Customer Reviews

Universal Soldier: Return [VHS]

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(20)

 

 

there was a short recall of some scenes from the original universal soldier movie to connect to this sequel, but not enough background on the events that led to luc devereaux's wedding and becoming a father. i think the newsreporter's character was a waste of time in this movie since all she did was get in the way. the action was not lacking in this film though it could have used more of the humor from the original movie. i guess i expected a continuation of the original characters as the made for tv movies (universal soldier II & III) did.

Part 2 of universal soldier(universal soldier-the return)this movie is about one man fighting against tons of unisol soldiers, that are 2.5 times stronger then any man. The main computer goes out of control. I won't go into detail, cause i don't want to ruin the movie, but Jean-Claude Van Damme Pulls out some awsome martial arts foot action in this movie. The best fighting scene yet of jean claude is in this movie. This movie has some comedy scenes,as well as action. Bill goldberg does an outstanding job in this film. I just don't see how this didn't become a big hit in the movie theaters. I rent movies qite often and i think jean claude movie gets so underated. If you u were to pick out the latest top 10 movies, jean claude movie should be atleast a 3 on the top 10 list. so if you want a great hit, this movie is a must see.

The Jean Claude Van Damme Review Matrix (JCVD-RM)

1. Who is he? Luc Devereaux, the only remaining Universal Soldier (UNISOL) from the first experiment. He now serves as technical expert to UNISOL 2500, the second generation, which has resulted in a stronger, faster, more deadly warrior.
2. Which family member/friend must be avenged? Not only does Dr. Dylan Cotner (Xander Berkeley) - the lead project scientist - get fried, but his daughter also falls into danger.
3. Does he take his shirt off? No, but Romeo (professional wrestler Bill Goldberg), the alpha male of all the UNISOLs, is constantly shirtless.
4. Does he have sex with a C-List actress? I hoped that there'd be copulation with his partner Maggie (Kiana Tom), but sad disappointment hit me when the credits rolled.
5. Is there a tournament? No structured tournament.
6. Is training needed for this tournament? As a regeneration from the first experiment, JCVD has all the training he needs
7. Does he do the splits in training or in the tournament? The splits are in full force when JCVD delivers a sack-stretching spin kick to SETH (Michael Jai White) - Self-Evolving Thought Helix - the advanced computer system controlling the new genetically enhanced soldiers that implanted its programming and consciousness into human form.
8. Does he punch someone in the balls? Since the UNISOLs don't feel pain, but need to breathe, the throat-shot replaces the groin-shot in this one.
9. Does he do a series of flying or 360 kicks? OMG! I'm dizzy!
10. Is his enemy unbeatable? SETH isn't quite SkyNet, and the UNISOLs aren't quite Terminators; so, JCVD has a manageable, yet difficult foe.
11. Does he overcome an injury or other hindrance? While Luc is battling the new and improved UNISOL army, he has to contend with an beautiful but irritating reporter named Erin (Heidi Schanz)
12. Does he win? Judgment day averted.

After one of the most ridiculous opening jet-ski, machine gun scenes in cinema history, Kiana Tom's shirt got ripped open for a bra shot. I immediately thought this movie, like Kiana, had potential. I was not disappointed.

When a Pentagon General (Daniel von Bergen) gets the nod to shut down the UNISOL program, SETH takes action to defend itself. Exhausting all options, Devereaux and gang try to shut SETH down manually and face resistance. Without a secret code, known only by Devereaux, SETH will shut down in eight hours; so, the computer begins military actions and decryption of the code ala the WOPR in War Games.

This is an enjoyable JCVD flick, but there are four problems I had with it. One, SETH was supposed to be five-times as fast/strong/etc. as a person, so regardless of how awesome JCVD is, it should have been a mismatch. Somehow, however, SETH doesn't avoid an awesome JCVD flying 360. Two, all of Bill Goldberg's lines should have been grunts. His physique is imposing, but his acting is terrifying. Three, the reporter Erin was completely unnecessary, and at times blocked the movie's flow like an infected kidney stone. And, four, Kiana didn't get naked (this may not be a valid argument).

Overall, this is JCVD fun. Tons of kicks. Even more gun-fighting and explosions. Decent acting, albeit with a diluted plot, makes this a good follow-up storyline and a mid-level JCVD movie, which makes it better than most action movies in general. Guilty pleasure awesomeness.

