Soldier

Soldier (1998)

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.

The following weapons were used in the film Soldier:

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.

Colt M4A1 - 5.56x45mm

The young Todd at age 11 and several other child recruits firing M4A1 carbines during training. The young Todd here is portrayed by Wyatt Russell, the son of Kurt Russell.

Todd blasts away with his M4A1.

Riley hesitates when he sees one of the enemy targets is behind a mother holding a baby.

Riley's finger on the trigger of his M4A1.

Todd unflinchingly shoots at the enemy through the civilian target after Riley hesitates.

An M4A1 on the right.

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.

Colt M16A2 - 5.56x45mm

A soldier in the background guarding the nursery in the opening; the barrel of his M16A2 is visible.

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.

AKU-94 Bullpup with polymer magazine - 7.62x39mm. This weapon was the basis for the futuristic assault rifles seen in the movie.

Modified AK Bullpup used in film. The rifle seen here is a stunt version, made of all rubber, and features a very futuristic design. The barrel is long and rounded, the grip under the trigger guard has been crafted with finger grooves. Also, present is a C-More red dot sight on top as well as a large round ammo magazine on the bottom, and a shoulder stock.

Green (Carsten Norgaard), Todd (Kurt Russell), and Riley (James Black) go into battle armed with their custom rifles. The bayonet is extended here.

A soldier is shown firing his assault rifle during the scene where the old and new soldiers compete against each other. This shot clearly shows that the weapon is a Century Arms bullpup AK. The shape of the AK receiver, selector, and bolt carrier is clearly visible, while the distinctive vented housing over pistol grip identifies the weapon definitively as a Century Arms gun.

Sgt. Todd (Kurt Russell) fires his assault rifle in a flashback.

A close-up of Sgt. Todd's magazine hitting the ground as he reloads during the flashback. This is quite clearly a standard 30-round "banana"-type AK magazine.

An assault rifle in the hands of one of the newer-generation soldiers. Note that in this scene, the rifle has a 100-round drum magazine.

A close-up of one rifle while firing.

A close-up of two rifles' muzzles during a scene in which Todd tricks the newer warriors.

Another close-up showing the trigger and pistol grip.

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.

Heckler & Koch HK91A2 - 7.62x51mm NATO

An enemy soldier during the "War of the Six Cities" is killed while holding an HK91A2. Note that the rifle lacks the flipper magazine release of the original H&K G3, which means that it is a civilian HK91.

Another enemy soldier goes down holding a HK91A2 during a flashback.

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.

Claridge LEC9 - 9x19mm

A close-up of a Claridge LEC-9 Carbine sitting on the ground.

Todd checks the magazine of the LEC9.

Jimmy Pig (Michael Chiklis) fires his LEC9 when the super-soldiers attack Arcadia 234.

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.

Norinco MAK-90 - 7.62x39mm

An Arcadia 234 inhabitant firing a MAK-90 during the raid.

Another image of the colonist firing his MAK-90. Note that the rifle also appears to be loaded with a short 10-round magazine.

Rifle on the left.

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.

Remington Rolling Block - .45 caliber

An Arcadia 234 inhabitant with a Remington Rolling Block at the ready.

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.

Bushmaster XM15 "V-Match" 20" - 5.56x45mm

Rifle seen on left.

An Arcadia 234 inhabitant (right) holds a Bushmaster XM15 "V-Match" when the raid starts.

Colonist prepares to fire his Bushmaster V-Match HBAR.

The same colonist fires his V-Match at one of the super soldiers...

...only to be hit by the soldier's flamethrower and set on fire.

Rifle seen on the floor fitted with a 100 round magazine.

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.

Rocky Mountain Arms Patriot Pistol with Beta-C magazine - 5.56x45mm

Sgt. Todd loading up one of the Patriot Pistols (done up as a carbine here).

Closeup of Sgt. Todd loading up one of the Patriot Pistols.

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.

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.

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.

Heckler & Koch Mark 23 - .45 ACP

Sgt. Todd (Kurt Russell) loads up a Heckler & Koch Mark 23 taken from a dead soldier.

Sgt. Todd holding up the Mark 23.

A closer shot of the magazine being loaded.

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.

Colt Single Action Army Artillery Model w/ 5.5" barrel - .38-40 Winchester.

Colonel Mekum points his Single Action Army at one of the Adam program soldiers before executing him.

Colonel Mekum on board the ship with his SAA holstered.

Colonel Mekum with his SAA after having shot Captain Church

Astra 400

One of the Arcadia inhabitants wields a Astra 400, notably when fighting off the soldier with the flamethrower.

