Commando
(June 29/01) The
action genre peaked in 1985 with Commando. No movie since has been able
to wield a proper combination of hard-core violence, witty one-liners and just
the right amount of absurdity like Commando did. Arnold Schwarzennegger
stars as John Matrix, an ex-military man now living in a forest with his daughter,
played by Alyssa Milano. Their existence is seemingly perfect - they spend their
days chopping wood, feeding baby deer and frolicking in a swimming pool - but
their bliss is short lived. Back in Matrix's army days, he had to discharge a
fellow soldier for being too vicious. Now Bennett (played by Vernon Wells, in
a remarkably flamboyant performance) is back and has kidnapped Matrix's beloved
daughter. Commando works on just about every level - from the
hilariously over-the-top action sequences to the brutal violence - but hands down,
it's the script that makes Commando such a gem. Plenty of movies have tried
to emulate the ease with which Commando unfolds, but never quite as successfully.
But more than that, it's the classic one-liners that make this an '80s staple.
Here are a few choice quips: "Let off some steam" (said after Matrix has thrown
a steam pipe through a baddie's chest); "I eat Green Berets for breakfast and
I'm very hungry right now!"; "Don't disturb my friend - he's dead tired" (said
after snapping the neck of a villian on an airplane and making it appear as though
he's sleeping). And then there's the mother of all exchanges: Matrix is holding
a bad guy named Sully (who he previously assured he'd kill last) by one leg over
the edge of a cliff and the following dialogue ensues: "Hey Sully, remember
when I promised to kill you last?" "Yeah,
man! You said that!" "I
lied." (Followed by Matrix dropping Sully and Sully screaming as he plummets to
his death.) Gold. Pure gold. ****
out of **** © David
Nusair 2001 |