“Commando” (1985) starring Arnold Schwarzenegger / Z-View

Commando (1985)

Director:  Mark L. Lester

Screenplay: Steven E. de Souza; story by Joseph Loeb III,  Matthew Weisman, Steven E. de Souza

Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rae Dawn Chong, Dan Hedaya, Vernon Wells, James Olson, David Patrick Kelly, Alyssa Milano, Drew Snyder, Michael DeLano,
Bob Minor, Michael Adams, Gary Carlos Cervantes, Chelsea Field, Bill Paxton  and Bill Duke

Tagline:  Somewhere, somehow, someone’s going to pay.

The Plot…

John Matrix, a retired Special Forces Commando, is the single parent of a young daughter.  They live in a remote mountain house.  Life is great.

When a military helicopter flies in unannounced, Matrix knows bad news is coming.  Matrix’s former commander informs him that every member of his former squad has been executed.

Just then shots ring out.

A team of mercenaries attacks.  Matrix puts up a valiant fight, but his daughter is kidnapped.  The kidnappers work for Arius, the former dictator of Val Verde. Matrix  is told that if he kills Val Verde’s current leader, Matrix’s daughter will be released.  If not, she will be killed.  Matrix has less than twelve hours to complete his assignment.

The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Commando is a classic 80s action movie.  It features over-the-top scenes, a hero who quips as he performs feats of strength and kills countless bad guys without breaking a sweat… all to a cool soundtrack.

Harold Lloyd’s Beverly Hills mansion was used for the final shootout with Arias’ soldiers.  If it looks familiar it could be because the mansion was also used in the final shootout in Beverly Hills Cop.

Val Verde is a fictional country, but the name has also appeared in Predator and Die Hard II.

Arnold’s line, “I lied” still makes me smile no matter how many times I’ve seen it delivered.

Commando (1985) rates 4 of 5 stars