Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)

The "universal soldiers" must fight the whole army, when the military's supercomputer S.E.T.H gets out of control.

Director:

Mic Rodgers

Writers:

Richard Rothstein (characters), Christopher Leitch (characters)

Stars:

Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bill Goldberg, Heidi Schanz

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Claude Van Damme	...	Luc
Michael Jai White	...	SETH
Heidi Schanz	...	Erin
Xander Berkeley	...	Dylan Cotner
Justin Lazard	...	Capt. Blackburn
Kiana Tom	...	Maggie
Daniel von Bargen	...	General Radford
James Black	...	Sergeant Morrow
Karis Paige Bryant	...	Hillary
Bill Goldberg	...	Romeo
Brent Anderson	...	2nd Technician
Brent Hinkley	...	Squid
Woody Watson	...	RL Gate Guard
Jacqueline Klein	...	Betty Wilson
Maria Arita	...	Kitty Anderson

Storyline

Luc Devereaux, the only surviving member of the original Universal Soldier Team. He now works with Dylan Cotner, on a project to create and improve a new Universal Soldier. Their plan is for the Universal soldier or UNISOLS to be controlled by a computer they call SETH. When the government decides to terminate the project, which includes shutting down SETH. SETH, not wanting this to happen, takes steps to prevent this. He first kills Dylan. He then has himself transfered into a body. He then seeks out Luc Devereaux, who is the only person who knows the code that will stop his program from being deleted. So he sends out all the UNISOLS to get him. Luc must try and stay away until SETH program is deleted. But SETH has targeted his daughter as possible leverage.

---

Plot Keywords:

time bomb | computer | combat | general | reporter | 

---

Taglines:

Prepare to become obsolete

---

Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for nonstop strong violence, and for language and nudity

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 August 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Universal Soldier IV

Filming Locations:

3458 Old Buena Vista Rd, Waxahachie, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$45,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,605,167, 22 August 1999

Gross USA:

$10,667,893

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,667,893

Company Credits

Production Co:

Baumgarten-Prophet Entertainment, IndieProd Company Productions, Long Road Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The role of Romeo was originally intended for WWE wrestler "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. However, without notifying Steve, his agent turned down the offer of $55,000 to star in the film. The role was subsequently offered to WCW star Bill Goldberg, who accepted the role, for a fee of $250,000. When Austin found out about this, he expressed his anger to Vince McMahon for not letting him know about the movie offer.

---

Goofs

(at around 1h 11 mins) During the "control room" battle, the regeneration chamber computer flashes "HEALING COMPLETE" during the shot showing the code has been broken - but later, the healing is not yet complete.

---

Quotes

Maggie: [to Luc] What is it with you boys and your toys?

---

Alternate Versions

The UK cinema version was cut by 1 second to obtain an 18 certificate. Video and DVD versions were cut by 12 secs to remove a back break and an ear clap.

---

Connections

References 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

---

Soundtracks

Never Felt So Much
Written by Diana Williamson (as Diana M. Williamson) and Allan Soberman
Performed by Diana Williamson
Courtesy of Heavy Hitters

User Reviews

Inferior sequel to original ¨Universal soldier¨ though packed with frantic action , thrills , spectacular fights and lots of violence

