Powerful

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

In terms of a pure action film, this is as good as it gets. Jean Claude Van-Damme gives a superb throw-back performance as Luc Devereaux, now a part man part machine cybernetic villain. Scott Adkins gives a memorable performance as a human experiment, and mind-control victim gone rogue. Dolph Lundgren, Andrei Arlovsky, and Roy Jones Jr add to the royal-rumble style atmosphere in this film as well. This film explores the concepts of human experimentation, cloning, artificial intelligence, and revenge all with exceptional cinematography, and thrilling action sequences.

Disclaimer: If you are a viewer that mainly prefers art-house-type movies, then you might as well ignore this review. In addition, if you're not able to take a Scott Adkins action horror flick, ignore this review, as well. We'll both be better off.Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning I liked this one for a reason. I think is much, much better than Universal Soldier: Regeneration. I have enjoyed the action scenes, I love seeing Scott Adkins kicking ass. I love the actress Mariah Bonner in here. This movie is more for Scott Adkins fans, which I have like it a lot. But still it Is not a Van Damme film! They ruined beloved character Luc Deveraux. The story does borrow from Apocalypse Now (Van Damme looking like Brando does help with the comparison), but it still provides a solid story that maintains your interests. It's all done in a very serious tone and can get rather confusing at points, but I loved that it emphasized the sci-fi and even horror elements that the franchise potentially had hidden. I think Adkins vs. Arlovski is my personal favorite scene in the and wins the award for best fight scene of the year. The sheer brutality on display will make even the most hardcore viewer wince.The fight scenes are choreographed by Larnell Stovall who also did sterling work on Undisputed III, Bunraku and many more and he really ups his game to a whole new level of awesome in this movie. This scene between Scott Adkins and Andrei Arlovski is incredibly brutal and yet thoroughly awesome at the same time. The way they just tear strips from each other using baseball bats and whatever else they can get their hands on make this the real stand out scene of the film. Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning is a visceral nightmare that will not be for everyone, but it's original, brutal, well acted and with the best fight scenes you'll see this year. Check it out, if you dare. Just don't watch it with your mommy.The Universal Soldier franchise has come a long way since it's debut 20 years ago with the original. 2 made for TV sequels that got ignored when Van Damme came back for the official "The Return" sequel which was a total bore. then director John Hymms re-teamed Van Damme along with Dolph Lundgren in some important cameo's for 2009's "Regeneration" which brought some high-octane fun into the mix. Now with Day of Reckoning the plot is confusing and more or less ignores what happened in Regeneration but gives some bone crushing action in car wrecks and swift fighting. Van Damme sleepwalks through his villainous ways while Lundgren is crazy as ever. Bottom line it's a decent entry to this old series. The fight scenes are amazingly choreographed, with no shaky cam and no shortage of blood. One thing I should warn you about is if you have photo-sensitive epilepsy, I would NOT watch it. There are a few strobe light effects in it which even messed with my head. It's a really visceral horror/action movie that might just be the best in the series thus far as it tries something different with the concept of the Universal Soldiers while intermixing the horror genre as well. Van Damme in here is only for 7 minutes tops and if you're looking for lots of Van Damme and Dolph then you may be disappointed. They have minor roles but what screen time they have will stick in your head long after. There are some really cool action/fighting scenes in this movie but I found the plot to be more and more confusing as things progressed. In addition, although Van Damme and Lundgren are featured prominently on the cover art, their roles in the actual film are somewhat minimal. Scott Adkins gives one of the best performances of his career I have ever saw and really gets to display his amazing fighting skills. The fights in this movie are outstanding, this is the third time I see Dolph Ludgren as Andrew Scott dying. The movie was shot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA and it is American film not European movie like was Universal Soldier: Regeneration that was shot in Bulgaria and it is an European movie for me not US. I have enjoyed this one much more better. John Devereaux was fantastic character to me, specially the end that he had more clones about him self. The final fight scenes between John (Adkins) and Luc (Van Damme) was just outstanding and I love it.Overall: I am giving this movie an 8, because I have enjoy it, it was not boring the movie was fast action paced horror film and I love horror films. It is not my favorite Van Damme movie but it is definitely a Scott Adkins favorite film killing Unisols. This is the movie that Regeneration should have been.Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (formerly known as Universal Soldier: A New Dimension) is a 2012 American science fiction action film co-written, co-edited and directed by John Hyams, and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren and Scott Adkins. It is a semi-sequel to Universal Soldier: Regeneration.8/10 Grade: B- Studio: BMP Productions Signature Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Scott Adkins, Mariah Bonner, Andrei "The Pit Bull" Arlovski Director: John Hyams Producers: Craig Baumgarten, Moshe Diamant, Allen Shapiro Screenplay: John Hyams, Doug Magnuson, Jon Greenlagh Rated: R Running Time: 1 Hr. 54 Mins. Budget: $11.500.000 Box Office: $1,402,307

