AllMovie

Soldier is a generic sci-fi military adventure starring an outrageously muscle-bound Kurt Russell. While the film may satisfy admirers of the action genre, most will find it to be a muddled miscellany of premises, plot lines, and pilfered moments from successful sci-fi films. The story can best be described as a Western in outer space, which is no real surprise because it is written by David Webb Peoples (scribe of Blade Runner and Unforgiven). While the ferocious one-on-one fights between Russell and his nemesis are entertaining, director Paul Anderson openly retreads the territory of such post-apocalyptic space films asTotal Recall, Aliens, and The Road Warrior. Russell's performance is the film's only real attraction; although his character has virtually no dialogue, Russell's stone-faced delivery of the vacant super-warrior's lines is perfect. Unfortunately, the formulaic film -- which only lurches to action in its second half -- begins to go through the motions and culminates with a predictable climax. Although many action fans will relish the senseless destruction, there is little meaning behind the violence because the film lacks the compelling characters and plot to back it up.