Really Surprised!

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

Evil Russians steal some nukes, plant them in an oil field, and threaten to detonate them, thereby contaminating a large part of the world's oil supply. For some unexplained reason, they are anti-Israel bigots who want to move the Israelis off the West Bank. Sadly, The President (that's actually his credited character name) (Prince) is all too willing to comply. But there's one more ace up the USA's sleeve: The Soldier (Wahl). He's a highly-trained agent who controls a super-secretive and elite unit, and he's working with the Israelis to save the world.This movie has a killer opening sequence that really pulls you in. Its themes of terrorism and anti-Semitism (even from the highest levels of government) are, disturbingly, quite relevant and even prescient for today. The Soldier, for all it's 80's-style anti-commie plot threads (not that those are a bad thing in any way), was ahead of its time. Plus it has an unbeatable combination of Ken Wahl and Steve James fighting the baddies. So for that alone The Soldier is worth seeking out.Of course, there is some top-notch stuntwork as well. The ski chase sequence is a movie highlight, and director Glickenhaus must have loved it so much, he also included it in his movie Shakedown. Sam Elliott is watching it in the movie theater. It's truly Glickenhaus on Glickenhaus. And it's top-notch Glickenhaus. He's only directed eight movies, and out of those, The Soldier stands out. He's adept at action sequences, as amply proved here.Wahl is cool, and he's as cool here as we've ever seen him. He should have done more projects like this. His sweaters are very stylish and we liked his attitude. As for Klaus Kinski, one of the most underrated actors of all time, he does about a five minute cameo and has no spoken dialogue. Hmmmm...talk about a paycheck role. The Soldier could have been improved if Kinski was the main bad guy and Wahl had to face off against him. That would have been awesome. Chalk that up to a missed opportunity.Loaded with three of the best things you can ask for in a movie like this: top-quality stunts, over-the-top action violence and 80's atmosphere, these elements overcome some plot weaknesses. Additionally, the soundtrack by Tangerine Dream rules.You should definitely enlist The Soldier into your collection.For more action insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

At the forefront of "80's" action films. Better than anything Chuck Norris except maybe Delta Force? The vehicle (limo) ambush is great and the undercover agents are awesome. The silo takeover is hardcore and eye opening. I saw it young and several times, enjoyed it every time. Rent it, hard to find on DVD.Ken Wahl and his team are outstanding in the fight sequences. Joaquim Almeida has gained popularity lately with "Clear and Present Danger" villain Hector and "Behind Enemy Lines" Admiral Pique, NATO.Looks like some stuff out of the Anarchists cookbook with the light bulb. I'm sure some dumb kid has tried it at one time or another.

Although the actors did a professional, best-that-they-could job with "The Soldier", we are asked to believe that, given the circumstances, the United States would launch a nuclear attack against Israel. Added to this insult to both intelligence and patriotism is the concept that US Armed Forces would transport nuclear material with only two, count 'em, two LTD's as escorts. Ofcourse, if you're ready to believe that, then you'll have no trouble with the ( only ) three men it takes to highjack the plutonium. Then again, it only takes the same amount of guys to - get this - sneak into an Air Force missile base and commandeer a missile silo. Not to worry, though, they're on our side and they are aiming the mega - death at Moscow. Given the anti - American sentiment of the film, it's amazing that they're not pointing the ICBM at the Rose Garden.In fact, the producers again and again seem to see the US as either brain - dead or totally amoral, though the former attempt a visual disclaimer by having the hero and heroine wind up at the Statue of Liberty. The real heroes, the Twin Towers, stand painfully in the background.A positive note, though: the producers did have the good taste to include a Porsche Turbo. However, in another hole big enough to drive a semi through, the Porsche isn't able to outrun a Jeep!Perhaps, the producers were aiming for some kind avant - garde satire, foradd to all this a Jewish interrogator - dominatrix. Gotta be an avant - garde satire. If only they could have afforded Woody Allen.

The Soldier is absolutely one of this worst movies I have ever seen in my life. Just name an aspect of a movie; acting, writing, directing and it is bad. Probably the worst parts are the action; a man is hit in the chest with a half-dozen bullets from a machine gun by the hero (who is flying through the air on skis at the time, don't ask) and croaks out the complete plans of the bad guys to the hero for no particular reason. And that is not the dumbest scene by far. Only rent this if you want to laugh at a movie.