Universal Soldier 4k Review

Universal Soldier (1992) 4K Release

Directed By: Roland Emmerich

Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Ally Walker, Ed O’Ross, Ralf Moeller, and Jerry Orbach

Synopsis: During the Vietnam War, soldier Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) finds that his superior officer, Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren), has become violently deranged, and the two fight to the death. After their bodies are retrieved, they are placed in a secret US government program in which they are reanimated, using genetic engineering, and trained to become unquestioning killing machines for the UniSol counter-terrorist program. The Universal Soldiers dispatch their targets with no pangs of conscience or memory of the act – the ultimate crisis response force.

Their success is overwhelming, but the experiment gets out of hand when the two soldiers start to regain their memories. Glimpses of their pasts start to return, rekindling their intense conflict and need for an ultimate reckoning, with no regard for the collateral damage that ensues.

Review: I am so happy this movie got the upgrade treatment it needed. Such a classic film featuring two action legends couldn’t have been left out of the latest upgrades Studio Canal are bringing us.

The majority of action fans have seen this movie and have a great appreciation for it. Van Damme vs Lundgren is memorable for the ages. I would even go as far to say it would be one of the first movies people think of when questioned with two action stars vs eachother.

The movies opening is particularly memorable. It shows us Van Damme and Lundgren in Vietnam during the war. Lundgren’s character Sgt Andrew Scott has been affected by the war and is killing and torturing villagers and his own men. Van Damme’s Luc Deveraux tries to stop him from executing a young boy and girl which ends up with everyone being killed (yep guys you read that right…. Dolph and Van Damme die in the opening 10 minutes)

Dont Fear! Van Damme and Lundgren are brought back to life through an illegal government experiment that brings dead soldiers back to life, enhances them and turns them into killing machines.

The action scenes are great and are still exciting to watch to this day. The diner fight scene is definitely one that is remembered, which sees Van Damme take on a bunch or burley men with such ease. Lundgren on the other hand doesn’t have many standout fight scenes as he does memorable moments. One that instantly comes to mind is when he over takes over a supermarket in order revive two of his fellow unisols.

The movie is great and very well paced, Roland Emmerich went on to do some major movies but this would hold. A special place in my heart while looking at his filmography. The finale with Van Damme vs Lundgren is every bit worth the wait.

This newly restored version brings the movie to life and the sharpness is just perfect. The beginning in Vietnam is now so clear and you can see everything from Van Damme’s sweat dripped face to the backgrounds behind the characters. I remember in my DVD version the whole Vietnam sequence was practically in darkness and it was hard to make heads or tales of anything. Studio Canal have once again delivered a classic movie with a fresh vibrant feel. I cannot wait to see what movie they give the upgrade treatment to next.