Ghost Soldier tells a very relevant story for today’s times – a big corporation that is ready to go to any lengths to develop it’s AI data centre, including forcibly ousting long-time residents from their homes. Meanwhile, the protagonist, who has developed cool gadgets and firearms, stops them, and how. The premise is so strong and this could have made for a cool action film. However, the film’s biggest issue is its depiction of America as a place with no rule of law, where anyone with money can run free while the police and authorities look the other way. Hence, a story like this would have been more believable had it been set in India. Secondly, the makers build up the bond between the protagonist and the kid, but it’s forgotten in the third act. Thirdly, the protagonist uses the ultra-cool, invincible weapons as per his convenience and, funnily, at times, he uses ordinary guns. Jim Caviezel delivers a restrained and fine performance but, in some scenes, it could have been far more impactful. Cameron Gayden (Jack Hernandezl grandson) is memorable but disappears later on. Olivia Thirlby (Sheriff Heidi Parker) and Michael Ironside (Garry; gun shop owner) leave a huge mark. Carlos Gómez (Hernandez; grandfather), Jaina Lee Ortiz (Sophia), Ty Bell (Alexej Manvelov), Beau Knapp (Mirko; mercenary leader cum goon) and others are fair. All in all, Ghost Soldier is a disappointment.
My rating – ** out of 5!