Small Soldiers

Plot synopsis:
Toy company Heartland Playsystems is acquired by the multinational conglomerate GloboTech Industries, which is expanding from manufacturing high-quality military hardware. GloboTech CEO Gil Mars (Denis Leary) pays a visit to Heartland to meet with Larry Benson (Jay Mohr) and Irwin Wayfair (David Cross) concerning their newest projects, which involve the creation of intelligent, interactive toys.Irwin offers the Gorgonites, peaceful creatures whose mission is to gather information about Earth, prompting children to learn with them, whereas Larry presents the Commando Elite, a special task force of action figures. Despite Irwin's objections, Mars chooses the ugly-looking Gorgonites as the Commando Elite's enemies and imposes a three-month deadline, which Irwin protests as 'impossible' due to the rigorous testing and design period required.Through Larry's inexperience with the GloboTech database, he commits a critical mistake: rather than standard toy-related computer chips, the action figures are fitted with surplus X-1000 "intelligence" chips designed for use by the military.Three months later, schoolboy Alan Abernathy (Gregory Smith) and his parents Stuart (Kevin Dunn) and Irene (Ann Magnuson) have moved to Cleveland, Ohio, hoping for a fresh start after Alan's expulsion from two schools for playing practical jokes. His father Stuart owns an unpopular traditional toy store that does not sell electronic toys or violent action figures. Stuart goes on a business trip, leaving Alan in charge of the store, hoping that Alan will prove worthy of his trust. During his absence, Alan sees a box containing Commando Elite and Gorgonite toys bound for another larger toy store, and convinces the delivery truck driver Joe (Dick Miller) to leave him a complete set of each to sell, so as to make the shop wealthier and more sophisticated. Joe initially resists, but relents after Alan pleads with him. When released from their boxes, the toys become animated and begin to wage war against each other. Alan's neighbor and romantic interest Christy Fimple (Kirsten Dunst) visits the store with her younger brother Timmy (Jacob Smith) who stumbles across the feuding toys in the back room, and is shot by Elite Commander Chip Hazard. Because the toys' weapons are merely imitations, he is not hurt and pleads his sister to buy one of them. Alan and Christy later lock up the store and part ways, while the Gorgonite leader called Archer (voiced by Frank Langella) hides in Alan's backpack.During the night, Chip Hazard (voiced by Tommy Lee Jones) activates the others of the Commando Elite consisting of Kip Killagan (voiced by Ernest Borgnine), Brick Bazooka (voiced by George Kennedy), Butch Meathook (voiced by Jim Brown), Nick Nitro (voiced by Clint Walker), and Link Static (voiced by Bruce Dern). Chip issues functional weapons, and orders all Gorgonites in the store to be destroyed. During the ensuing melee, the Commandos and Gorgonites make a mess. The Gorgonites, who are programmed to lose any battle with the Elite, hide in a garbage dumpster behind the store.At Alan's house, Alan discovers Archer in his backpack; but the Gorgonite refuses to respond in any 'intelligent' manner. Eventually, Alan realizes that the X-1000 is, in fact an 'intelligent' computer chip that is capable of learning, reasoning, and adapting, and has turned the former 'toys' into artificial intelligence.The next day, at Archer's direction, Alan finds the remains of one destroyed Gorgonite Troglokhan, but no sign of the Commando Elite or the remaining Gorgonites. Alan manages to repair most of the damage done to the store by their fight and calls the company to complain about the Commandos' actions, but receives an apathetic response and is transferred to a voice-mail machine, where he leaves an angry message but is unable to record his telephone number.Archer tries to talk to Alan, but the furious Alan tells Archer to 'shut up and stop talking'. Archer obeys and remains silent until later in the night.Alan and Archer headhome on Alan's bike, but are closely followed by the Commando Elite. Brick Bazooka is sent to assassinate Archer, and is caught in the bike's wheel and has his legs and hips torn off by the spokes. After reparing Brick, Chip notes Alan's House and orders the Commando Elite to move in. During the night, the Commandos enter the house, capture