Guns, Genes & Fighting Machines: The Making of 'Universal Soldier'

In the groundbreaking action film 'Universal Soldier', released in 1992, a team of scientists attempt to create genetically engineered super-soldiers using DNA taken from the remains of fallen American and North Vietnamese soldiers and combine it with the muscle tissue of a large African bullfrog. Twenty-five years after its premiere, 'Guns, Genes & Fighting Machines: The Making of 'Universal Soldier'' delves into the making of this iconic film. Directed by Roland Emmerich and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren, the original film is a testament to its time. Set in a dystopian future where world leaders are planning to merge the United States and the Soviet Union, and with China and the United States becoming increasingly aggressive, the movie taps into viewers' fears about war and global politics. The film revolves around Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme), an American soldier from the Vietnam War, and Andrew Tao (Dolph Lundgren), a Chinese-American soldier. In the 1992 original, the two soldiers are found dead in a river by a team of American and Chinese scientists. The scientists then use the remains of these soldiers in a top-secret government experiment involving gene splicing with bullfrog DNA. When they revive the dead soldiers, they create powerful, nearly indestructible soldiers without emotional attachments. The scientists then turn these soldiers into super-soldiers trained to be efficient in warfare, which makes them extremely efficient and loyal to the United States. As tensions build due to rising global instability and nuclear threats, the genetically engineered soldiers are released from storage by a rogue scientist. They quickly turn on the humans who created them. This results in chaos with widespread damage, which forces American authorities to step in and hunt down their wayward offspring. The super-soldiers are capable of regenerating limbs and can jump long distances and survive extreme conditions. Their ability to adapt to changing situations adds to their unpredictability. When the US military is forced to take them down, one of them becomes a rebellious figure as it refuses to follow orders from their human commanders. The documentary delves deeper into the making of this action film. It discusses Roland Emmerich's vision for the project and Jean-Claude Van Damme's and Dolph Lundgren's portrayal of the super-soldiers. Interviews with key crew members reveal the logistical challenges faced by the filmmakers in creating the on-screen world of action, destruction, and chaos in the movie. One of the pivotal scenes to capture in the making of 'Universal Soldier' is the iconic opening fight in a jungle. The scene showcases Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren engaging in a fierce hand-to-hand combat sequence. The documentary shows the meticulous attention given by the cast and crew in bringing this sequence to life. It captures the behind-the-scenes details of rehearsing the fight choreography to create convincing combat actions that have become memorable. Additionally, the documentary highlights the visual effects that were revolutionary at that time, including CGI (computer-generated imagery) and 3D rendering. 'Universal Soldier' was one of the pioneers of combining practical effects and early CGI to create convincing environments and action sequences. While at the time the visual effects may seem dated by today's standards, it showcases the filmmakers' resourcefulness in the early days of CGI and practical effects implementation. The cast, in an interview featured in the documentary, talks about their characters' psychological aspects, particularly about the themes of free will, emotions, and what it means to be human. As Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) tries to regain his human instincts, he begins to question the morality of his existence and becomes more aggressive. Andrew Tao (Dolph Lundgren) struggles with similar emotions but his more stoic approach allows him to navigate his existence with less guilt. The documentary wraps up the film's creation journey, offering an intimate look at how such action sequences, memorable plot and characters were created by the filmmakers and stars. By shedding light on the making of this groundbreaking film, 'Guns, Genes & Fighting Machines: The Making of 'Universal Soldier' provides fans and new audiences alike a rare glimpse into what made this iconic movie stand out from its time.