Replicant/Universal Soldier

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Replicant
Jean-Claude Van Damme (star of Timecop and Universal Soldier) plays two roles in this surprisingly good action thriller. Replicant also stars Michael Rooker (of Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer, The Replacement Killers) as Jake Riley, a cop who's been tracking a serial killer called "The Torch" (Van Damme). Frustrated, Riley decides to retire--and the National Security Department makes him an offer: they've cloned "The Torch" as part of a program to track down terrorists; they'll turn this replicant (Van Damme again, of course) over to Riley as a sort of test run for the program. The idea is that the replicant will slowly recall the original person's memories and lead the cops to the original. It's ridiculous, but no more ridiculous than the setup for the highly successful Face/Off, and it works just as well as the engine for an effective action flick. What makes Replicant more unusual is that the writers actually put some thought into the relationship between Riley and the replicant, which starts to mirror parent-child relationships in emotionally complex ways. Furthermore, while it's no surprise that Rooker gives a solid performance, it is surprising that Van Damme does just as good a job in both of his roles--he's perfectly creepy as the serial killer and genuinely affecting as the quickly developing replicant, projecting a mixture of innocence and turmoil. Replicant was directed by Hong Kong director Ringo Lam, the man behind Full Contact and City on Fire. He was clearly working on a limited budget, but the movie looks good, moves with lean efficiency, and has some riveting action sequences and good quality effects--the scenes where Van Damme (inevitably!) fights himself are completely convincing. A satisfying movie. --Bret Fetzer

Universal Soldier
Before they made a mountain of money as the creators of Independence Day and Godzilla, director Roland Emmerich and screenwriter Dean Devlin teamed up for this action flick disguised as a science fiction thriller. Muscle hunks Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren play embattled Vietnam soldiers who killed each other in combat and are revived 25 years later as semi-android "UniSols" in a high-tech army of the near future. Their memories were supposedly wiped clean, but flashbacks occur to remind them of their bitter hatred (Lundgren committed wartime atrocities; Van Damme had tried to stop him), and the warriors resume their tenacious battle while a journalist (Ally Walker) uncovers the truth about the secret UniSol program. With energy to spare, the standard action sequences are adequate for anyone with a short attention span. And besides, with Van Damme and Lundgren in the lead roles, who needs dialogue? --Jeff Shannon

Description

REPLICANT: During a murder spree, precious DNA is left behind that allows a secret government agency to render a killer's perfect duplicate. Jean-Claude Van Damme squares off against his deadliest opponent yet - himself - when he stars as both a heinous serial killer and the replicated clone that represents the agency's best and only chance at capturing this mad killer on the loose. Can the Replicant lead the police to the original killer before he strikes again? Between them a breathtaking war will be waged...and only one will win.

UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: Two of the biggest action stars are together for the first time in one explosive adventure. JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME is Luc Devreaux and DOLPH LUNDGREN is Sgt. Andrew Scott, two soldiers who kill each other Vietnam and are then brought back to life 25 years later for a secret government program. Knows as "Unisols," they're genetically enhanced, unstoppable killing machines with no memory, no feelings and no free will. But on an antiterrorist mission, Devreaux's memory starts to return and he escapes from the program. A superhuman chase across the country begins, with Sgt. Scott in unrelenting pursuit of the man who killed him. Devreaux heads for his home and a reunion with his unbelieving parents. There Sgt. Scott corners him for the ultimate clash of the titans.

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