Archer, and interrogate him in the kitchen over the garbage disposal. Alan awakens, saves Archer, drives off the Commando Elite, and jams Commando Nick Nitro into the garbage disposal, destroying him from the knees down. Nick escapes out the window while Alan is caught by his parents, to whom he is forced to confess his illegal acquisition of the toys.The parent-to-son discussion becomes a heated argument when Alan asserts that the toys were responsible for his father's crafting tools missing, leading his parents to suspect he might be using drugs and regressing to his mischievous lifestyle. Alan, furious at Archer for not supporting him, demands why he did not speak up to prove to his parents that the toys are alive, to which Archer responds by repeating Alan's earlier command to 'shut up'. Alan worries that he will suffer losses of others' trust if the Gorgonites have been destroyed, whereupon Archer replies that the Gorgonites must be alive, because the Commandos are still seeking them.The Commandos regroup in the Fimples' garage next-door, where Chip Hazard delivers a stirring, noticeably incoherent speech to his followers. Nick crawls his way into the garage and dies in Chip's arms. He then announces that Alan, for rescuing Archer, must be eliminated. The Commandos begin to convert all the sharp tools, electronics, and other hardware into makeshift vehicles and miniature weapons of mass destruction.Alan returns to the toy store in the morning and retrieves Gorgonites Slamfist (voiced by Christopher Guest), Ocula (vocal effects done by Jim Cummings), Punch-It (voiced by Harry Shearer), Scratch-It (also voiced by Christopher Guest), Insaniac (voiced by Michael McKean), and finds Troglokhan, who has been repaired by the Gorgonites as Freakenstein (also voiced by Michael McKean) from parts of Alan's father's radio. They thereafter use his computer to seek out their imagined homeland of Gorgon.That night, the Commando Elite tap the phone lines and discover Alan and Christy's relationship. They enter Christy's room while she is away and find her collectible Gwendy dolls. Chip retrieves Nick Nitro's body and tear open his head to find his X-1000 chip. They create a Frankenstein-esque laboratory in her room to raise the Gwendy dolls, using Nick's chip as their mindset. With the "reinforcements" lying in ambush, they drug Christy's parents Marion (Wendy Schaal) and Phil (Phil Hartman), tie up her brother, and scare off her visiting sweetheart Brad (Jonathan Bouck), then force Christy to a hostage video demanding the surrender of the Gorgonites. Alan and Archer trick the Commandos by putting an old radio into a cardboard box, playing a tape of supposed Gorgonites debating the merits of an idea. They rescue Christy after defeating the Gwendy dolls (voiced by Sarah Michelle Gellar and Christina Ricci) animated by the Elite in battle.The Commandos blast their way out of the garage on their vehicles and pursue Christy, Alan, and Archer, who escape on Christy's motor scooter. In the chase, all the Elite crash into a pond and are destroyed. Chip, however, survives the crash with part of his face melted and floats downstream to a local toy store. Chip then hijacks a shipment of new Commando Elite figures by forcing the driver to Alan's house.As the parents meet and begin arguing about what has happened, Larry and Irwin of the toy company arrive in response to Alan's earlier phone call. They have learned about the dangers of the X-1000 chip (and a possible weakness) from its designer, and are trying to circumvent any lawsuits.Returning to the Abernathy home, Chip Hazard activates dozens of Commandos and declares war on the Gorgonites and their human allies, whom they attack by cutting off the electricity supply and then shooting nails, flaming tennis balls, and firework rockets at the house. The humans are frantic and scared until Irwin and Larry recall that an electro-magnetic pulse might deactivate the X-1000 chip: desperate to find an available source thereof, Mr. Fimple suggests connecting a power-transformer in parallel, resulting in an explosion. Alan sends Christy, Larry, and Irwin to Fimple's house to turn on every single piece of Mr. Fimple's massive assembly of electronic components, so that the power will be flowing to overload the transformer. He then prepares to go out into the 'warzone' to complete this task himself, only to be stopped