Solo

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.

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.

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.

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.