When missile technology is used to enhance toy action figures, the toys soon begin to take their battle programming too seriously.
Joe Dante, director of “Small Soldiers,” made his name with a string of cult-classic hit films in the late ‘70s and throughout the ‘80s — “Piranha,” “The Howling,” and “Gremlins.” By the late ‘90s, his work had become virtually unseen. Several of his ‘90s movies have disappeared into obscurity due to poor marketing, a lack of physical releases, and no repeat TV or cable viewings. With that in mind, it’s surprising that DreamWorks allowed him to helm a big-budget (at least by ‘90s standards) summer movie.
Upon its release in 1998, “Small Soldiers” was heavily marketed as a potential hit for DreamWorks. Despite the studio’s push, the film underperformed, making approximately $55 million on a reported $40 million budget (these figures are from IMDb). Critics and audiences found the tone confusing; it was deemed too juvenile for the adults, yet too violent and dark for the children it was aimed at.
Nearly 30 years later, how does the movie hold up? I remember enjoying “Small Soldiers” when it was released, although I don’t recall whether I saw it in theaters or on home video. Either way, it left an impression because I clearly remembered sequences of it despite not having seen it in years.
The effects, created by Stan Winston Studio and ILM, remain the star of the show. Even in 4K, the practical and digital effects work still look spectacular. The movie is a fun and engaging watch. Although I have rewatched other childhood favorites over the years and found them to be nearly unwatchable, “Small Soldiers” is fantastically paced, has committed performances, and the storyline doesn’t feel too far-fetched.
Paramount releases this film in a limited-edition steelbook, featuring the movie on both 4K and Blu-ray discs. While I’m excited to have this released, the forced steelbook packaging reinforces my disdain for that packaging choice. Steelbooks remain a flimsy way of pushing media to consumers. Almost every steelbook I own is damaged in some way. This release is no different. The plastic holding the spine to the back cover had already broken apart, preventing the case from closing, when I removed the wrapping. Why they can’t offer a standard edition is beyond me.
As for the disc, the movie looks great in 4K. It has a very film-like appearance, and the colors appear natural. There was some banding during the studio logos at the beginning, but once the movie started, I noticed no issues. The sound is the same lossless DTS-HD track from the Blu-ray. It’s a strong soundtrack with a lot of punch; probably not something you should watch late at night, though.
The only special features in this set are carried over from the Blu-ray. That disc is the same disc that was released a couple of years ago. “Small Soldiers” remains a fun movie. If you haven’t seen it or are a longtime fan, this set is a worthwhile addition to your home video collection. Sadly, it’s only available as a steelbook.
Now available on 4K Ultra HD SteelBook™
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