COMMANDO

US, 1985, 88 minutes, Colour.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rae Dawn Chong, Dan Hedaya.
Directed by Mark L. Lester.

Commando is a piece of slam-bang action in the vein of Sylvester Stallone's Rambo films and the Chuck Norris action adventures. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger - who made his own impact as The Terminator.

The film was directed by Mark L. Lester who moved from tough exploitation films like Truck Stop Women and Bobby Jo And The Outlaw to genre films like The Class of 1984 and a big-budget Stephen King film, Firestarter. Here he focuses on action, the conventions of the action film - especially with deaths and explosions. There is also an attempt at humour, successful with the ironic comments of reporter Cindy played by Rae Dawn Chong rather than by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s rather heavy-handed attempts at repartee.

The film is a portrait of a former commando, the clash that he has between a co-worker Bennett (played by Australian Vernon Wells, Mad Max 2, Weird Science) and shows a right-wing dictator trying to gain power in a Latin American country. The action seems far-fetched, is staged in the most spectacular way - with Schwarzenegger never wasting a shot (no matter how many hundreds of rounds he fires). The result is, somewhat like Rambo First Blood 2, that credibility is so strained that the material becomes ludicrous.

Only for slam-bang action fans.

1. A successful action film? The focus on action adventure and its conventions rather than human interest?

2. Colour photography, American locations, standing in for Latin American locations? Matrix's hideaway? The city? Highlands? The stunt work and special effects? Machinery, explosions? Firearms and weapons? The rousing musical score?

3. The title and its focus on Matrix's work and life? His work with Bennett? The credits sequences and the skilled assassination attempts? Commando style? Matrix as retired, General Kirby urging him out of retirement? His mission, tactics, stunt work? His completing his mission? War?

4. The character of John Matrix - from Germany for Arnold Schwarzenegger? Seeing him with his daughter - and the lyrical sequences? The siege of his house, the kidnapping of his daughter, General Kirby urging him out of retirement? His going to the city, tracking down suspects? Going on the plane - and getting off it while moving? The clash with Sully and the shopping mall? The attack on the motel? The encounters with Cindy and her coming along for the hair-raising ride? His wisecracks? Tracking down the dictator and his henchmen? The time factor for getting back his daughter? The siege of the island and the spectacular success? Reunited with his daughter? With Cindy? The plausibility of his character, situation, motivations? The clash with Bennett, the continued rivalry, the confrontations, the final fight? Commentators talking about the intensity of the relationship of love and hatred? Death?

5. Bennett and his work as a commando, the murdering of the other commandos? Getting the lead for Matrix? The confrontation the kidnapping of the daughter? Manoeuvres, outwitting each other? The chases and clashes? Final fight?

6. General Kirby and his motivations? Reliance on Matrix? Authorities and their collaboration?

7. Cindy and her being caught up in the events, her ironic comments about the macho action? Her participation in the action? The reconciliation with the daughter?

8. The Latin American dictator, his henchmen, power? Resources? Hideaway and the siege?

9. Sally as the snarling villain, the clash with Matrix, the siege in the shopping mall, action sequence, death? The chasing of Cook and the sequence in the motel?

10. The range of villains? Arius and what he stood for? His use and treatment of Matrix's daughter? Threats?

11. The staging of the action sequences, their excitement? Their credibility - and Matrix with his one-man attack on the besieged fort?

12. The impact of this kind of film on Americans in the mid-'80s? The image for the rest of the world?