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Commando(1985)
Overview
John Matrix, the former leader of a special commando strike force that always got the toughest jobs done, is forced back into action when his young daughter is kidnapped. To find her, Matrix has to fight his way through an array of punks, killers, one of his former commandos, and a fully equipped private army. With the help of a feisty stewardess and an old friend, Matrix has only a few hours to overcome his greatest challenge: finding his daughter before she's killed.
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Cast
Full Cast & Crew
Arnold Schwarzenegger
John Matrix

Rae Dawn Chong
Cindy

Dan Hedaya
Arius

Vernon Wells
Bennett

James Olson
Major General Franklin Kirby

David Patrick Kelly
Sully

Alyssa Milano
Jenny Matrix

Bill Duke
Cooke

Drew Snyder
Lawson

Sharon Wyatt
Leslie

Michael Delano
Forrestal

Bob Minor
Jackson

Michael Adams
Harris

Gary Carlos Cervantes
Diaz

Lenny Juliano
Soldier

Charles Meshack
Henriques

Chelsea Field
Vicky the Western Flight Attendant

Julie Hayek
Susan the Western Flight Attendant

Hank Calia
Latin Man

Walter Scott
Cates
Featured Comments/Tips
There is a shot of Arnold Schwarzenegger feeding a deer with his daughter. That is a perfect sign that you're in for a great 80s action film. This movie is everything that I expect in this genre. The action is fantastic, the plot is simple yet engaging, and the one liners kill me every time. Schwarzenegger is great in this role. Although he might not be a super believable drama actor, he knows how to be a strong, violent man as good as anyone out there. I genuinely believe it when he talks, punches, or shoots the hell out of people. Jumping off a plane's wheel into water as it takes off is totally unbelievable... until Arnold does it. Our main villain is great too. He wears that metal shirt with a chain around his neck while speaking like an Australian dick. Perfect. The female tagalong is a bit ahead of the time too. She's a black woman that actually helps Schwarzenegger in his mission instead of just being continuously saved by him. I took way too long to check this film out.
You're a funny guy Sully, I like you. That's why I'm going to kill you last.
You scared mahfucka? Well you should be..cause this Green Berets gonna kick your big ass!!
No one delivers one liners like Arnie. This is the perfect cheesy 80s action movie. The plot is barely there, the action is over the top, cheesy dialogue filled with one liners and of course the trippy music.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is...Commando. When the daughter of retired Special Forces commander John Matrix is kidnapped by a deposed dictator he must take on an army in order to get her back. Newcomer Alyssa Milano delivers a strong performance, especially for a child actor, and has a good chemistry with Schwarzenegger. This is the quintessential one-man army â80s action film, delivering a ton of fight scenes and explosions. Commando may be a bit of a clichéd and cheesy action film, but in all the right ways, which makes it immensely fun and entertaining.
It is so nostalgic. True essence of the 80s action movies. A classic !!
Probably the closest thing any 80s action movie has gotten to absolute perfection, Commando is a highly entertaining thrill ride from start to finish. Yes...it's rather cheesy, but it's supposed to be. All 80s actions movies are to some degree. Personally I think the one-liners suits the movie rather well, but then again...I like these kinds of movies rather a lot. Anyway...this is really a no-brainer. If you haven't seen this do...you'll not regret it. "I eat Green Beret's for breakfast. And right now I'm really hungry." - John Matrix
"Let off some steam, Bennett." "Don't disturb my friend, he's dead tired." "You're a funny guy Sully, I like you. That's why I'm going to kill you last." "I Lied" Damn, this movies has so many great Arnie lines. Like I have said in my earlier review here on Letterboxd and I still agree with that, Commando is one of those perfect popcorn flicks. Such a rewatchable and enjoyable film. Arnie at his best.
Brainless action by Arnold at its purest. Just a must see for fans
Surprisingly fun, action without too much thinking but still kept me guessing at what would happen next. Funny to see Alyssa Milano as a child. Maybe not worth 4 stars but at the same time I can imagine rewatching this movie every so often.
Really saved by how fun it is, the action and comedy are pure 80s cheese in the best possible way. However, the actingâs pretty unconvincing, the cinematography and score arenât great (it particularly suffers from loud, gated reverb drums, marimbas that feel out of place as well as poor sound mixing) and the story is pretty disposable. Itâs very predictable, emotionally I didnât care whatsoever, but itâs impossible not to smile when watching this. Call it a guilty pleasure if you want (I donât really believe in that term myself), but if youâre someone who can find enjoyment in the later _Fast and Furious_ films, youâll probably like it. 5.5/10
You know when I said Iâd kill you last? I lied
About the best nonsense action movie of the 80s... I wish they made films like this still. And I wish we had a star as bad ass as Arnie was... It's pure popcorn. Fantastical and unbelievable plot. Killing galore. Shoddy script. And yet it doesn't matter. Outside of the first two Terminator films, this is Arnie's next best. I must have seen it 30 times and it still has charm. 8/10
I wish John Matrix was my dad.
I eat Green Berets for breakfast, and right now I am very hungry.
Featured User Reviews

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

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:â â â - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go._
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