The climax of this story, most of which takes place in the 21st century, is an emotionally charged showdown between two nearly emotionless characters. Galactic war veteran Kurt Russell—the military’s top organic weapon—has been raised in a way that buries any tenderness while nurturing his capacity for violence. But he’s trounced by the prototype for the next generation of human fighting machines (Jason Scott Lee) and left for dead on a remote planet. This appealing formulaic action adventure (1998) displays a lot of conviction in its not-too-flashy action scenes and a little levity in the gradual socialization of Russell’s character, as he becomes a role model for the son of some gentle colonists. Russell is persuasive in the part, which demands minimal changes in his expression and fewer words. Paul Anderson directed a screenplay by David Webb Peoples.