by his father, who wishes to protect him. Alan disobeys his father and goes to activate the E.M.P. Nearby, the Gorgonites override their program and decide to achieve victory, then set out to do so.Chip Hazard flies after Alan in a toy helicopter, but Freakenstein hijacks one of the vehicles and uses its weapons to shoot it down. Before it crashes into the Fimples' new satellite dish, Hazard ejects himself from it and attempts to knock Alan down. The situation changes when Archer confronts Hazard; after a brief fight, Hazard kicks Archer from the pole. In retaliation, Alan grabs Hazard and jams him between the transformers to activate the E.M.P., destroying the Commando Elite and their doll allies. The Gorgonites survive by hiding beneath a fallen satellite-signal receiver and are discovered later by Alan.The next morning, Gil Mars arrives to bribe all witnesses to the crisis into silence. Larry is fearful to lose his job, but Mars proposes that they increase the price of the Commando Elite and sell them to the military of a South American nation. Alan and Christy kiss passionately. At the end of the film, the Gorgonites set out in search for their home, Gorgon, on Stuart's model ship in a river in Yosemite National Park.(Source: WikiPedia. Bangs_McCoy)

Tags: violence, satire

Review:
You can always tell how smart a movie is by its supporting cast, and the presence of the legendary Dick Miller ( a Dante mascot), Phil Hartman, Dennis Leary, and Mr Show's David Cross, not to mention the terrific voice talent, emphasize just how cluey Small Soldiers is.
I popped it in and was ready to be overwhelmed with the memories of how great this film truly manages to hold up being over time.I thought this movie was overall just a really great and enjoyable little film that even though it was just meant for entertainment, ended up being so lovable and cherished, much more than I thought I would love and cherish it.
Some I bet were already even doubting it from the start, which that's no way to enter with a film as lighthearted and good-willed as Small Soldiers.Most of the comedic antics were quite laughable, and that's laughable in the tasteful kind of way, especially the renovated Barbies and cowardliness of the Gorgonites.
It completely entertains you, and it certainly keeps you interested through the whole movie with the fun characters and non-stop deliverance of toy warfare and excellent voice-overs.
The fighting scenes were cool and amusing, and the script was pretty different and new, even though many think Dreamworks tries to silently and sneakily follow in the footsteps of previous Disney/Pixar films that are big hits, in this case, Toy Story.I don't see why this movie has the rating it does, for I thought a lot more people would've liked it better than this, but I guess not everybody can spot a great film when they see one.
It's definelty one of the coolest kids movie ever made!Overall, if you like edgy family films, watch 'Small Solders'.
Small Soldiers is good old fashioned, Tongue-in-cheek fun.Regular movie watchers will see many of their favorite characters, all caricatured here together as either a Commando-Elite or a Gorgonite warrior.The names of the characters, particularly the Commando-Elite, are extremely good, and worthy of an award of their own.Although some of the animation is a little wooden, that just seemed to add to the whole flavour of the film.As long as you don't have any pre-conceptions about this film, and ignore the hype, you are in for some highly entertaining fun.
Yes, it may be a flawed movie, but considering that it is a movie born in the heart of Hollywood studios and intended for small audiences (and not so small), "Small Soldiers" takes his chances to create successfully a political satire, a very dark one.Joe Dante (a very underrated director) is a specialist in filtrating that kind of political message.
When "Small Soldiers" came out, it was right after back-to-back school shootings (plus the murder of Phil Hartman), so there was some controversy about having a movie where toys get violent.
You see, it's not some ridiculous, rah-rah military movie; it sides with the Gorgonites (the soldiers' adversaries), showing how - whether or not they win or lose - they always remain supportive of each other.As for the cast members, this is a Joe Dante movie, so Dick Miller and Robert Picardo get supporting roles.
