Soldier

Soldier is a 1998 science fiction film starring Kurt Russell as Todd, a man born and raised as a soldier in a secret government program and now finds himself considered obsolete after decades of war. When he is mistaken for dead, Todd is dumped on a distant planet that's been used by Earth's inhabitants for waste disposal. When he discovers a colony of humans that have been stranded there for decades, Todd decides to protect the inhabitants against the military, who have arrived on the planet for a training exercise and then plans to eradicate any survivors found on it. The film, which was directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, co-stars Connie Nielsen, Jason Isaacs, Gary Busey, Michael Chiklis and Jason Scott Lee, was written by David Webb Peoples, who also co-wrote Blade Runner, and several references are made to that film.
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=Rifles=
== M4A1 Carbine ==
On the firing range, an eleven-year-old Todd (Wyatt Russell) and a young Riley can be seen firing 1st generation M4A1 Carbines fitted with C-More red dot sights and early Surefire RIS handguards. One of the M4s from this movie later appeared in Season 4 of the TV series JAG, which had the same armorers as this movie (Gibbons Ltd.). These rifles also are seen in the hands of Arcadia inhabitants.
thumb|none|601px|An M4A1 on the right.
thumb|none|601px|Another M4A1 seen on the right.
==M16A2 Rifle==
In the film's opening sequence, armed guards in the nursery armed with M16-type rifles as infants are seen being chosen for the Adam program. The weapons are not seen clearly, but are most likely M16A2s.
== AKU-94 Bullpup ==
The standard-issue assault rifles of the soldiers throughout the film, including Sergeant Todd (Kurt Russell) and later the super-soldiers, are modified AKU-94 rifles made to look futuristic. The weapons have been given extended barrels and shrouds that are similar to Franchi SPAS-12 shotgun heatshields (these are however, custom fabricated). Additionally, the rifles have C-More red-dot sights, dual retractable bayonets, and Surefire Universal weaponlights. In some scenes, the rifles feed from standard 30-round AK "banana"-style magazines (this is most obvious during a flashback when Sgt. Todd is seen reloading and his magazine is shown hitting the ground), while in other scenes, they are fitted with 100-round drum magazines.
== Heckler & Koch HK91A2 ==
During the "War of the Six Cities", an enemy soldier is seen armed with a rifle which is definitely a Heckler & Koch G3 variant. It's not seen clearly, but looking closely, it is possible to see that the rifle lacks the flipper magazine release of the original H&K G3, which means that it is almost certainly a civilian HK91 standing in for the mil-spec G3.
thumb|500px|none|Heckler & Koch HK91A2 - 7.62x51mm NATO
== Claridge LEC9 ==
Todd and some of the settlers are seen carrying the Claridge LEC9 - a long-barreled carbine version of the Claridge Hi-Tec S9. Though Goncz Armament, Inc. made a nearly identical carbine before Claridge did, the Goncz carbines were outfitted with wooden furniture, the Claridge carbines were sold with all black synthetic furniture, thus any carbine with black synthetic parts is assumed to be the Claridge variant. 
== Norinco MAK-90 ==
One of the Arcadia 234 inhabitants can be seen with a Norinco MAK-90 rifle, the "post-ban" semi-automatic civilian version of the Chinese Norinco Type 56 (AK-47). It can be recognized by its thumbhole stock and full-circle front sight. Note that the rifle also appears to be loaded with a short 10-round magazine.
thumb|none|601px|Rifle on the left.
thumb|none|601px|Rifle seen on the left.
== Remington Rolling Block==
One of the Arcadia 234 inhabitants can be seen carrying a Remington Rolling Block rifle, the ancient weapon apparently still in working order after centuries.
thumb|none|600px|An Arcadia 234 inhabitant with a Remington Rolling Block at the ready.
thumb|none|600px|Behind Pic, an Arcadia 234 inhabitant readies his rifle
== Bushmaster XM15 "V-Match" ==
One of the Arcadia 234 inhabitants carries a Bushmaster XM15 "V-Match" semi-automatic rifle fitted with a C-More red-dot sight and 20-round magazine. It is not an M16A4 as mis-identified previously; the weapon's handguards do not match those of any M16 variant, and the weapon also lacks a triangular front sight post, the most distinctive characteristic of the V-Match.
thumb|none|601px|Colonist prepares to fire his Bushmaster V-Match HBAR.
 
== Rocky Mountain Arms Patriot Pistol "Carbine" ==
While loading up to engage the soldiers after repelling the raid on the Arcadia 234 settlement, Sgt. Todd can be briefly seen with a pair of Rocky Mountain Arms Patriot Pistols. These Patriot Pistols actually have the full length telescoping stock for the XM177/CAR15 carbines attached. It looks to be the same Patriot Upper mated to a full auto SP1 lower that was used in the movie Congo. These firearms are outfitted with under-mounted flashlights, vintage red laser sights (from the 1980s), and Beta-C magazines.
thumb|none|600px|Closeup of Sgt. Todd loading up one of the Patriot Pistols.
thumb|none|600px|Todd loads the Beta-C magazine into the Patriot Pistol. Note the mismatched upper and lower receivers, indicating that is is the same hybrid gun used in the movie Congo.
thumb|none|600px|Sgt. Todd firing a Patriot Pistol.
thumb|none|600px|Sgt. Todd firing a Patriot Pistol.
thumb|none|600px|Sgt. Todd firing a Patriot Pistol.
== Modified Winchester Lever Action Rifle ==
One of the inhabitants carries a .22 caliber Winchester-styled lever action rifle. The rifle is loaded with what resembles an Uzi 9mm magazine.
thumb|none|600px|One of the inhabitants carries a .22 caliber lever action rifle. The rifle is loaded with what resembles an Uzi 9mm magazine.
=Handguns=
== Heckler & Koch Mark 23 ==
When Sgt. Todd assists in repelling the first wave of soldiers from the Arcadia 234 settlement, he can be seen picking up and loading a Heckler & Koch Mark 23 pistol, but never uses it. Interesting to note that Kurt Russell had been seen using a Heckler & Koch USP mocked up to resemble a Mark 23 in Executive Decision, released only two years prior to the release of this film. This appears to be one of the earliest appearances of the actual pistol used in a film production.
== Colt Single Action Army ==
The cruel and cowardly commander of the soldiers, Colonel Mekum (Jason Isaacs) can be seen carrying a nickel-plated Colt Single Action Army with pearl grips as his sidearm, using it to shoot first one of the older soldiers injured in the fight with Caine 607 (Jason Scott Lee), one of the newer soldiers, and then Captain Church (Gary Busey) when he refuses to follow orders.
== Astra 400 ==
One of the Arcadia inhabitants wields a Astra 400, notably when fighting off the soldier with the flamethrower.
 