Universal Soldier-The Return(released August/99)is certainly an underrated sequel to the first Universal Soldier.The film is filled with lots of action and suspense mixed with a nice on going sub plot concerning the value of family and love.Van Damme is certainly on top of his acting game in this one.
The story concerns the Uni-sol project and Luc Deveraux(Van Damme)who this time around is a consultant and trainer for the project.His wife has passed on and he is a single father who has one daughter Hillary(Karis Bryant)who he dotes over lovingly.One day the overseeing General Radford(Danile Von Bargon)informs the project team that he has to pull the plug on the project.It has become a liability and the government won't stand for anymore mishaps.SETH,the artificial intelligence that runs the computer systems including commanding the Uni-sols themselves,decides this is against protocol and initiates a defensive posture.He takes over total control of all systems and instructs the soldiers to clear the facility in preparations for a total assault on the outside world.
Luc possesses the code which would be able to terminate SETH and with his help the General tries repeatedly to shut things down but without success;with much loss of military life in the process.In the meantime SETH has gone from a computer based intelligence into a human host(Michael Jai White).He also kidnaps Luc's daughter from her hospital bed and holds her as a bargaining chip.In the finale of the film Luc and SETH battle toe to toe until Luc manages to turn on the cryo freezing unit which turns SETH into a human popsicle;this in turn enables Luc to give one last high flying kick which disintegrates SETH into pieces.As Luc runs from the building he shoots and ignites explosives which destroys both the building and the remaining Uni-Sols.The film ends with Luc reunited in his daughter's arms.
As I mentioned above Van Damme was definitely on his acting game in this one and it is especially evident in his on screen relationship with his daughter.He emotes all the right feelings at just the right moments throughout and this is one of his better moments on the screen in that regard.Michael White makes for a very menacing SETH and ex football player/wrestler Bill Goldberg makes a fine antagonist to our hero Luc.Fine acting,supporting and lead,all the way through makes this an enjoyable action romp.Once the action starts there is no let up.
Technically the film has been transferred well and the picture is crisp and clear.There is a little inherent graininess now and again but nothing major.This DVD is a dreaded DDD(double sided disc) so be very careful re scuffing and scratching.One side has the widescreen version and the other the full screen.The film is also available in Dolby 2 and 5.1 sound.Extras include the trailer,talent files,an almost 4 minute look into the work out routine of Mr.White,a making-of featurette and a look at some of Van Damme's other film product for Columbia Tri-Star with comments by Van Damme on them and his career.
In conclusion I do recommend this film/DVD.A very nice fast moving action packed sequel to the original,with Van Damme on top of his game.

Excellent movie! A must have along with the the other two sequels: The Return and Next Generation.

I know, Goldy got another movie later,
but here we see why he ISN'T THE next
'Rock'. Supoorting cast is pretty bad
and belgian kickboxing Champ Van Dam
just isn't Schwarzenegger (that says
a lot!) and movie night filming doesn't
help! Props and fake US army set up
looks like something out of a Return
of the Living Dead set! Not really any-
thing to right home about unless you're
into Bill Goldberg, "Next stop, intensive
care...", just like Van Dam and B.G.'s
careers after this movie. Can you beleive
Van Dam did (another) sequel?!

I have seen some Bad Action movies in my time, but nothing could have prepared me for "Universal Soldier - The Return". It makes your average Straight-to-Video Action film look like "Die Hard".

Once Again, Van Damme Surrounds himself with Poor Actors so he looks All the Better. Only Michael Jai White Stands a Cut above the Rest as the Super villain. Goldberg's is one of the most Moronic, Annoying Performances I've Ever Seen in my Entire Life. Every time he Opens his Mouth, a Plethora of Crap Dialogue and Horrendous Acting follows. Some may blame the Dialogue, but many films in this genre have Bad Dialogue, it`s the Actors Job to make it sound good, Sadly, Goldberg is No Actor.

"Universal Soldier 2 - The Return" has, on the surface, Everything a By-the-Book Action Flick Needs, the Obligatory scene at a Strip Joint, (here they have to go there to use their Computer... Try to Stomach That) The Love Interest (an Exact Copy of the Love Interest in the Original, but Far more Aggravating) and Plenty of Action... (one such scene includes a Wrestling match with Goldberg against 2 Hospital Orderlies that are Bigger and more Muscular than Van Damme and Goldberg Combined) It's a Shame that the Action is Poorly Shot, Poorly Edited, Poorly Conceived, Poorly Timed, Poorly Choreographed, and Poorly Performed.

If you've Seen the Film, you know what I'm Talking about, If you Haven't seen it; you haven't the Faintest Idea what I'm Talking About. There is No Reason I can Think of to Recommend this film to Anyone, except maybe people who like to Torture themselves. But Average Joe's like Me, if you are Listening... Run, Run Away from this Movie, Don't Even Look at the Cover... If it's One your TV, Smash your TV, if a Friend Hires it, Get New Friends, If Van Damme Himself Pleads with you to Watch it, Chastise him for me and Every Other fan of the Truly Classic Original "Universal Soldier", a film that will Never be the same Again.

"Universal Soldier: The Return" isn't what you think it might be if you saw the original Universal Soldier movie that starred Van Damme. Jean-Claude Van Damme is not one of the universal soldiers in this movie, he's a human going up against many evil universal soldiers including wrestling star, Goldberg, and Seth (martial artist, Michael Jai White).

"Universal Soldier: The Return" isn't really a good movie, but it does have a lot of good special effects, and fighting sequences. The first 50 minutes of the movie isn't that great, but the last 40 minutes of the movie is some of the best action and fighting sequences I've seen in awhile. If you like Van Damme movies or movies with some good action, I recommend seeing "Universal Soldier: The Return."

This is a movie to see once.It has great action but it is missing something.Luc Deveraux is trying to stop the controller of the soldiers.The soldier turn bad and whoever gets in their way to kill Luc will die.Jean-Claude Van Damme has great kicks and strong punhes.But if you like Jean-Claude Van Damme you might like this movie

This film is a mess. The title and story is nothing but a cash-in on the first movie. That being said, I'm happy Dolph didn't star in this film, there is no disguising the fact this movie really stinks! Rent the original Universal Soldier for a good action flick.