#35: COMMANDO

 

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rae Dawn Chong, Vernon Welles. Written by Steven E. de Souza, from a story by Joseph Loeb III, Matthew Weisman and Steven E. de Souza. Music by James Horner. Produced by Joel Silver. Directed by Mark L. Lester. Budget $9 million. Running time 90 minutes. Originally released in 1985.

All together now: "CHENNY, CHENNY! DEY TOOKE CHENNY!"

God I love this stupid, stupid film, it's perhaps the most over-the-top action film ever made starring the greatest action film actor of all times, produced by the greatest action film producer and with the greatest sound track. It's also the only film made with an actual testosterone budget, which this film blew by 110%! 

In fact it's a film so action-packed I should think of writing this plot in caps only. 

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER PLAYS JOHN MATRIX, RETIRED MAJOR OF A DELTA FORCE SQUAD, WHO'S FORCED OUT OF RETIREMENT WHEN HIS DAUGHTER, CHENNEY, ALYSSA MILANO IS KIDNAPPED BY A MERCENARY ARMY LEAD BY VERNON WELLS' CAPTAIN BENNETT, UNDER THE ORDERS OF DAN HEDAYA'S PRESIDENT ARIUS. TURNS OUT MATRIX STAGED A COUP THAT LEAD TO THE OUSTING OF ARIUS, AND HE WANTS HIS STATE BACK. HIS PLAN IS TO FORCE MATRIX TO KILL THE NEW PRESIDENT, OH AND THAT'S IT. HOWEVER, EVER RESOURCEFUL JOHN MATRIX TRICKS THE BADDIES INTO THINKING HE'S ON THE MISSION WHEN HE'S ACTUALLY HUNTING THEM AND HE'S GOT 11 HOURS TO SAVE THE DAY. ALONG THE WAY HE KIDNAPS RAE DAWN CHONG'S AIR STEWARDESS, CINDY TO HELP HIM. ALL THIS PREAMBLE IS JUST TO GET ARNIE TO ARIUS'S ISLAND MILITARY BASE, WHERE HIS ARMY IS WAITING TO INVADE, SO HE CAN LITERALLY KILL EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM WITH EVERY WEAPON KNOW TO MAN, FROM BAZOOKA TO MACHINE GUN, PISTOL, SHOTGUN, ZOMBIE KNIFE, MACHETTE TO BUZZ SAW BLADES AND A GARDEN HOE. 

Added to the mix IS a glorious army of hard-men lead by Bill Duke and David Patrick Kelly and a nameless army of stunt men to be blown up, shot and stabbed to death for 90 beautifully tight and well plotted minutes. Perfectly following the Syd Field three act structure to a tee, this really is the most fun action film you could imagine. Arnie who the previous year had made: Terminator, was about to embark on the three film run of glorious action films that included Raw Deal, Predator and Running Man and was well on his way of cementing his reputation as the greatest action actor of ALL-TIME!

Mark Lester the film's director would go on to direct a further 15 movies, but none of them would be as beloved. But for me the true unsung hero of the film is uber-Producer Joel Silver who, from 1985 to 1993 produced a staggering tally of great films that included Lethal Weapon 1,2 &3, Predator 1&2, Action Jackson, Die Hard, Hudson Hawk, the Last Boy Scout and Demolition Man to name but a few.

What makes this film stand out against action films of today, like say, Boy Kills World, is the camera work, the editing and the approach to the action. It's not shaky-cam, the editing isn't insanely frenzied and it's framed so you can actually see what's going on. And then there's the superb soundtrack by James Horner.

Added to that is a script with a good dose of humour and some terrific one liners, "You know when I said, I'd leave you till last, Sully...", "I eat Green Berets for breakfast." or "Let off some steam, Bennett.", you can see Arnie still learning his craft here, but he's a fast learner and just a year or two later he's making Predator. But it's the fetishistic gun-porn and violence that just makes Commando so unapologetically enjoyable. With a bodycount in the hundreds and ten times that many in blood squibs, I would indeed argue that Commando is easily the most delightfully violent film of all times! Indeed it's such an immensely satisfying and enjoyable movie that I've lost count of the number of times I've seen over the years. And once again, how wonderful to see it on the big screen again! In fact, I don't think I've seen it on the big screen since 1985!

9/10!