In the annals of ultimate action movie history, there are few action stars more iconic than Arnold Schwarzenegger.
And while his role as the T-800 in The Terminator launched him onto the scene and introduced audiences to the bulky, hulking cinematic force that he portrays on the large screen, it wasn’t until Commando came out a year later that people saw that Arnold could carry a movie on his own, even if it was one of the silliest action movies (which wasn't trying to be) to ever exist.
Released a calendar year after The Terminator, Commando is everything that James Cameron’s sci-fi action epic was not. It wasn’t dark, it wasn’t deep, and it also let a relatively inexperienced and untested professional bodybuilder from Austria lead a film from start to finish.
From memorable one-liners, over-the-top stunts, and a never-ending amount of action and carnage, Commando might not be remembered as Arnold’s best or most iconic roles, but for action film fans and historians, it’s a forgotten classic that might be the most important for developing Arnold’s ultimate legacy.
A Look Back at 'Commando'
For action filmmakers and fans looking to dissect what makes a great action movie, Commando has just about everything you’d ever need. It has an action-hero star, a simple yet effective inciting incident, and a well-paced string of action sequences.
Action movies don’t necessarily need this, but Commando also has a ton of silly one-liners after almost every fight sequence and death. All of which Arnold delivers as brilliantly as only he could. Something audiences didn’t know he was capable of outside of monosyllabic deliveries of “I’ll be back.”
Commando was produced by Joel Silver, early in his career, before helming projects like Die Hard and other ultimate classics. It was directed by Mark L. Lester, who found a home in the mostly action, but usually quasi-comedy genre in which Arnold often appeared.
The film didn’t have a huge budget and didn’t aim for much beyond its promised nonstop, fun action sequences. Billing Arnold Schwarzenegger as the top-line star for the first time was risk enough, so otherwise it played things pretty straight—something which stands out compared to many more ambitious action films both of its time and even still today.
Straightforward Action at Its Finest
'Commando'
Credit: 20th Century Studios
And that might be the biggest takeaway for modern audiences looking back at action classics like Commando. Similar to the flash-in-the-pan success of films like John Wick, the premise doesn’t need to be complex, and the results don’t have to be anything but predictable.
Arnold’s daughter is kidnapped, and he goes to get her back. He’s also a decorated Special Forces colonel and an unstoppable force of brute strength and deadly weapons knowledge. And, boom, you have an action film ready to go.
The rest is on the delivery of said action. Which, even with its slightly reduced budget for the time, Commando delivers as well as any film of its era. The climax island raid sequence in particular stands out as some of the most well-timed and well-delivered action choreography of all time, an endless barrage of spraying and fighting that sees Arnold take out an entire army on his own.
The Future of Ultimate Action
Partly inspired by the success of modern classics like John Wick, there has been a string of action vehicles as of late that seem to understand the lessons of '80s and '90s action and are trying to channel this straightforward approach into a stale genre.
And, for the most part, they do find success. If anything, action movies ballooned into major blockbusters with huge budgets and giant star salaries. As of late, they’ve become more indie and DIY. (At least at first, as the Wick franchise has certainly tried to become much bigger and more ambitious, to mixed results.)
And, for a filmmaking site founded on the promise of supporting those looking to just go out and make their projects, action is proving to be a nice vehicle for indie projects. So, if you’re looking to make your own DIY action film, firstly, be safe, and secondly, watch Commando and study what makes it so awesome.
