Soldier (1998/I)

Director:

Paul W.S. Anderson

Writer (WGA):

David Webb Peoples (written by)

Release Date:

23 October 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Left for dead on a remote planet for obsolete machines and people, a fallen hero has one last battle to fight

Plot:

After being defeated and left for dead by his genetically engineered replacements, Sergeant Todd must save a peaceful community from destruction by the same soldiers.

Plot Keywords:

Survivor | Nose Bleed | Futuristic | Die Hard Scenario | Soldier

Cast

Kurt Russell	...	Todd
Jason Scott Lee	...	Caine 607
Jason Isaacs	...	Mekum
Connie Nielsen	...	Sandra
Sean Pertwee	...	Mace
Jared Thorne	...	Nathan
Taylor Thorne	...	Nathan
Mark Bringleson	...	Rubrick
Gary Busey	...	Church
K.K. Dodds	...	Sloan
James Black	...	Riley
Mark De Alessandro	...	Goines
Vladimir Orlov	...	Romero
Carsten Norgaard	...	Green
Duffy Gaver	...	Chelsey

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and brief language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Brazil:14 | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:16 | South Korea:18 | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18SG | Australia:MA (original rating) | Australia:M (cable rating) | Canada:14A | Finland:K-18 | Germany:18 | Netherlands:16 (video premiere) | Norway:18 (video premiere) | Spain:13 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Impact Pictures

Trivia:

One of the sound bites when Caine is pounding the residence is music from Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song".

Goofs:

Continuity: When Todd falls from the ship to the garbage planet, he alternately holds his left/right side between shots.

Quotes:

Sandra: How do you know they'll be back?
Todd: Because they're soldiers, Sir. Like me.
Sandra: Why are they doing this?
Todd: They're obeying orders, Sir. It's their duty.
Sandra: Do you know how many there will be?
Todd: Seventeen more, Sir.
Sandra: Oh my God, you can't fight seventeen more on your own, you have to organize us. We're not cowards, we'll do as you tell us, we'll fight.
Todd: No.
Sandra: Why not?
Todd: Soldiers deserve soldiers, Sir.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Spartan (2004)

Soundtrack:

The Flowing Bowl

Avoids many clichés, very well directed, very well acted.

Ok, basically this is a popcorn sci-fi movie, but from the outset its obvious that it has been directed with a great deal of intelligence. You can count about 10 clichés that the film is building up to, but it only delivers on about three of them, and a couple of them have a twist to them that lets you know once again that the director hasn't assumed that you are an idiot. Kurt Russell's acting is truely superb and brings a depth from the character that is suprising and rewarding. Recommended if you've just seen something really stupid, and want to rebuild your faith!