Customer Reviews

Toy Soldiers [VHS]

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Toy Soldiers is one of my all time favorite movies. I have quite possibly seen this movie about 100 times.. Anytime it comes on TV i watch it, I own it on VHS, I saw three times in the theatre. Now I can finally own it on DVD.
The movie takes place in a Prep School for misfit boys. Sean Astin leads a motley crew of bad boys who try to save their school and their friends from a group of Columbian terrorists. He is joined by Will Wheaton and Keith Coogan as two of his friends and Louis Gossett Jr. as the schools headmaster. Astin and his friends come up with a masterful plan to create a landscape of diversions to allow Billy (Astin) to escape the grounds just long enough to deliver schematics of the guns, drawing of the terrorists and where they are placed. He must then make it back in time for roll call or his classmates will be killed. This sets in motion a series of events that gets one boy killed and sneds the rest of the group into warp speed to kick some terrorist a**. This movie was awesome. Great action and good suspense.. I am glad that I can finally get it on DVD.

Just FYI, the movie format is listed as both widescreen and fullscreen/pan and scan, making it seem that this contains both versions. It is infact fullscreen only and has a lack of any additional bonus features. Still a great flick, but if you're looking for the niceities, you might want to wait for better version to be released.

This is one movie that absolutely deserves to be transfered to dvd. Why it hasn't yet, I don't understand! I remember when Toy Soldiers first came out, I must have seen it three or four times in the thearters alone. Then when it was released on vhs, I watched it another fifty or so, over the years. The film never got the recognition it deserved, and because of that, it kind of just fell to the waste side. In my opinion, this is one of the best films of the last decade. The story, acting, and fx were all excellent. The film is about a prep school for boys that gets taken over by terrorists. The Regis school is where the country's best families send the world's worst students. Although, the students are not really all that bad, they do get into trouble quite often. The films centers on one particular group of friends at the school. Sean Astin(("Rudy")as Billy Tepper) is the star of the film, but the other's do as good a job. Others in the group include Wil Wheaton(("Stand By Me")as Joey Trotta) and Keith Coogan(("Don't Tell Mom The Babysitters Dead")as Jonathan Bradberry). They are all on the school's scoccer team and also room together. The U.S. takes the head terrorist's father into custody and that's where everything begins. The terrorists, led by Luis Cali(Andrew Divoff(Fuast-Love Of The Dammed)), first take over the courthouse where the judge that put his father away is. They demand that the judge tell them where they took Luis's father and want him released immediately. But when the judge won't say anything, they force him into a chopper, take off from the courthouse roof, and toss him out. When Luis Cali learns that the judge's son is living at the Regis School, he figures they can use him as a trade off for his father. Not suspecting anything, but just to be safe, the FBI takes the judge's son out of the school and into protective custody. The boy's at the Regis School are in the middle of lunch in the cafateria, when Luis and his gang get there. They walk right in and shoot a round from a machine gun into the ceiling of the cafateria, causing all the boys to drop to the floor. They seal off all the enterances and exits, and wire the entire building with explosives. They have check points at all corners of the roof, two guys at each with sub-machine guns and rocket launchers. When Luis Cali learns that the judge's son has left the school, he has his people look through the school files to see who else he can use as a trade-off for his father. He decides that there are enough important families, who will cause problems for the government if they don't adhere to his demands, who have there kid at the Regis school. Billy and his friends agree that they have to do something to help the police and military that are now surrounding the school. They create a plan that will get Billy to the other side to tell everyone where each of the terrorists are positioned and what type of weapons they have. The plan works fine and everything seems to be working out, until one of the boys in their group is shot and killed. Billy decides that helping the authorities isn't the best idea because somebody else might get killed. But his friends tell him that he can't back out now, that everyone is counting on them to do what they said they would. So everything is back on, and the military, along with the help of Billy and co., set out to bring the terrorists down. I almost forgot to mention Louis Gossett Jr, who plays Dean Parker in the film. He, as everyone else, does a fantastic job. I don't want to go into anymore detail because you have to see this movie for yourself. There isn't a boring or slow part in any of the film. You definitely won't be disappointed with this one. Buy it while you can, since there doesn't seem to be any signs that this is comming to dvd anytime soon. NEVER FORGET 9/11/01!!!!!!

What can I say about this movie? Maybe the question should be, what can't I. I saw this movie for the first time two days ago, and now I rank it as one of my favorites. Come on...haven't we all had that same daydream of saving our school and friends from bad guys. Well...at least I have. This movie may not be a 'Thinking Person' movie. But sometimes, you need a movie that doesn't really require you to think. This one is definitely one of them. It is just a fun movie and I love it. I feel it was terribly underrated. The cast was excellent and Sean Astin did an excellent job and this only cemented his place as my favorite actor. If you want a movie that is a pleasure to watch. One that is great from start to finish...then this is your movie. Two thumbs up. Five Stars. A Classic.

