Soldier finally deserves a reappraisal. The Kurt Russell starrer is actually a hugely entertaining and visually arresting piece of science fiction cinema – at the centre of it is a bold performance from Russell – one in which he only speaks 104 words.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 17, 2024

…while humour is sorely lacking in Soldier, the brutalist sci-fi tone holds throughout, and it’s easy to get behind Todd’s stubborn unwillingness to be thrown out with the trash…

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 8, 2023

Russell is quite suitable for a Terminator-like role, where dialogue is at an absolute minimum, physical intimidation is relevant, and action sequences are numerous.

| Original Score: 8/10 | Sep 24, 2020

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

| Original Score: 5/10 | Aug 8, 2011

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 10, 2007

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.

| Mar 7, 2007

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

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Mar 3, 2006

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.

Full Review | Jul 21, 2005

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

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Jun 24, 2004

Wow. What a terrible movie.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Feb 8, 2003

Disappointing.

| Original Score: 4/10 | Jan 20, 2003

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

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 8, 2002

A doggedly simple-minded diversion of rare purity.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 15, 2002

Competent and nothing more.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Aug 30, 2002

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Jul 25, 2002

I doubt that Kurt Russell has ever had less dialogue to work with than he has in this film.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jul 12, 2002

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

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jun 5, 2002

A potent comic-book-style action-adventure.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Feb 14, 2001

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

| Original Score: C+ | Jan 1, 2001

It's a big, clanging, brutal, actioner in which we search the murk in vain for the sparks of humanity the moviemakers keep promising us.

Full Review | Jan 1, 2000