2221 – Soldier (1998)

spacetime coordinates: 2036. waste disposal planet Arcadia 234

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Soldier is a 1998 American science fiction action film directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, written by David Webb Peoples, and starring Kurt RussellJason Scott LeeJason IsaacsConnie NielsenSean Pertwee and Gary Busey. (wiki)

A soldier trained from birth is deemed obsolete and dumped on a waste planet where he is reluctantly taken in by a community of defenseless, stranded wayfarers. (imdb)

Trivia

Writer David Webb Peoples has said that Soldier is a “side-quel” to Blade Runner (1982) (which he also wrote) it takes place in the same universe, and in fact the vehicles used by the Blade Runners – spinners – are also used in Soldier. The premise of Soldier was actually based on an unused opening scene for Blade Runner, where a group of Replicants are dumped and left for dead on an Off-world colony. Both films were released by Warner Brothers, and both were box-office failures that gained a cult following after being released on home video.

An implication in the film is that the genetically-engineered soldiers meant to replace Todd and his fellow soldiers are in fact replicants, continuing a theme from Blade Runner. The 2017 short film 2036: Nexus Dawn, set in between the original Blade Runner and its 2017 sequel Blade Runner 2049, implies that Nexus-9 replicants were developed in 2035, the year in which Soldier takes place.

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Todd’s service record, displayed on a computer screen, includes the following: – The battles of Tannhauser Gate and Shoulder of Orion (references to Blade Runner (1982)) – Receipt of the “Plissken Patch” (reference to Escape from New York (1981) and Escape from L.A. (1996)). Receipt of the “O’Neil Ring Award” (reference to Stargate (1994)) – Receipt of the “Cash Medal of Honor” (reference to Tango & Cash (1989)) Receipt of the “MacReady Cross” (reference to The Thing (1982)) – Receipt of the “Capt. Ron Trophy” (reference to Captain Ron (1992)) – Receipt of the “McCaffrey Fire Award” (reference to Backdraft (1991)) – Receipt of the “Dexter Riley Award” (reference to The Strongest Man in the World (1975), Now You See Him, Now You Don’t (1972), and The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969)) – Citations for the Nibian Moons Campaign, the Antares Maelstrom War, and the War Of Perdition’s Flames, locations referred to in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982).

Among the garbage on the planet is the U.S.S. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the F-117X Remora from Executive Decision (1996), a spinner from Blade Runner (1982), and a piece of the Lewis & Clark from Event Horizon (1997).

The Trinity Moons screen near the end of the movie, also includes references to “Eminiar 7” from Star Trek: A Taste of Armageddon (1967), and “Kessel”, possibly referring to the Kessel Run, mentioned by Han Solo, in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) and several references to “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy“. The “Top Archive Specifications” comes up with ZZ9.Plurl.ZA (the sector in which Earth is reported to be) which comes up in Zaphod mode. On the right under “Search Results” you can see “Slartibartfast” complete with an “HHG” reference number.

Todd’s weapons training record lists the “USMC Smartgun” and “M41A pulse rifle” (references to Aliens (1986)) and the “DOOM MKIV BFG” – a reference to the computer game Doom.

Todd’s Unit Statistics reference the Dungeons and Dragons Ability scores: STR, DEX, INT(L), WIS, and DEX. It also shows stats for his damage (DAM), hit points (HTPT), language (LNG), loyalty (LOY), and even RSR, which means “Resurrection.”

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