Universal Soldier: Regeneration (2009)

Universal Soldier: Regeneration
2009
Action
Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Andrei Arlovski

I finally got to see a new action movie that doesn't hold back and instead chooses to kick all kinds of ass. That movie ws Universal Soldier: Regeneration (USR). The first Universal Soldier movie was kind of an over the top 90s action favorite. I think USR is technically the 4th sequel, but since nobody saw the other ones it is basically a sequel to the original. Too many big budget action movies are all about big name actors and explosions, which has gotten old at this point. Hollywood could learn something from this direct to DVD flick.

I knew this movie was gonna be awesome basically from the start. It opens up with a hostage taking followed by an awesome car chase sequences. Most direct to DVD movies do not have quality chases like the one here. Not only that, most direct to DVD movies to not look this good. All the action scenes look great. They are not over edited so you can't tell what is going on.

Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, and Andrei Arlovski all star in USR. Andrei Arlovski is a UFC fighter and this was his first acting gig and he did a good job. Granted all he really had to do was act like a robot and kick ass, but he did it well. He and Lundren both play bad guys who Van Damme has to stop. I am a huge Lundgren fan so my main complaint is that he really only shows up in the end of the movie. Van Damme really steals the show. He doesn't do much until the end, but when the end comes he kicks epic amounts of ass. I really can't say enough about how awesome the last 30 minutes were. Van Damme takes on a whole building full of dudes with only a knife. How he ends up dealing with Lundren is really just insane. The final fight with Van Damme and Arlovski manages to last for quite awhile without becoming boring or repetitive.

There is one thing I should warn people about this movie. It is extremely violent. There are like five scenese where somebody literally punches someone in the face until the die. Blood flies freely from nice wounds. You also get to see what the back of someone's head looks like when they get it blown out by a shotgun.

Do you want a recent kick-ass and violent action movie that does not pull punches? Rent Rambo. Already seen Rambo, then rent Universal Soldier: Regeneration ASAP. It opens with an awesome action sequence and ends with 30 minutes of glorious violent action. This is not for the weak of heart, but as an action movie fan, I loved every minute. I hope Van Damme and Lundren keep making movies like this as long as they can.

4 out of 5 Stars
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