I thought it was a fun story.The special effects alone are worth watching the film.
I really feel that actors in films like this don't get the credit they deserve, because they are acting against small little harmless platic or metal animatronic toys, or, in some cases, against nothing at all.
The voice talents in this film are also quite good, with plenty of big names to go around including Tommy Lee Jones, Frank Langella, Ernest Borgnine, Jim Brown, Bruce Dern, George Kennedy, Clint Walker, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Christina Ricci.This film is just a fun film, there's nothing terribly deep or mind-boggling about this film, just enjoy it for what it is.
You`ve gotta love that name I enjoyed this movie and despite it not being an all time classic I do recommend it as an entertaining family film.
SMALL SOLDIERS is, essentially, Joe Dante's third GREMLINS film, except that the antagonists aren't gremlins this time around but instead normal, plastic toys who have been brought to life via military technology.
It's along the same lines as TOY STORY, which came out at around the same time, but I think the Dante movie has the edge; it's live action, for a start, and the special effects used to animate the soldiers are remarkable.The film goes for a light action-adventure template with plenty of laughs thrown into the mix along the way.
It's a kid's film, with child actors in the lead roles, but one of those ones that adults are sure to enjoy too.Cast-wise, we're handed decent turns from Gregory Smith (before he won popular attention with EVERWOOD) and Kirsten Dunst (just before she graduated to adult roles in SPIDER-MAN).
Dante makes the film comical and thought-provoking, with main characters who seem like we are supposed to see ourselves in their place, rather than learn about who they are.
The story has The Commandos (military, which means bad guys, of course) against the Gorgonites (peaceful, different-looking creatures.)GOOD NEWS - A very clever animated-live action computer animated film (at least for 1998) in which the toys come to life and look real.
Once the action starts, it's a very interesting story with fun special-effects, some good, funny dialog and some neat references to past films.
I loved Edward Scissorhands and I saw that when my mother brought it home never seeing anything of it before and adored it(I still do) I saw the trailer to the nightmare before Xmas and it scared the hell out of me, and has since become a classic in my heart This film was the film of my childhood, it was everything I wanted in a movie and it was if it was made entirely for me (i'm sure other people went through that) For most people that was Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star wars: A New Hope/Empire Strikes back.
I don't know how many but come the day I die I'm sure at least one hundred....not joking In that way it may be my favorite film of all time.It made such an impression on me I wanted to start committing crimes like Alan Abernathy because that might lead me to meet such cool friends as the gorgonites.
I attempted making a movie with a friend with my toy 'beast wars' coming to life.Whenever I feel like watching it, I always watch it the next day or soon after.
It never gets old, it really never will It'll get called weird by people, a reviewer from my beloved empire magazine called it 'Gremlins with toys, but not as dark or funny' It remains a film that I love yet does not have the same enthusiasm shared by people all around the world like.....oh there's about one hundred of 'em Last Year I saw it on the shelf of the DVD store and bought it, telling myself if you don't get it now you might not find it again in your life It's the kind of movie people my age saw as kids and kinda remember whenever I bring it up to them, it doesn't have the classic status I wish it did, but maybe in a way that gives it a security.A lot of people who do know it, including a different writer in empire called it one of the most underrated kids movies of all time, better than nothing I suppose The truth is I have seen more artistic, meaningful, profound, original films in my life, the best being the one I returned as a member on the IMDb to spread my love with just by what my Username is (not hard to notice) But I'll never forget this film, I'll always get all teary-eyed when the boat sails off at the end, and so in a way yeah that's right people It is my favorite film of all time and if you watch and enjoy know you're doing a Kiwi proud.
Former defense supplier Globotech and his chairman(Dennis Leary) and employees(David Cross, Jay Mohr)have transformed into dangerous soldiers toys to being mistakenly implanted with military intelligence chips.Commanded by Chip Hazard(voice of Tommy Lee Jones)take under siege the town and battle their rival toys , the Gorgonites, led by the pacific Archer(voice by Frank Langella).
