On one side are the , a group of hyper-masculine, gung-ho soldiers led by the gravel-voiced Major Chip Hazard (voiced by Tommy Lee Jones). Their programming is simple: seek and destroy. On the other side are the Gorgonites , a gentle, monstrous race designed to be the Commandos' enemies. Led by the noble but timid Archer (Frank Langella), the Gorgonites are programmed to hide and lose.

Watching Small Soldiers as an adult is a completely different experience. As a kid, you focused on the cool explosions and the fact that Phil Hartman played a sleazy toy salesman. As an adult, you realize the film is asking hard questions:

However, go in with the right expectations. This is not Toy Story . Woody would get his head mounted on a spike by Chip Hazard within five minutes. The is for adults who grew up playing with G.I. Joes and wondered, "What if these things actually hated me?"

. In a bid to create the ultimate toy, GloboTech CEO Gil Mars (Denis Leary) demands action figures that can "actually do what they do in the commercials".

For those who have never seen it—or those who want to revisit the mayhem—here is everything you need to know about the , from its legendary voice cast to its surprisingly mature themes.

: Recent reports suggest that a Small Soldiers 2 may be in the early stages of development, though it has not been officially confirmed by a major studio.