Universal Soldier (1992)

Director:

Roland Emmerich

Writers (WGA):

Richard Rothstein (written by) &
Christopher Leitch (written by) ...

Release Date:

10 July 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The ultimate weapons of the future have just declared war... on each other.

Plot:

Luc and Scott were killed in Vietnam, but the army has a secret project for reanimating dead people as near-perfect soldiers.

Plot Keywords:

Vietnam | Flashback | Chase | Top Secret | Army

Cast

Jean-Claude Van Damme	...	Luc Deveraux / GR44
Dolph Lundgren	...	Andrew Scott / GR13
Ally Walker	...	Veronica Roberts
Ed O'Ross	...	Colonel Perry
Jerry Orbach	...	Dr. Christopher Gregor
Leon Rippy	...	Woodward
Tico Wells	...	Garth
Ralf Moeller	...	GR76 (as Ralph Moeller)
Robert Trebor	...	Motel Owner
Gene Davis	...	Lieutenant
Drew Snyder	...	Charles
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister	...	GR55
Simon Rhee	...	GR61
Eric Norris	...	GR86
Michael Winther	...	Technician

Also Known As:

Crystal Knights (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

103 min | Germany:84 min (TV version) (heavily cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

CDS (digital 35 mm prints) | Dolby SR (analog 35 mm prints)

Certification:

Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Germany:16 (heavily cut) | Germany:18 (JK/SPIO) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Chile:18 | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Ashfork, Arizona, USA

Company:

Studio Canal

Trivia:

The last film to be recorded in CDS, an early digital sound format. In the following year of the film's release, sound technicians had developed DTS. This sound format was apparently of higher audio quality than CDS and has been used in most movie theaters ever since.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The farm near end of movie supposedly in Louisiana, but mountains visible in background.

Quotes:

Luc: I just want to go home.

Movie Connections:

Featured in A Tale of Two Titans (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Body Count's In The House

Not great but solid action from Van Damme and Lundgren

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.