Who remembers the 1980's vigilante thriller "The Exterminator"? Well, genre writer/director James Glickenhaus would follow up that cult film with the global cold war thriller "The Soldier". Glickenhaus sure knows how to stage action and that's hard-edge action. From the opening minutes, you just know you're in for a grungy, violent treat with spectacular stunt-work and explosions galore. Watch how everyone just seems to pop out a gun, when needed. Throw in gratuitous slow motion and a foreboding electronic score by The Tangerine Dream. They really do set the tone with their pounding tune in the opening credits.
Sadly though it started off more promising then how it ended. It's disappointedly low-key with its reveal and ultimate pay-off. At least the pacing remains consistent, even if not finding the second half to be as riveting. And the build-ups do offer some outstanding set-pieces involving thrilling car chases, bloody shootouts and dangerous skiing. Locations have character, due to being on location and having scope with it cinematography. From USA, to Israel, Germany and Austria, it does have that grand James Bond feel to its picturesque backdrops and adventurous plotting. As for the narrative, it's confounded with scheming and shady politics. Script remains little light on the details, but the recognizable cast does a serviceable job with the complicated material.
Ken Wahl brings a quiet confidence to the soldier role and Alberta Watson is rather icy. But you know you can count on badass Steve James to liven things up. Just look how he greets his pal (Wahl) and of course taking out some drunken yokels after being at the end of abusive language. Now let's move onto Klaus Kinski. It's a very odd appearance. For a mere minute he simply walks in, then walks off. Never to be seen, or heard of again. I thought his character was going to have bit more to him, but in end it's disposable. Maybe he accidentally walked onto set? There are bit parts also for William Prince, Ned Eisenberg, Zeljko Ivanek (looking rather fetching decked out in a cleaning lady's outfit) and Jeffrey Jones.
Forget the plot, enjoy the action. "The Soldier" is an entertainingly, ballsy political action-thriller, despite undesirable material.
Sadly though it started off more promising then how it ended. It's disappointedly low-key with its reveal and ultimate pay-off. At least the pacing remains consistent, even if not finding the second half to be as riveting. And the build-ups do offer some outstanding set-pieces involving thrilling car chases, bloody shootouts and dangerous skiing. Locations have character, due to being on location and having scope with it cinematography. From USA, to Israel, Germany and Austria, it does have that grand James Bond feel to its picturesque backdrops and adventurous plotting. As for the narrative, it's confounded with scheming and shady politics. Script remains little light on the details, but the recognizable cast does a serviceable job with the complicated material.
Ken Wahl brings a quiet confidence to the soldier role and Alberta Watson is rather icy. But you know you can count on badass Steve James to liven things up. Just look how he greets his pal (Wahl) and of course taking out some drunken yokels after being at the end of abusive language. Now let's move onto Klaus Kinski. It's a very odd appearance. For a mere minute he simply walks in, then walks off. Never to be seen, or heard of again. I thought his character was going to have bit more to him, but in end it's disposable. Maybe he accidentally walked onto set? There are bit parts also for William Prince, Ned Eisenberg, Zeljko Ivanek (looking rather fetching decked out in a cleaning lady's outfit) and Jeffrey Jones.
Forget the plot, enjoy the action. "The Soldier" is an entertainingly, ballsy political action-thriller, despite undesirable material.