Solo

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Solo

PG-13

Released Aug 23, 1996

1h 34m

Action

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Popcornmeter

8%

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36 Reviews

27%

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5,000+ Ratings

Android military weapon Solo (Mario Van Peebles) is designed to put down Latin American rebels. But when Solo arrives, the machine feels compassion for the rebels fighting for freedom. Despite Solo's design, he begins fighting for the people he's supposed to kill. When his creators, including Gen. Haynes (Barry Corbin), attempt to bring him back, he flees. But the military doesn't give up. They send an upgraded android into the field to take Solo -- and the villagers -- down.

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Critics Consensus

Featuring hammy performances and bland characters, Solo is an all too straightforward actioner that's both predictable and instantly forgettable.

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Dave Kehr

New York Daily News

The action is neither big nor imaginatively filmed enough to satisfy fans of the genre, though Van Peebles seems to be enjoying his crack at sad-eyed, Chaplinesque pathos.

Rated: 2/4

Jul 27, 2014

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Mark Caro

Chicago Tribune

These escapist showdown movies are only as good as their villains and heroes. The heavies here are more of those ubiquitous gung-ho military types who are due to be dishonorably discharged from further cinematic duty.

Rated: 1.5/4

May 28, 2013

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Doug Thomas

Seattle Times

Here's a surprise tucked into the languishing days of summer movies. Arriving with hardly any attention is a satisfying, even fun, action picture about a futuristic soldier named Solo.

Rated: 3/4

May 28, 2013

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

It doesn't disappoint when it comes to blowing things up, discharging firearms, and giving Solo an opportunity to dish out payback to his brutal squadron of superior officers.

Rated: 7/10

Sep 24, 2020

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Tim Brayton

Alternate Ending

An altogether nonsensical bit of action/sci-fi garbage that marries a dreadful script with hilariously chintzy action.

Rated: 1.5/5

May 27, 2018

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Dennis King

Tulsa World

He's The Terminator's distant cousin. He's Solo, and he's jerrybuilt from parts of so many other movies that it's hard to recognize a single original element in this android-warrior saga with Mario Van Peebles in the thankless title role.

Aug 2, 2014

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Audience Member

As a Star Wars fan for all my life. Having seen every movie so many times I can say solo is a fantastic Star Wars movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Audience Member

Solo is a poor film - that cannot be ignored. The acting for the most part is very wooden (the only exception is Adrien Brody's performance as Solo's creator Bill) and the story is slight enough that you would probably forget it WHILST you where watching the film. That said, such films are more about the action than the plot/acting and, as such, live or die by the action set pieces - that after all is the point of such films - to give 14 year-olds something to smile at whilst the adults watch films of actual substance. And even on this Solo fails to deliver - what little action there is is poorly done, dull and uninspired. After seeing the trailer for this on television I was hoping for something along the lines of Predator with a robot replacing the Predaot. Instead I got a fairly lifeless action film with a poorly constructed attempt at depth by taking on message that robots can feel too. Watch Terminator II or Predator instead.. both classics that this film desperately wants to be except it lacks the inspiration or, to be fair, the budget.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

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Audience Member

One of the most boring "action" movies ever.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

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Audience Member

Solo fails to be an action movie, the emotions are lost in translation, the clichés are easily found, and it is also unbelievably boring, Solo is a dumb action movie with no shred of humanity.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Audience Member

1990s cheese fest with Mario Van Peebles as a super soldier who goes rogue. For a much more competent telling of nearly the same story, watch Kurt Russell in "Soldier," which came out two years later and was written Oscar winner David Webb Peoples. William Sadler, Barry Corbin and Adrien Brody also star in this dud.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

Mario, you just aren't an action star!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

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Norberto Barba

Director

Mario Van Peebles

Solo

Barry Corbin

General Clyde Haynes

William Sadler

Colonel Frank Madden

Adrien Brody

Dr. Bill Stewart

Seidy Lopez

Agela

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Synopsis

Android military weapon Solo (Mario Van Peebles) is designed to put down Latin American rebels. But when Solo arrives, the machine feels compassion for the rebels fighting for freedom. Despite Solo's design, he begins fighting for the people he's supposed to kill. When his creators, including Gen. Haynes (Barry Corbin), attempt to bring him back, he flees. But the military doesn't give up. They send an upgraded android into the field to take Solo -- and the villagers -- down.

Director: Norberto Barba
Producer: Joseph Newton Cohen, John Flock
Production Co: Triumph Films
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 23, 1996, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 25, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.9M
Runtime: 1h 34m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround

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