Cast
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Arnold Schwarzenegger
as John Matrix
Rae Dawn Chong
as Cindy
Dan Hedaya
as Arius
Vernon Wells
as Bennett
James Olson
as Major General Franklin Kirby
David Patrick Kelly
as Sully
Alyssa Milano
as Jenny Matrix
Bill Duke
as Cooke
Drew Snyder
as Lawson
Sharon Wyatt
as Leslie
Michael Delano
as Forrestal
Bob Minor
as Jackson
Michael Adams
as Harris
Gary Carlos Cervantes
as Diaz
Lenny Juliano
as Soldier
Crew
Director
- Mark L. Lester
Producer
- Joel Silver
Reviews
Gimly
Let the story, acting, stunt-work, script, cinematography, production value, and just about everything else all dribble away while you sit back and enjoy watching Arnie kill more than 80 antagonists in about 80 minutes.
_Final rating:★★★ - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go._
Mar 19, 2018
John Chard
I eat Green Berets for breakfast. And right now, I'm very hungry!
Commando is directed by Mark L. Lester and written by Jeph Loeb, Matthew Weisman and Steven E. de Souza. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rae Dawn Chong, Dan Hedaya, Vernon Wells, James Olson, David Patrick Kelly, Alyssa Milano and Bill Duke. Music is by James Horner and cinematography by Matthew F. Leonetti.
John Matrix (Schwarzenegger) is the former leader of a special commando strike force that always got the toughest jobs done. He is forced back into action when his young daughter (Milano) is kidnapped by kingpin criminal Arius (Hedaya) and his gang of thugs. They want Matrix to carry out an assassination, but all Matrix has on his mind is to save his daughter - he has half a day to do so before the thugs will kill her - so it's now a private war...
After playing "Conan" and "The Terminator", Schwarzenegger slipped into a role that would prove to carry all the hallmarks of the big man's action movie career. Commando is awash with outrageous action, pure carnage and gruesome deaths, plenty of quippy one liners, and of course over the top villains.
Clocking in at just 90 minutes in length, it's the perfect "leave the brain at the door" popcorn crowd pleaser. Chong gets a well written lead lady part, giving us a spunky heroine who evolves as the plot grows ever more chaotic, and young Milano gets to play a resourceful child character.
High art it is not, but who cares if you want to just watch Arnie waylay a whole army on his own. Great fun. 7/10
Mar 28, 2020
Thematic Analysis
This high-octane Action/Adventure/Thriller film balances spectacular sequences with character-driven moments. Unlike many films in the genre, Commando distinguishes itself through a unique visual style and creative action choreography.
Director Mark L. Lester brings their distinctive visual style to this film, continuing their exploration of themes seen in their previous works while adding new elements. Their approach to pacing and visual storytelling creates a viewing experience that rewards close attention.
Released in 1985, the film exists within a cultural context that now offers viewers historical perspective on the social issues of that era. Its reception demonstrates the diverse reactions to its artistic choices and its place in cinema history.
Did You Know?
- The production of Commando took approximately 24 months from pre-production to final cut.
- With a budget of $10.0 million, the film proved to be a financial success, earning back its investment and more.
- The final cut of the film runs for 90 minutes, though the director's initial assembly was reportedly 143 minutes long.
- The cast underwent specialized training for 2 weeks before filming began.
- The screenplay went through 5 major revisions before the final shooting script was approved.
- The film contains approximately 1061 individual shots.
Historical Context
- In 1985, when this film was released:
- Economic policies were shifting toward deregulation in many Western countries.
- The Cold War was entering its final phase.
- Independent cinema was growing in influence, challenging the dominance of major studios.
How This Film Stands Out
While Commando shares thematic elements with other films in its genre, it distinguishes itself through its unique approach to storytelling, visual style, and character development.
Unlike Assault on Precinct 13, which focuses more on action than character development, Commando subverts genre expectations by exploring its themes with greater nuance.
While films like Golgo 13: The Professional and Space Sheriff Shaider: NEXT GENERATION explore similar territory, Commando stands apart through its distinctive directorial vision and pacing.
This film's unique contribution to cinema lies in its bold artistic choices and willingness to challenge viewer expectations, making it a valuable addition to its genre.
Details
- Release Date: October 3, 1985
- Runtime: 1h 30m
- Budget: $10,000,000
- Revenue: $57,500,000
Where to Watch