JW

This is absolutely the best film in history. Don't pay any attention to what the editorial reviewer said. It isn't nonsense at all. It was well constructed, well written, well thought out, and realistic. Sean Astin is an awesome actor. Did he get an Oscar for this? I hope he did because he deserved it as well as the rest of the cast, Keith Coogan, Wil Wheaton, and Louis Gassett. I remember watching this on tv years ago. I finally bought it on DVD at the mall. That was the only place I could find it. It was 20 bucks but well worth it. I bought it 3 days ago and I already watched it four times. It's intense, dramatic, sad, touching, thrilling, entertaining, funny, scary, unpredictable, and realistic. The reason why it was so realistic is because the military helped out in the making of this film. And in the movie nothing went perfect. I don't want to give it away for those who havent seen it. If you havent seen it you're really missing out. I highly recommend picking it up. It doesnt seem like it was made it 91. It's one of the best actions films ever made. It's intelligent and one of a kind. I don't think they have it for rent anymore. I hate when good movies aren't appreciated or remembered. This film is truly unforgettable and my movie collection is nothing without it.

the best movie made involving a teen hero. its every boys dream to play a roll in a movie like this. it doesn't go over the edge in reality but its amazing what they let happen in it. its not one of those sassy action movies that censor all the great action scenes, and it doesn't lack any humour either especially between the group of friends who all play their own individual part in it. an all round great movie involving great friendships, action scenes and comedy and it constantly keeps you on your toes.

This is absolutely the best film in history. Don't pay any attention to what the editorial reviewer said. It isn't nonsense at all. It was well constructed, well written, well thought out, and realistic. Sean Astin is an awesome actor. Did he get an Oscar for this? I hope he did because he deserved it as well as the rest of the cast, Keith Coogan, Wil Wheaton, and Louis Gassett. I remember watching this on tv years ago. I finally bought it on DVD at the mall. That was the only place I could find it. It was 20 bucks but well worth it. I bought it 3 days ago and I already watched it four times. It's intense, dramatic, sad, touching, thrilling, entertaining, funny, scary, unpredictable, and realistic. The reason why it was so realistic is because the military helped out in the making of this film. And in the movie nothing went perfect. I don't want to give it away for those who havent seen it. If you havent seen it you're really missing out. I highly recommend picking it up. It doesnt seem like it was made it 91. It's one of the best actions films ever made. It's intelligent and one of a kind. I don't think they have it for rent anymore. I hate when good movies aren't appreciated or remembered. It never got the recognition it deserved. This film is truly unforgettable and my movie collection is nothing without it.

I have been looking for this movie for YEARS! I just happened to type in "Sean Astin" and it came up to my surprise. When I was a girl of about 15 I loved this guy. He was a perfect actor and so good at it. I searched forever for this movie when I saw it on the channel USA. Well, all I can say is that when I receive it will be watched numerous times. It is a great movie with great actors. Back in my teenage years there were great young actors. Memories are wonderful when you can watch the movies from your childhood.

I viewed this movie 2 times, and loved it both times. I gave this movie 5 stars, for action-packed, seat-grbb'in fun. It remined me when, I was that age and how it would be if, I had to save my school and friend, before we rate something we should take the time to really look, and thake our minds into a different dialogue in time, this will let yourself expand your "open" minds to judge clearly!!! "D"

For action, teen hijinks and heroism, this movie is hard to beat. "Toy Soldiers" is full of boyish bravado and humor mixed with taut suspense and even tragedy. The writing is fine, the plot well-woven, and the acting terrific on the part of both the teenage and adult members of the cast.

A Colombian drug lord is extradited to America and his son is determined to get him back---at any cost. Luis Caldez hatches a cold-hearted scheme to kidnap the son of the man who will be the judge in his father's case. The boy attends a private school called St. Regis Academy, headed by Louis Gosset, Jr. as its dean.

The school, nicknamed The Rejects' Academy, contains a student body that consists of boys tossed out from other schools for disciplinary problems. These kids hate and defy authority routinely. Chief among the troublemakers are Billy Tepper(Sean Astin) and Joey Trotta(Wil Wheaton), who hatch a clever scheme to free the school from the terrorists. The ensuing twists and turns and near-misses work well to maintain the adrenalin level, which heightens when the bad guys kill one boy, whose father just happens to be the head of the New Jersey Mafia. This tragic event pushes the action up to a fever pitch as the angry mobster exacts his revenge in a fitting way. Some of the action seems a bit implausible, but that doesn't take away from the joyride of watching the boys defy their odious captors. The viewer almost pities the terrorists for what they've gotten themselves into by ticking off these toy soldiers.

The movie is enjoyable, with plenty of heart and fine acting. Sean Astin and Wil Wheaton are great as the head rebel and his partner in crime. Louis Gosset, Jr. demonstrates why he's an Oscar-caliber performer. Denholm Elliot is endearing as the gentle headmaster who maintains dignity throughout the menace. Andrew Divoff is creepy as the calculating and ultimately psychotic Luis Caldez. An uncredited Jerry Orbach gives an intense performance as the slain boy's father, evoking both loathing for his criminal career and compassion for his pain over the loss of his son. The rest of the cast is in excellent form, too, and carries the story forward.

All in all, this is a great flick for those who enjoy action, especially teenagers. There's plenty of foul language and graphic violence that are not for the sensitive of ears or stomach, but most viewers should find this one a great ride. Enjoy the exploits of those daring young men!