Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (2012)

Led by Luc Devereaux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) a cloned UniSol Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren) are now wanted by the government who will do anything to find them a wipe out their UniSol army for good.

Universal Soldier fans maybe left scratching their heads, however, sci- fi action fans looking for slick, stylish direction with hard hitting violence and a Philip K. Dick tone - in the vain of Impostor (2001) maybe impressed by director John Hyams offering.

While not a fun hammy 90s hit like it's original this is smaller personal story adds another angle on UniSol. Reckoning may have benefited from being a stand alone low budget Dredd/Memento/Bourne-like film as it's so far removed to the original's feel.

This is actor/stuntman Scott Adkins film with very limited screen-time for Van Damme or Lundgren which isn't such a bad thing as their characters have become dismembered to those in the first outing. Nevertheless, Adkins as John carries it under Hyams games console shoot 'em up direction. While this film may not be Adkins Jason Statham 'star vehicle' it shows he's a convincing action man with some range of emotion to match as John goes on his hunt for Devereaux in some Apocalypse Now (1979) homage of sorts.

With excellent camera-work, lighting, stunts, ambiguous script, perfect moody atmosphere it's not a normal action film - and with nudity, blood and horror like gore it's not for the faint hearted either.

Don't expect a rehash or even the Universal Soldier you fell in love with and you may be surprised by this basic, dark, testosterone injected ride.

Now somebody needs to remake 1987's cheese-fest Dead Prey with Adkins as the lead.

Fmovies: This one is a very good trash movie. And I'm serious.

It has story, a good one if you come to think about it seriously. It even has nice twist in the end. But it also has so many obviously stupid things that we heartily laughed about. It is just impossible to take it seriously.

It has very good combat scenes. Enough of blood and gore for my liking. But every single thing contradicts laws of nature so bluntly that it is just impossible to take it seriously.

The struggle between characters portrayed by Van Damme and Adkins is well shown. And you can even sympathize both to great extent. But every single bit of lighting and makeup will turn it to comics. And already sitting with a silly grin at your face you just can not take it seriously.

This is very good trash movie! And I really mean it! If you like to watch one do go for this. I haven't seen like this for several years now.

In my mind there are only two Universal Soldier movies, and if you watch Universal Soldier (1992) and Universal Soldier: Regeneration (2009) you will have a complete, unspoiled Universal Soldier experience. Give everything else with the UniSol name attached to it a miss, it just spoils it!

Universal Soldier (1992) is a classic of its time and genre. It was destroyed with two "unofficial" sequels that I have never seen and never care to.

Then came the official sequel, Universal Soldier: The Return (1999). JCVD was back, which gave the movie some cred, but it deviated too far from what made Universal Soldier (1992) good. "The Return" was didn't have the same "feel". It was too "shiny", too "clean", just too "Hollywood".

When I got word of another Universal Soldier sequel I avoided it like the plague! I wasn't going to fall into temptation, but it was the reviews here on IMDb that finally turned me. I finally buckled due to the overwhelming praise of Universal Soldier: Regeneration (2009).

"Regeneration" really is SO good for its budget. It took the UniSol series from the "classic for its time" bracket and thrust it into gritty reality. A worthy and brilliant sequel (that thankfully ignores the events of "The Return" and still doesn't get the praise it deserves. WATCH THIS FILM!

"Regeneration" leaves room for a direct sequel, which if made in the same tone would have been brilliant! But "Day of Reckoning" ignores the lot of it and goes in a completely different direction again! I have no idea why or what they were thinking after the acclaim of "Regeneration". Everyone involved should be fired and never be allowed to work again!

This film does not star JCVD or DL. They are extras at most. This film follows a new character and his story which intertwines into a re- imagined UniSol universe almost completely unrelated to anything before it.

JCVD and DL look extremely old, even more so than in "Regeneration" where they just got away with it!

This film shouldn't have been made. They had all the ingredients to run with a better sequel after the events of "Regeneration".

I am in fact a little angry that I have seen "DOR". It has left a foul taste in my mouth again just like I felt after I watched "The Return".

In a way I hope they still do another one because their track record suggests their next one will be good again. On the other hand JCVD and DL are far too old.

It will take several sittings of the original and "Regeneration" to erase this movie from memory. And just like how I believe there are only three Star Wars films, only three Indiana Jones films and Joel Schumacher never made a Batman film - there are only two UniSol film: the original and "Regeneration". Watch these two films again and again if you have to, just give this one (and any others) a miss.

Thank me later.

(2 stars for some pretty reasonable and gritty action and fight scenes for its budget - only good part of the film).

Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning fmovies. I'm just going to say that this movie seriously should come with a seizure warning because I almost passed out from the flashing at certain scenes.

DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE IF YOU ARE PRONE TO EPILEPTIC SEIZURES!!!!!! No joke.

Otherwise it's good to see these guys on the same screen again. The movie is a little slow in parts but picks up quickly. Story develops quickly then plateaus a bit then picks up again.

Nothing that's going to curl your toes.. but a good flick.

Cheers!

Well Universal Soldier Day of Reckoning was brutal to say the least. Dark from start to end. Fight scenes were played out well, it didn't feel rushed to get the fight over like a lot of movies seem to do, it took its time and gave you the feeling like you were just standing there watching the thing happen, thanks to a wide pulled back viewing angle and steady cam. Even tho they were super human this made the combat feel realistic and solid in a visceral and disturbing way, As someone who hasn't seen a Universal Soldier movie since i was a kid i found the plot a little slow yet slightly confusing like i was missing some important information which actually kept me interested enough to care about what was going on even tho it ended up the only way it could have. No one goes into a movie like this expecting to have there mind blown away by the story anyway so it cant be faulted here. I believe this movie is a success because it does what it was trying to do so well.

Acting - 7 Story - 5 Pacing - 7 Action - 9 Overall Feel - 7

OK this is a very odd film. It does not feel right, its hard to explain but on this film Hyams has nailed it (with help) the direction/editing/cinematography/music....its all too good for this type of film. Not long in to the film I was shocked at how good it all looked from a film structure point, its not a Alien or Godfarther standard but its far above straight to DVD movies, its far better than most big screen films. The only thing that reminds you that this is a small screen film is the cast and their acting ability's (Scott does a good job where he can), but then again if you rented this film you would not be expecting any Oscars, but when it comes to the action side they do a very good job, its very upfront and bloody. The film sits around the 7/10 area, most of these films would normally hit a 5/10 but this one picks up points for the effort that has gone in to making something more than a cheap straight to DVD film. I hope that the same guys who put this together get a bigger film with a upgrade in actors, if they can make a film that looks this good with a low budget I would like to see what happens with a few more million thrown in.