thumb|none|601px|The inhabitant with the Astra 400 on the right.
thumb|none|601px|Another shot on the right.
=Machine Guns=
== M60 Machine Gun ==
During the early training phase, several Humvees can be seen fitted with M60 machine guns mounted on the roof.
== (Fake) DShK ==
The "Crawler" vehicles used by the soldiers during the attack on Arcadia 234 are armed with what appear to be turret-mounted DShK heavy machine guns, but these are actually dressed-up Browning M2HB machine guns.
== Hand Held GE M134 Minigun ==
One of the soldiers engaged in the raid on the Arcadia 234 settlement can be seen firing a short-barreled hand held GE M134 Minigun. Sgt. Todd kills the soldier when his Minigun jams on him, then uses it when killing 2 soldiers following the raid. A similar short-barreled minigun was used in 1993's Last Action Hero.
thumb|none|350px|Airsoft handheld M134 Minigun with 'Chainsaw grip' to handle the recoil force. This variant was seen in Terminator 2: Judgement Day. This is an airsoft version which retains the half-circle attachment point for the M60 foregrip from Predator; the real T2 minigun did not have this - (fake) 7.62x51mm NATO
=Submachine Guns=
== Heckler & Koch MP5A2 ==
During the montage showing Sgt. Todd's service following his training, a combatant in the "Moscow Incident" can be seen brandishing a Heckler & Koch MP5A2 while holding a civilian woman hostage.
==Franchi LF-57==
During the flashback to the "Battle of the Argentine Moons", Sgt. Todd is using a pair of nickel-plated Franchi LF-57 submachine guns with the stocks removed and some type of old-fashioned tube sight installed on top. These same guns would later appear in John Carpenter's film Ghosts of Mars.
==Steyr SPP==
While engaging the soldiers, Sgt. Todd takes a Steyr SPP converted to fire full-auto from one of the soldiers before dropping a grenade into one of the "Crawler" vehicles to kill the crew. The soldier inside the Crawler who gets killed is also brandishing an SPP. It would appear that the SPP is actually supposed to be the standard-issue sidearm for the Adam project soldiers; this is evidenced by the fact that during the flashback to the "Moscow Incident", all of the soldiers are carrying machine pistols in thigh holsters which appear to be SPPs.
thumb|none|350px|Steyr SPP - 9x19mm
=Shotguns=
==Valtro PM5 (Custom)==
One of the genetically enhanced soldiers carries a custom Valtro PM5 shotgun modified with a pistol grip, a muzzle brake, some sort of spear protruding beneath the muzzle, and a cylinder and tube fitted on top of the receiver and barrel (possibly an early laser sight), as well as a pump-fixed C-More red dot sight above it. This same shotgun would later appear more heavily in John Carpenter's film Ghosts of Mars.
thumb|none|500px|Valtro PM5 - 12 gauge
=Launchers=
== Tru Flite 37mm Super Long Range Gas Gun ==
A Tru Flite 37mm Super Long Range Gas Gun is seen on a man's back as Sgt. Todd walks over to pick up the Claridge LEC9.
thumb|none|601px|A Tru Flite 37mm Super Long Range Gas Gun on a man's back
== Heckler & Koch P2A1 Flare Pistol ==
A soldier fires a Heckler & Koch P2A1 Flare Pistol as they search for Todd.
thumb|none|300px|Heckler & Koch P2A1 - 26.5mm
thumb|none|601px|A soldier firing a Heckler & Koch P2A1 Flare Pistol.
=Other=
== Fictional Rocket Launcher ==
Some of the soldiers use custom rocket launchers against the inhabitants of Arcadia. Todd also uses the launcher. These launchers appear to be custom props.
thumb|none|601px|Todd after firing the rocket launcher
thumb|none|601px|Todd after dispatching the last soldier
thumb|none|601px|A soldier about to fire his rocket launcher during the raid
== Flamethrower ==
The genetically engineered soldiers use custom-built flamethrowers that were assembled specially for the movie.
=Trivia=
==Sgt. Todd's Commendations==
A computer readout shows the various commendations awarded to Sgt. Todd, which appear to reference Kurt Russell's other films. There also appears to be references to the M56 Smart Gun from Aliens and the BFG from Doom (although the latter would not be realized as a physical prop until the 2005 film adaptation).
==Blade Runner references==
Several references to 1982's Blade Runner are made in this film, suggesting that both films take place in the same universe.
Category:Movie
Category:Action Movie
Category:Science-Fiction
Category:War
Category:Paul W.S. Anderson