Home > Science Fiction > Harvested Sci-Fi/Fantacy

by Ira

Ugg. It Could Have Been a Contender (2007-10-01)

Ah, potential. Most movies have it, but usually don't achieve it. This movie falls right into the category of 'missing in action.' It could have worked. Super computer animation and fun cameo voices, along with a clever idea, but it missed, by a long shot. The story was way too slow and the first hour was wasted trying to develop characters instead of diving into the animation fun. The movie had some good points, but so does the annual Halloween Parade in Doyle Bluffs. The march of the pumpkins is clever, yet messy and the grade school costumes made of cornhusks are always a treat. But how many times do we have to see that Bait-shop Float with Sid Pickle dressed up like a carp? Anyway, before I stray to far, the movie was boring and I would not recommend it. Grind it up and make some sausage. Pig

After More Than Ten Years, It's Still a Fun Watch (2009-07-02)

Admittedly, many kid's films are simply a ploy to sell toys and I'm pretty sure there were plenty of Colonel Chip Hazard action figures running around after this Disney film. Still, the mark of a really good kid's film is remembering those characters years later and wanting to see the film again.

Tommy Lee Jones did such a good job creating the gung-ho Chip Hazard that it's hard to forget him even after ten years of kiddie films.

The premise, a toy company's taken over by a company which also supplies the US military. When two enterprising toy designers create a set of action figures with advanced military functions, the war's on. Colonel Chip Hazard (Jones) leads his forces again the Gorgons led by Archer (Frank Langella). The only thing stopping these forces is one kid who's trying to stop his dad's toy store from closing.

Honestly, while this film's billed as a children's movie, it's got a lot of deeper meanings from take-offs on a lot of the military films to thoughts on stereotyping sexual roles for toys. The one-liners still had me laughing. Well worth seeing again and owning for moments when you need a good laugh.

Rebecca Kyle, June 2009

The Good & Bad Of 'Small Soldiers' (2009-04-27)

This was a very clever animated-live action computer animated film (at least for 1998) in which the toys come to life and look real. Once the action starts, it's a very interesting story with fun special-effects, some good, funny dialog and some neat references to past films. Sometimes it's tough to catch them all.

On the bad side, it features typical Hollywood portrayal of a family in that the film has stupid parents. Also, there are the usual anti-military messages and anti- Republican cheap shots. The story has The Commandos (military, which means bad guys, of course) against the Gorgonites (peaceful, different-looking creatures.)

Overall, an entertaining film with a good mix of genres.

Great for Kids and Husbands Too (2009-01-08)

My grandsons and my Husband just love this movie. I am so glad that I found it on the internet.

Best Price and Best DVD I Ever Got on Here (2008-10-22)

Hope more people on here fallow the way I was given this movie and hope to do more business with this person.

Small Soldiers (2008-10-16)

Small Soldiers was so funny its a great movie for monster lovers every where!

Good Movie! (2007-12-22)

I bought this movie for my little nephew because he was very sad and upset when the rental had to be returned. Well, I couldn't let him stay unhappy, so I sent him his very own to keep. His mom told me his eyes lit up, and he yelled "Look! Aunt Sharon got me Small Shoulders!" How can you not love that? Oh, and P.S. I like this movie, myself, too!

Chrildren's Movie (2007-09-29)

Good for older children(8 and up) younger children might not understand the whole movie

Struggles To Find Its Audience (2007-09-29)

"Small Soldiers" is a fun idea. Having toys come to life and do terrible/wonderful/comedic things has been visited many times in Hollywood. The only problem with this idea is that there are so many directions you can go with the film that it can lead to a mediocre outcome. For one, you could turn this flick into a horror movie such as "Puppet Master" or "Child's Play," or make it a family comedy such as "Batteries Not Included." Heck, you could have even animated it like "Toy Story." Instead, director Joe Dante and a gaggle of writers decided to make the movie into a middle of the road film. It isn't funny enough to be considered a comedy. There's too much violence and language to make it a children's or family film and it's just not that scary unless you're under the age of eight. This is the major aspect of "Small Soldiers" that holds it back. Had Dante and company cut back on the language and a little bit of the violence, this movie would have been a very fun family film. There's plenty of cheesey dialogue from both the humans and the toys in the film, but all of this is littered with a little bit too much rough language and some violence that just can't be in a family flick. I honestly think that this movie tried too hard to appeal to too large of a demographic.

I remember when this film was released in theaters. I was working my way through college at a toy store in the local mall. "Small Soldiers" had an aggressive ad campaign for the toyline that coincided with the film's release and a lot of parents scooped up "Chip Hazard," "Archer," and other "Small Soldiers" toys. Once many of these parents took their children to see the flick, however, they wanted to return the toys because their kids were afraid to play with them because they thought that they'd come alive. Well, it was obvious from the PG-13 rating that the movie wasn't for youngsters to watch, so I don't fault Dreamworks for this. I do think that they tried to double-dip their audience a little with such an aggressive toy campaign, but ultimately I blame the parents for not researching the movie enough. Unlike some recent films that promoted themselves as "family" movies but turned out to be a flick with heavy political and environmental overtones ("Happy Feet" comes to mind), "Small Soldiers" made it clear that it was not a film suitable for youngsters. Once again, the PG-13 rating should have been warning enough.

The movie has a solid cast. A young Kirsten Dunst, Gregory Smith, Jay Mohr, David Cross, and others provided a likeable group of characters. Denis Leary marched into every scene as if he owned it, and he did. Phil Hartman passed away before the release of the movie, but did a fine job with the role he was given. Overall, I can't complain about any of the actors involved. The toys were voiced by Frank Langella (Archer), Tommy Lee Jones (Chip Hazard), and the men of "This Is Spinal Tap" and the members of the cast from "The Dirty Dozen." All of them did a wonderful job.

The DVD comes with a few special features including the "pat on the back" making-of documentary. The digital transfer is flawless, and I was especially impressed with the almost seamless intertwining of CGI and animatronic characters on the screen.

Overall, I mildly recommend this film to parents with kids over the age of ten. They might actually be a little bored throughout the movie due to an unnecessarily long running time. Had things moved at a faster clip and this movie clocked in at about ninety minutes, I think it would have been much better. If your kids are under ten, do not let them watch this. It's probably going to be too scary for them. Adults interested in special effects will probably want to take a look at this given that it uses CGI when it was still a relatively new artform in cinema. Other than that, don't expect too much from this movie. It's okay, but if you've never seen it before, please rent it before you buy it.

This Is My Favorite Movie! (2007-09-29)

This is the best war movie ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! awsome special effects!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the Gorgonites and the Commando Elite, there funny.