The Commando Elite is attacking like the 'Dirty dozen' movie, in fact the voices are played by original casting, Ernest Borgnine,Jim Brown,George Kennedy and Clint Walker.
The acting was great, effects were good, had characters you cared about, the story wasn't too complicated topped off with a very good soundtrack that fitted the moment perfectly, this film has the full package.
Dante has a very creative mind yet it's weird that he would create a movie that pertains to children but isn't for them.Small Soldiers is the story of two toy designers' dreams brought to reality; a deadly reality.
Now teenager Alan Abernathy gets enlisted to help the Gorgonites and rescue the girl of his dreams before the whole town is turned upside down.This movie also led to an awesome action figure line.If you like, you can further discuss this film at http://generationz.b1.jcink.com or http://generationz.b1.jcink.com/index.php?showtopic=1499..
(Ok, so maybe the Barbie Doll scenes were a little creepy for someone under the age of 9.) Definitely worth the watch IMO, if you would like to have an evening of good, fanciful fun.Not a blockbuster by any means, but definitely entertaining.And besides, what kid wouldn't want to have a box full of toys that could actually communicate with him??.
This film was really good.Rewatched it last year when I got the DVD and I must say that it's one of the few movies I watched in the 90's that actually aged well, It is right up there with Terminator2 guys.So the premise, actionfigures made to hate and fight another, are upgraded with military chips to be badass and think for themselves.So it is basically a few inches away from a R-rated Toy Story with a terminator twist...
But it's the voice talent of Tommy Lee Jones as Major Chip Hazard and Frank Langella as Archer (leader of the Gorgonites) that provide the most entertaining moments as they give life to the toy figures.If you can suspend your disbelief long enough to absorb the silly premise of the story, you'll have a good time.
However these are clever rather than funny and have the down side of distracting from the film, you find yourself spotting references and voices rather than getting into the story.The cast are pretty good - the kids aren't too annoying and the adult cast are filled out with quality like Dick Miller, Phil Hartman and a great cameo by Dennis Leary.
I also thought the whole idea of having the soldier figures build weapons out of power tools and the likes was a decent enough idea, it just lacks any good explanation of how they manage to build such impressive firepower from so little, and this actually bothered me so much that I at times sat there, being generally annoyed at a scene based on such an unrealistic premise rather than entertained by it.
mines the Gremlins landscape for another 12 year old boy movie that mostly works but is not as good as it could have been.It's a pretty good film though with good special effects, ideas, some clever jokes, good lines, and it's all packaged quite well.Parent's beware...
this is a film appealing to 12-14 year old boys all the way and that means it's a little more violent than you would like and has a couple of inappropriate scenes for younger folks.
Set in that beautiful Looking suburbia like his 'burbs film & with nosy & annoying neighbours it's got all that Dante magic & feelgood style & tone that is his own little universe & Dante universe wouldn't be complete without veteran character Actor DICK MILLER who is again great on screen here in Small Soldiers as Joe the delivery guy & my god i live Dick Miller!!!
The action figures who run around suburbia causing trouble & hunting the good toys are all done BRILLIANTLY the fx are stunning with a nice mix of practical puppets & c.g.i the commando elite & the gorgonites!!!
When missile technology is used to enhance toy action figures, the toys soon begin to take their battle programming too seriously.On making the film, director Joe Dante recalled "Originally I was told to make an edgy picture for teenagers, but when the sponsor tie-ins came in the new mandate was to soften it up as a kiddie movie.
Extremely Entertaining amalgamation of Toy Story (1995), Gremlins (1984), and the popular Kid Toys G.I. Joe, and Barbie.Director Joe Dante Loves In-Jokes and this one has plenty.
The Anti-War stance (making the Commandos Psychopaths) is a welcome Non-PC take, The "Hero" Gorgomites are the Awkward, Pacifistic Conscientious Objector Types (who hide) and are "Born to Lose".All of these Political and Social Statements are really not that important because the Film is basically an Action Romp, sort of a Toy Story on Steroids.
