Commando [1986] [DVD]

Perhaps the epitome of 1980s action and non-franchise Arnie product, Commando is a very dated and extremely entertaining action film full of great stunts, one liners and cheesy, gaptoothed Arnie goodness. Rae Dawn Chong plays a typical 1980s sidekick with some still-funny one liners (and some real groaners), Dan Hedaya (apparently in shoe polish) plays a deposed dictator from Val Verde (the same fictional Central American country from Predator and Die Hard 2), Vernon Wells (Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, Weird Science) plays Bennett, David Patrick Kelly oozes slime as Sully, some guy plays the Richard Crenna-role from Rambo and Bill Paxton shows up in a brief cameo (Arnie killed him in Terminator, and threatened him later in True Lies). All in all, a good cast.Comic book writer Joseph "Jeph" Loeb was one of the writers of the script and it is probably him who contributed the memorable "rogue's gallery" of villains here - the "evil muscleman" Bennett, the "sleazy white guy" Sully, the "complacent psychopath" Cooke, etc - which makes the film so much fun to watch. The film is nicely situated between spoof and genuine thrilling action. Rather than undermine the film, the comedy here is to reinforce the thrills the film provides and knows you came for.James Horner's score is quite good in a very cheesy way. While Horner has never done anything original in his life, he comes pretty close here - we can here lots of pre-echoes of the atmospheric militarism of his upcoming Aliens score, along with an extremely catchy melody performed on steelpan/steel drums. Also used are lots of keyboards (obviously), pan pipes (to indicate those of asian descent - really?) and, of course, the most 1980s instrument of all - the saxophone. Overall, it's extremely effective.The film is definitely high on a list of great action films, from the heyday of excessive action, practical stunts and effects, and barely self-conscious thrills.The UK Blu-ray is a straight port of the US one. The picture is good - grainy, no DNR. It's not the best picture you'll put on your TV but I shouldn't even need to say that. It's a fantastic HD representation of the film regardless. The sound is even more impressive - the lossless 5.1 really pumps the sound up loud, with only the bulldozer scene being somewhat problematic (tinny! noisy!). This is the US theatrical cut, by the way, uncensored in the UK for the first time since it's cinematic release (though this version has been screened on satellite television too), so we get the axe to the crotch, the severed arm, and the complete tool shed scene. Shame the director's cut, and commentary, could not be included as well, but it's no big loss.

Excellent film

Classic Arnie

There was a point in the 80s where these sort of movies came out, we watched them, enjoyed them, then moved on. Then they sort of fell out of favour. On Blu Ray, Arnie is back!Commando was never Arnie's best film. He moved on from this to Predator directed by John McTiernan, who actually passed on this, and that was surely better directed, better acted and had the better premise. This was Arnie trying a Rambo.If you watch it with a critical eye you'll see the continuity errors, ask yourself has Bennett (the bad guy's bad man) got a Freddie Mercury thing going on, scoff at the 'Secret Seven' way he and Rae Dawn Chong 'discover' the baddy's hideout by finding a map, co-ordinates AND a photo of the seaplane.............and we all know the yellow Porsche that gets dented, then fixed then dented again...............You can go on and rip it to shreds.But watch it with fresh eyes and you start to understand why you enjoyed it. The 'Promise to kill Sully last' is possibly one of Arnie's defining moments. The simplicity is now what makes it a classic joy.Blu Ray - for a film around thirty years old the picture quality is very good. An early shot let's you see not only Arnie's muscles but the beads of sweat on Arnie's muscles. Sound? I'll be honest and say it's not that brilliant, but we all know this was the point James Horner went all steel drums for a while. Trouble is as the sound systems we have have got better, the foley work (the sounds added after) now start to sound like sounds added after.He wasn't back: Never spoilt by a mind numbing sequel, Commando does just what Arnie does. Sneaks in, makes hell of a blast, then moves on. Proper pop corn, beer swilling action.

Classic film, you said you would kill me last “I LIED”

Great movie with added extras definitely worth getting

Excellent Arnold FilmGood quality Blu Ray

the 80's action film needs only a few ingredients.a big hard as nails action star...CHECKlots of action and violence....CHECKan almost pointless plot.....CHECKarnie plays retired army colonel john matrix, who lives a normal quiet life with his daughter (played by a young alyssa milano) but trouble crops up when men from his old unit start getting killed, it isnt long before they find arnie and kidnap his daughter. wanting him to kill the president of a foreign country, he will then get his daughter back.after killing his chaperone and escaping the flight he is on.arnie has a matter of hours to get daughter back before its discovered his flight pal is dead!what follows is arnie cutting a huge bloody hole through the bad guys in a bid to find out where his daughter is being held, aided by a reluctant stewardess (played by rae dawn chong)all this ends up in a huge battle between arnie and the main villains private army.commando is the typical ott 80's action film and its great stuff.the story is at times kinda forgettable, as arnie destroys an entire shopping malls security force you forget he is trying to get his daughter back.this film is a typical turn your brain off and enjoy it, forget the plot or the acting and just watch it.one thing i will point out this is the blu ray version i reviewed and is the FULL uncut version(yes yes it includes the shed scene in all its glory....i loved it !)