Regular follow-up in which Luc Deveraux and other "universal soldiers" must fight the whole army when then the military's supercomputer S.E.T.H gets out of control , as soldiers have been secretly reanimated , upgraded and leading a riot , threatening to unleash a world rebellion . Original ¨Universal soldier¨ was followed by this ¨Universal soldier : the return¨ with a good cast as Jean-Claude Van Damme , Michael Jai White , Heidi Schanz , Xander Berkeley and Justin Lazard ; however , subsequently Universal Soldier films ignore the events of The Return and outright contradict it in a number of ways ; while still an official entry, it is no longer considered part of the series canon . With top-secret technology, the SETH -2001's Hall 2000 alike- , has created a next-generation Universal Soldier , an elite fighter genetically altered into a programmable killing machine , forming a tough army of genetically enhanced warriors . SETH is preparing to government overthrow and build a new order ruled by Unisols without state control . Although former "UniSol" Luc Deveraux (Jean Claude Van Damm , also producer) and other staff members as Xander Berkeley playing Dr. Dylan Cotner and Daniel Von Bargen as General Radford , all of them attempt to prevent the revolt . The only one who can stop to UniSol 2500 (Bill Goldberg following his return from a six-month absence from wrestling , though this character was originally intended for WWF wrestler "Stone Cold" Steve Austin) and the same SETH personified into a bouncer UniSol (Michael Jai White who also appeared in the original ,1992, as a soldier) results to be Deveraux . SETH looks to take down Luc Deveraux after a hospital invasion claims his daughter . The fight pits Romeo/2500 and an army of genetically enhanced soldiers ; meanwhile, Deveraux must contend with several UniSols in relentless pursuits . He must make a full-out assault on the heavily armed headquarter . But inside, Deveraux'll discover these virtually indestructible warriors . Now, these elite fighters led by SETH are loaded and programmed to kill ; and the fate of millions hinges on this high-action showdown .

This moving picture contains noisy action , chills , shootouts and fierce combats in brutal , life-and-death style . This exciting story being based on the characters created by Christopher Leitch and Dean Devlin . From start to finish the action is unstoppable and frenetic . Thrilling screenplay dispenses absurd excitement as well as violence and lots of fights . Breathtaking action movie full of struggles , crossfire and tension , this is a fast-paced, stylized action-suspense film , though mediocre . Thrilling screenplay by William Malone and John Fasano , they dispense absurd excitement as well as violence and lots of fights , creating some incredibly violent genre fare . Passable nail-biting movie full of struggles , crossfire and tension , this is a stylized action-suspense film , though there are some slow-moving scenes . The tension of this picture keeps snowballing as the clock ticks ever close for a groundbreaking as well as spectacular final . Jean-Claude Van Damme and Michael Jai White have some scenes together at an impressive fighting . Jean-Claude Van Damme and Billy Goldberg also have several action set-pieces together at some bloody confrontations . Acceptable production design , the strip club scene is filmed at The Clubhouse in Dallas, Texas , a legendary strip club , and certain subterranean scenes were filmed in Texas in the tunnels dug for the US' Superconducting Supercollider Project . It was released theatrically despite the previous sequels having been made-for-TV - a rarity for sequels . Atmospheric and fitted to action musical score by Don Davis . The picture was middlingly directed by an ordinary stunt , Mic Rodgers , his only film .

This is the second of the series , the films are the followings : The best film of the series was the original ¨Universal soldier¨ by Roland Emmerich with Jean-Claude Van Damme , Dolph Lundgren , Ally Walker , Ed O'Ross . And many film series have gotten out of direct to video or made for TV through remakes, but few series get out of made-for-TV status otherwise . And ¨Universal Soldier: Regeneration¨ (2009) by John Hyams with Jean-Claude Van Damme , Dolph Lundgren , Andrei Arlovski and Mike Pyle . New sequel titled ¨Universal soldier : day of reckoning¨(2012) by John Hyams with Scott Adkins , Andrei 'The Pit Bull' Arlovski , Dolph Lundgren and Jean-Claude Van Damme , but here they have not scenes together . And released theatrically in a few countries and Direct-To-Video (DVD & Blu-ray) in the rest of the world . And two TV films : ¨Universal soldier : Brothers in arms¨ (1998) by Jeff Woolnough with Matt Battaglia , Gary Busey , Burt Reynolds , Richard McMillan and Chandra West and ¨Universal Soldier III: Unfinished Business¨ (1999) by Jeff Woolnough with Burt Reynolds Juan Chioran , Claudette Roche and Matt Battaglia .