A change in direction is risky. You may end up alienating your original fanbase, you may end up with an unrecognisable sequel that is a sequel in name only, or you may end up creating a better product. UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: DAY OF RECKONING is that better product. Not just a sequel, but an expansion on a waning science fiction action franchise, DAY OF RECKONING closes many loose ends and answers questions that were left hanging by 2009's franchise revival UNIVERSAL SOLDIER A NEW BEGINNING/Regeneration. Luc Devereaux, the protagonist from the original 1992 movie, has gone AWOL. Having failed in reintegration into society, Devereaux has accepted his cold hearted killer and merciless soldier persona with a new nihilistic mindset. Used like a weapon then discarded by his handlers, the disillusioned Devereaux slowly recruits other Unisol sleeper agents to join him for an eventual uprising against the government and the black ops programme that robbed them of their humanity. His latest act of terror was the cold blooded murder of a woman and child, the wife and daughter of a family man named John (our protagonist played by Scott Adkins). Mysteriously left alive, John starts to track down the elusive Devereaux for the sake of revenge, but ends up unveiling mystery after mystery. The greatest mystery however comes from within as John is tormented by hallucinations of Devereaux and manifests combat skills that he had never learned; skills that allow him to best other Unisols in hand to hand combat. Those skills would be tested as John hunts down the truth of his past, evades the relentless Unisol "Magnus" who has been sent to stop him, and takes a journey into the heart of darkness that is Devereaux's hidden fortress. John's journey is a painful one about losing one's humanity to vengeance. As his obsession grows, his methods become more inhuman and cruel. As he goes further down this dreamlike rabbit hole of a story, John is faced with a risk of becoming the devil to defeat the devil when he finally faces Devereaux. Scott Adkins portrays that gradual metamorphosis from man to killing machine with a good level of nuance and restraint. Finally given a starring role that goes beyond just fighting and scowling, former stuntman and trained martial artist Adkins shows off his acting chops, taking John across the full range of emotions from despair to a focused drive, to single minded obsession. Sure it's not much, this is not some romance drama after all, but it serves the story while allowing Adkins to go "Rambo" on all his enemies. Having cast trained martial artists like Adkins, Andrei Arlovski and Jean Claud Van Damme, the action in DAY OF RECKONING is bloody, intense and marvelously shot. It is the sort of hard hitting full on fighting with practical effects that is a rare sight in this day and age of special effects and digital stand-ins. This movie never shies away from bloodshed, showcasing every wound, shot and death with grim realism. From the onset, the mystery plot is gripping with its fair share of twists and unexpected revelations. It does sag a bit in the first act but once you get past that, the pace picks up. If you have been following the franchise, many questions are answered here. For example, how does Dolph Lundgren's Andrew Scott character return again and again despite meeting gruesome ends in each instalment? Drawing inspiration from APOCALYPSE NOW (the whole "former soldier gone rogue and amassing an army" as well as the surreal journey into darkness theme), TERMINATOR (the relentless pursuit of John by Unisol Magnus) and MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (brainwashed sleeper agents/assassins with false memories), UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: DAY OF RECKONING is a gripping tale from start to finish. As a whole, UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: DAY OF RECKONING achieves what many of its contemporaries fail to: it is a direct-to-video movie that looks just as good as a Hollywood blockbuster. No doubt the result of John Hyam's masterful direction and cinematography. His camera-work achieves an interesting look to the film that slowly mutates from soft and sombre into harsh lighting with clashing colours reflecting John's physical and emotional journey. Accompanied by haunting synthesiser music courtesy of Michael Krassner, the movie draws you in with its surreal atmosphere. Perhaps the only questionable filming decision was to utilise an epileptic flashing white light in scenes where John has his hallucinations. A dark yet fitting end to the franchise which still leaves some doors open for further sequels.

*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERSThis movie is a very fresh take on an old action/sci-fi franchise. The tone of this movie is completely different from previous movies. It feels like an horror/thriller movie now. There are references to video games and "Apocalypse now". Scott Adkins is a main hero now , while Jean Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren basically play 5 minute episodes now. Fans of Jean and Dolph will probably be disappointed. Adkins tries to find out who and why murdered his family. The story starts intriguing , but the more the movie moves forward the plot becomes confusing . Why is Van Damme working with Lundgren ? They were enemies before , so what changed ? And Lundgren died in earlier movie ,so why he is alive now ? Is he a clone ? What's the government part in all of this ? What's with all the clones ? What was the point of the hallucinations ?None of this is answered and the final result is one big mess. I like to figure out things on my own , but the writers should really give the audience more information. Otherwise the movie feels like a badly connected set of twists. Also the characters are completely bland and uninteresting.Director John Hyams provides the movie with some great action scenes. He knows how to create suspense and excitement. I would love to see him make a big budget action movie. The R-rating is used fully and wisely. Too bad that most of the action happens only in second half of the movie. Also , the movie sometimes drags during dialogues.Overall , it's quite entertaining in places and ambitious movie , but the bad screenplay drags it down. I give it 3/10.