man in the universe who can make Mr. Van Damme look like an actor.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Though the idea is dumb enough to be fun, director Roland Emmerich does the Terminator thing without much style, and the two stars bash into each other but never connect.

May 12, 2001
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
Top Critic IconTop Critic

I suppose there is a market for this sort of thing among bubblebrained adolescents of all ages, but it takes a good chase scene indeed to rouse me from the lethargy induced by dozens and dozens of essentially similar sequences.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The action and the campiness barrel along in entertaining counterpoint. You can laugh when you're not absorbed with truck chases.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

There's a decent bit of escapism in here somewhere, but Emmerich doesn't possess the finesse to make the material rampage as it should.

July 9, 2012 Full Review Source: BrianOrndorf.com
Brian Orndorf
BrianOrndorf.com

With no real plot tying them together, the impressively staged big scenes become empty exercises in logistics, while the smaller scenes never develop any momentum.

November 3, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide
TV Guide's Movie Guide

It may be little more than an expensive arcade game for overgrown kids, but it moves too fast for critical flak to stick.

November 3, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4
Film4

Roland Emmerich's best film, and Lundgren's best acting job. Admittedly that ain't saying much in either case, but a fun flick all in all.

June 11, 2003
Luke Y. Thompson
New Times

In the end, the main drawback is the brainlessness of the story and the lack of a believable emotional payoff.

March 23, 2003 Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
View all critic reviews (25)

Audience Reviews for Universal Soldier

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Universal Soldier is among Roland Emmerich better works as a director. The film is a fun and entertaining popcorn flick that no one should take seriously. The plot is pretty good, and though not too great is a pretty cool idea in terms of Si Fi action. Acting wise, there are some so-so performances from the cast, but Lundgren and Van Damme are pretty good considering their lack of talent. They're perfect for the roles they play as it doesn't really require any great acting. This one should appeal to fans of mindless action films, and if you're looking for sheer entertainment value, Universal Soldier will surely give you what you're looking for in terms of effective thrills and interesting concept. Emmerich is not a good directing, but at times, he can create something watchable, and along Independence Day, The Patriot and Day After Tomorrow, Universal Soldier is one of his most entertaining films. Don't expect anything great with this one, as it is very flawed, but manages to overcome its weaknesses by delivering good action sequences that are designed to thrill and entertain the viewer looking for memorable thrills. This film has been compared to The Terminator, and I can see why, in some respects. Nonetheless, the film works well enough to separate itself from The Terminator by exploring new territory. If you enjoy mindless action flicks, then definitely give this one a shot. The film lacks any great performances, but it doesn't try to be an accomplished film in terms of acting, or truly remarkable story. This is a popcorn action flick, pure and simple and it doesn't try to be anything more than that. A definite must see for action fans looking for very good action and thrills.
January 13, 2013
TheDudeLebowski65
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

The first and easily the best of the entire franchise methinks. This Emmerich film is clearly a better and well funded film than all the rest. Its glossy all over from the camera angles, costumes, explosions and editing to the superb finale fight.

Totally over the top violence and with a very over used robot/cyborg plot line (can't really help but mention 'The Terminator' here, sorry). But this is still a good solid action flick, possibly Lundgren's best as well. The final showdown between Van Damme and Lundgren is seriously epic, very tense and Lundgren being pretty darn intimidating in his 'pyscho zone'. The way he is so unstable makes for a very nerve racking character to watch.

Some of the sequences where he questions people or attacks them is actually pretty violent. The guy is like a rabid dog as he tears people apart, knives them or just guns them down...'are we having fun yet!?'. Lundgren really pulls out all the stops with this badass bad guy, highly impressive.

Visuals are good all the way through and like I said all the action is first rate with some great fights. JCVD in the bluecollar diner is nice, also the initial sequence with all the UniSols at the start is cool. Well some are your typical JCVD fights and setups basically but we know and love em right. Walker is cute, Lundgren is fudging evil and its all very predictable of course, like so many other similar action fests.

Its a much darker affair than most of JCVD's work if you ask me, very gritty and dirty with some real adrenaline flowing through the finale. You really feel the heat and sweat at the end, and if you're not cheering for 'Devereaux' to kick 'Scott's' ass then there's something wrong with you.

Cheesy as hell (check some of the dialog) but holy shit this is a riot. High bodycount assured.
September 5, 2007
phubbs1
Phil Hubbs

Super Reviewer

Universal Soldier Quotes

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    1. Andrew Scott: Oh..oh.. nap time!
    – Submitted by Jeffrey C (6 months ago)
    1. Andrew Scott: What's the matter, you don't hear so good? Hello?
    – Submitted by Michael Z (16 months ago)

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Latest News on Universal Soldier

April 27, 2011:
Universal Soldier 4 Starts Shooting
Who's ready for more "Universal Soldier"? According to Scott Adkins, there's a new installment in...

November 24, 2009:
Trailer Bulletin: Universal Soldier: Regeneration
Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren are back together, and you can get an early look at the...

April 23, 2009:
First Look at Universal Soldier 3
Dolph Lundgren and Jean-Claude Van Damme are back in action in "Universal Soldier 3" -- and as...

View all news

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