Diagonaldi Very well executed

ThiefHott Too much of everything

Rijndri Load of rubbish!!

Myron Clemons A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Coventry I seriously have to stop making up my own story lines before seeing the actual movies! Too often it happens that see an enticing poster/cover image and title and then subsequently begin to draw my own story concept. Like in the case of "(Code Name: )The Soldier"… With a title like that, and the dark silhouette of a man with a massive gun on the VHS cover, I quickly became convinced that this film was about a secretly developed military weapon – presumably an indestructible cyborg of some sort – that would singlehandedly exterminate an entire army of bad guys. Disappointment all around when it turns out the soldier is, in fact, just an ordinary human being without any special powers or superhuman strengths. He's simply a CIA-agent who gets appointed the toughest and riskiest jobs. Other than that, "The Soldier" pretty much lives up to all expectations and contemporary 80's clichés. This is a typical US movie released during the peak of the Cold War era, so basically it means that evil and stereotypically hideous Russian bastards are developing fiendish plans to undermine the prosperity of the poor and peaceful American citizens. Russian terrorists with bazookas manage to steal a significant amount of plutonium and threaten to destroy 50% of the world's oil supply, unless the Israelis retire from the West Bank. Yes that does sound like a lot of political gibberish, but don't let this scare you off! In between all the politic nonsense and anti-communistic propaganda, there are plentiful of wild explosions, violent gunfights, close range executions and cheesy dialogs. Whilst allegedly negotiating with the Israelis, the American President assigns the head of the CIA to do whatever possible to prevent the loss of oil. "The Soldier" stands for half-decent and brainless entertainment, even though James Glickenhaus' screenplay sometimes tries to be a little bit too ambitious and intelligent. The film is actually very incoherent and too often jumps from scene to scene without making sense. Glickenhaus puts a lot of effort in the action sequences (like the skiing chase) and detailed accuracy in some cool gimmick sequences (like the construction of a light bulb bomb), but the overall storyline is pretty dumb. Glickenhaus' previous film "The Exterminator", about an embittered Vietnam veteran going on a vigilante rampage is much more shocking and socially confronting. Oh, and Klaus Kinski's role is frustratingly petite! It's hardly even a cameo.

gareth633 Probably the best Glickenhaus film, great action sequences, over the top yes, but a lot of fun. Especially the beginning and the plutonium theft scenes. The only downsides are the film drags slightly in the middle and Klaus Kinski has a minuscule role. Only gets one line I think. No great acting performances but action speaks louder than words in these sort of films and there is plenty. A ninja sequence with Steve James is a bit wasted as this angle could have been used more throughout the film i think, maybe in the assault on the missile base? Apart from those minor points it is overall a very good and underrated film. Certainly worth watching.

qq007 This is the best movie I ever saw in my life. I first saw it when I was 14 year old, and I've watched it over 100 times since then. In fact, I practically watch it every single morning, when I'm nearing my downtime, before going to bed.I always feel a weeping sensation in my heart for those poor KGB agents who get unmercifully executed in the first part of the movie, just because of the stupid mistake of the rookie agent, of forgetting to not keep the baby carriage far enough out in front of her.You all keep forgetting that when the CIA agent jumped the wall into East Berlin, he was surrounded by the EAST German MILITARY, and the HEAD of the KGB training camp said to him "well, it's too bad you weren't able to convince the Americans that you were right!!!" I personally believe that that part about him and his Jewess just walking our of EAST BERLIN was total BULLSHIT!!!!!!!! I think that movie was shown out of sequence, in the wrong order. I don't think those Nuclear Bombs at Silo 8 were being used for an attack against MOSCOW, I think they were being used against ISRAEL, in order to drive the ISRAELIS off the WEST BANK of the JORDAN RIVER!!!!!!!! What I will do is, I will re-edit the movie, and see if I can discover the correct time sequence that points to that conclusion, and then when it get's there, I will merge it will the phone call scene in Miracle Mile, where Dr. Greene gets his little phone call, and Tasha Yar starts planning her failed trip to Antarctica.Do you have your plane tickets from ChristChurch, NZ to Lake Vostok, Russian Federation, handy. You may need them soon.Very truly yours, NVA

Henry_56 This is a bit hammed up - lots of improbable action, dramatic lines, almost a caricature of a shoot-em-up spy movie. Yet, for what it is, it is great - You'd probably appreciate it a lot more as a twelve year old boy than any other age viewer, but it is fun and well done for its genre. It's no more corny than the old Star Trek was, in my opinion, nor much less! Plus, for the older viewer, Alberta Watson looks really good in this one. It moves fast, carries the viewer right along and requires only that you let it be a story and not critique it for accuracy, sophistication or subtlety of plot. There is a bit of 80's era violence, people getting shot, etc., no nudity, and some rough language. Also, in its hokey way, it gives a whiff of the era of the cold war. The Godfather, it's not, but a great movie for what it is.