Astra 400 - 9x23mm Bergmann/Largo

The inhabitant with the Astra 400 on the right.

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.

M60 machine gun - 7.62x51mm NATO

A pair of Humvees fitted with M60 machine guns on the hill as the child recruits are observed during training.

(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.

Browning M2HB on vehicle mount - .50 BMG

DShK 12.7x109mm (compare the receiver to the M2, above, and the guns seen in the movie, below.

The gunner on a "Crawler" mans the dual machine guns in the turret (fake DShKs mocked up from Browning M2HBs).

The turret gunner fires his fake DShKs at night.

A view from the gunner's perspective. Note the charging handle on the right-hand gun, a clear giveaway that it is a Browning M2HB

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 engaging the soldiers following the raid. A similar short-barreled minigun was used in 1993's Last Action Hero.

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

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.

The soldier with the Minigun unloads in the direction of Todd and the women and children he is sheltering.

The soldier tries in vain to clear a jam in his Minigun.

Todd carries the minigun as he prepares to enter battle.

Todd emerges from the water firing the minigun. According to Paul W.S. Anderson, this shot was actually reverse-printed, as the recoil of the minigun actually pushed Kurt Russell into the water.

A close-up of the Minigun as Todd fires it.

Muzzle flash seen.

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.

Heckler & Koch MP5A2 - 9x19mm

A combatant holds a civilian woman hostage while brandishing a MP5A2 during the Moscow Incident.

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.

Franchi LF-57 Pistol - 9x19mm. Screen used Nickel plated LF-57 that appeared in the film Soldier. These same guns appeared as well in John Carpenter's film Ghosts of Mars

Sgt. Todd leads his men into combat on a moon while brandishing a pair of nickel Franchi LF-57 submachine guns.

Sgt. Todd firing the dual LF-57s.

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.

Steyr SPP - 9x19mm

Sgt. Todd and his men fighting during the "Moscow Incident". Note the large machine pistols holstered in their thighs, which appear to be the same Steyr SPPs used later in the film.

Sgt. Todd loads a Steyr SPP while preparing to fight the soldiers.

Sgt. Todd fires the SPP.

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.

Valtro PM5 - 12 gauge

Screen-used stunt Valtro PM5 from Ghosts of Mars. Image from Prop Store of London.

Opposite side view of the stunt PM5 from Ghosts of Mars. Image from Prop Store of London.

A close-up of the broken muzzle and receiver (the serial number is either P11045 or P11046) of the stunt PM5 from Ghosts of Mars. Images from Prop Store of London.

The heavily modified Valtro PM5 on right.

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.

Tru Flite 37mm Super Long Range Gas Gun - 37mm

A Tru Flite 37mm Super Long Range Gas Gun on a man's back

Flare gun on left.

Heckler & Koch P2A1 Flare Pistol

A soldier fires a Heckler & Koch P2A1 Flare Pistol as they search for Todd.

Heckler & Koch P2A1 - 26.5mm

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.

The enhanced soldier firing his flamethrower has the launcher slung.

Todd after firing the rocket launcher

Todd after dispatching the last soldier

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.

One of the actual flamethrowers used in Soldier (this image is an IMFDB exclusive)

Opposite side view of a screen-used stunt flamethrower from Soldier. Image from Prop Store of London.

An enhanced soldier brandishing a flamethrower during the raid on the colony.

The enhanced soldier firing his flamethrower.

The enhanced soldier pursues colonists up a flight of stairs before being slain by Sgt. Todd.

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).

A computer readout shows the various commendations awarded to Sgt. Todd, which appear to reference Kurt Russell's other films, including Tango & Cash, Escape from New York, Stargate and The Thing (1982). On the right, the "Nibian Moon" and "Antares Maelstrom" campaigns are references to a speech made by Khan in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, while the "Shoulder of Orion" is a reference to Batty's final speech in Blade Runner.

On the left, the commendations appear to refer to the Kurt Russell-starring films Captain Ron, Backdraft, and The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes among others. On the left, note the reference to the Doom BFG and the "Illudium Pu-36 ESM," an "Explosive Space Modulator" used by Marvin the Martian in his attempts to destroy the Earth in two Bugs Bunny cartoons.

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.

In the center, the front of a derelict "Spinner" hovercar from Blade Runner can be seen.

On the right, the readout displays that Sgt. Todd is a veteran of the Battle of Tannhauser Gate. Tannhauser Gate is a location mentioned by Roy Batty in the 1982 film. As shown in the previous section, he is also a veteran of the "Shoulder of Orion" campaign, another reference to the same speech.