It's kind of like Toy Story meets The Gremlins with a mixture of action, science fiction, fantasy, and comedy and it works really well throughout the film.What really stands out the most is the characters because their personalities and interactions got me interested to like them as much.
Small Soldiers is one of those movies I like to have on hand for the occasional visiting kids, but I enjoy it, too.
It has more than family-safe appeal (which I don't need for myself); this movie has music, action and humor in all the right amounts which makes it watchable several times per year.I think the soundtrack can be described best as a multi-faceted feast, perfectly integrated.
The film's special effects are great and the toys that come to life though the marvel of modern military technology and more than a little help by the wizards down at ILM interact seamlessly with the live actors.
This is the sort of movie though that could work really really well if just could decided on a genre, Kids film or horror/comedy/action, kind of like stuff Joe Dante normally turns out.
Also trying to pick the celebrity voices behind the toys is lot of fun, but unless you're willing to let the film pamper you a bit you aren't going to like it.
I was aware that it was Phil hartman's last movie but wasn't aware it was a Joe Dante film.
As a film buff I always get a huge kick out of the in-jokes and references (often leaving my wife wondering what's cracking me up).The script is admittedly a little weak and at times dark...but not every "kids movie" has to be fluffy happy Disney dreck.As for the comment that anti-war sentiment has no place in a kid's movie...um, so, I guess pro-war is better?This movie is great escapist fare and fun...I especialy enjoyed the scenes of the soldiers fashioning their own weapons from household items.
I quite enjoyed this movie since it brought back many childhood memories of playing with toy soldiers and making them fight one another in one battle after another.
Hope (like the little kid in the movie) I don't get such toys for Christmas!.
The movie is zippily entertaining and overwhelmingly well crafted, with boundless visual imagination (for example in the soldiers' conversion of a kitchen into an assembly line for bringing Dunst's Barbie-like dolls to life; or in the use of everyday objects as military hardware) and an interesting enough execution that the more formulaic elements (such as the kid's strained relationship with the father who doesn't trust him) seem particularly grating here.
The only thing that scared me was that it looked like such a boy's movie, I was kinda a Barbie girl when I was younger, but Small Soldiers proved itself to be a great family film.Anthony, a pre teen, just got a shipment of toys he wants to sell so he can make his dad's store some money.
Small Soldiers is a good film for everyone, I was pleasantly surprised and I would recommend this movie for anyone, it was very cute and had a great look to it.
In fact, while it seems to be mostly a sort of combined Child's play/Gremlins for children, it turns out to be probably one of the most violent movies they could watch.Some images are even a little disturbing, such as the Barbie-doll soldiers with their warped faces or the level of carnage that occurs to some of the individual toys.
Small Soldiers seems like a Joe Dante film that started out as Gremlins 3 and then ended up as being some kind of Toy Story rip off aimed at older kids but lacking any special charm.Denis Leary plays a slimy executive who wants advanced toys.
The effects aged decently well and to this day I can enjoy it.Most of its current hate is "Better than thou" reviewer fans such as Nostalgia Critic slamming it to the point of MAKING UP STUFF to whine about.Want an easy watch fun action movie akin to ID4?
The soldiers are pretty cool, menacing as they are, with their hardline military attitude showing in everything they do- then you have the good guys, a motley collection of creatures, who to be honest fall into that classic trap of never being quite as interesting to watch as the bad guys.Everything else is what you would expect from a film aimed at kids- nice set pieces, silly jokes, etc.
I really enjoy "Small Soldiers"; it´s like "Toy Story" meet Gi-Joe" For me, this movie represented the return of the great Joe Dante; the same director that made "Gremlins", "The Howling" and "Innerspace".
The action sequences of "Small Soldiers" are great, sometimes better than other serious films.
I love Joe Dante films and I thought he could really make this into a good movie.