Commando [DVD] [1986] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

 

 

Create your own review

Ok. Firstly this is a class action movie with Schwarzenegger at his bestbut.........its cut! Its not a subtle cut at that. Your left wondering if theDVD player just glitched.
I sat down to watch this epic and was gutted when I saw that the scene inthe aeroplane where he breaks a guys neck is removed (badly). I stoppedwatching and fast-forwarded to another commonly removed scene where hechops a guys arm off and yet again its badly cut. After that I gave upwatching it, I was wanting to see the 'greatest story ever told' not a cutup version fit for a seven o clock watershed. It gets four stars itsreally a 5/5 movie but this cut down no extras DVD brings it down. If Iwere you check out the American version it probably isn't cut. Why didthey cut it?...now that's a million pound question.

'Commando' joins the long list of action films to be heavily censored in the UK.

Nearly a minute of throat-cuttings/neck snappings/deaths by axe, machete, pitchfork etc has been chopped from this DVD for fear that we (lacking all self awareness and morals) will go out into the streets and start attacking people. Thank you BBFC. For saving us from ourselves.

If you want to see 'Commando' in all it's uncut glory, get a multi-region DVD player and get it on Region 1, or Region 4, or anywhere else that isn't England, since we seem to be the only country will this 'Family Friendly' version.

Let me just get one thing out of the way first...if you take this film seriously then you are COMPLETELY missing the point.

Between Terminator and Predator big Arn made another one-word tough-guy action film that delivered what it promised and then some. Commando is almost tailor-made for Arnie's style of over-the-top action. In fact, I wouldn't say that this film goes over-the-top as much as I would say it launches into the stratosphere, powered by utterly implausible action, corny-as-hell one-liners, a ludicrous plot, and the campiest, least-threatening villain in movie history.

Arnie plays John Matrix (yeah, you really did read that correctly) an East-German defector and retired Special Forces Operative (at the age of 37!) who only wishes to live a life of peace with his daughter Chenny in a cozy cabin on Mount Baldy, California (the kind of place you'd expect Larry David to live). Trouble arises when Cooke (the incredible stoic Bill Duke) an emotionless hitman, starts knocking off Matrix's former comrades. It's all just a ruse to lure him out of hiding and snatch his daughter, a plan 'masterminded' by Bennett, Freddie Mercury's twin brother and the man Matrix kicked out of his unit because 'he enjoyed killing a little too much'.

Matrix's mission is to fly out to Val Verde and kill the democratically elected President that he himself helped to install after overthrowing Arius (Dan Heydaya) a brutal dictator. With Chenny being used as blackmail, Matrix has no option but to go along with the plot. But he'll be back sooner than you think as he's the kind of guy who just exits a plane during mid-take-off. After dragging Cindy, an easily excitable flight-attendant (Rae Dawn Chong), along for the ride Matrix pummels his way through Bennett's henchmen and Arius' piss-ant soldiers one by one, hoping to find Chenny before the plane lands in Val Verde.

There's little in this film that makes sense (such as how could a brutal dictator be exiled to an island just a few minutes of the California coast and the Pentagon NOT know about it? and Why is every one of Arius' piss-ant soldiers the same man in a hat with a fake mustache and gun?) but I'll be damned if it's not entertaining. Almost everything Bennett says is a one-liner for the ages. And don't get me started on the sub-text! He basically kidnaps Chenny (and does the job for free) because he's jealous of her. And if you just listen to his hysterical final confrontation with Matrix, and turn your head away from the screen...tell me that DOESN'T sound like a man-on-man love scene. It honestly would not surprise me if footage of Bennett was played on a constant loop on giant screens in gay night-clubs.

James Horner's score is also utterly brilliant, almost never stopping from start to finish, thundering the action along with sharp, punchy strings, eccentric saxophones, and upbeat, funky steel drums. This is truly one of Horner's best efforts, forget Braveheart or Titanic and hunt down the Commando score CD.

Mark L. Lester's career sort of withered away after the 80s, but this movie is certainly his crowning achievement and helped solidify Arnie's reputation as an endlessly likeable, bigger-than-life movie star. There have been talks of a remake directed by David Ayer and starring Sam Worthington (the names attached at the time of writing). They want to make it more gritty and serious apparently. Are you kidding me? Making Commando more gritty and serious is like adding ketchup to custard in order to make it 'more of a dinner'. It just won't work. And besides, 20th Century Fox virtually remade Commando in 2007 with the dull John Cena flick The Marine (they really stretched their imagination when they came up with THAT title), further proving that a remake is a stupid idea.

The Blu Ray looks above average in 1080p 1.85:1. It was one of the first Blu Rays Fox released and I wish they put a bit more effort into it (it doesn't even feature the Director's Cut, which which came out on DVD at the same time. The DTS HD-MA soundtrack highlights some of the more dated elements of the sound design (plain old Dolby Stereo A) but is otherwise passable. There are no extras.

The UK Blu Ray does NOT feature the old BBFC cuts made to all previous home video releases.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 92 customer reviews on Amazon.co.uk

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Blu Ray is Uncut
This is just a short note to say the Blu Ray version of this gloriously over-the-top Schwarzenegger rampage is uncut as far as I'm aware,and does feature the "shed scene" in all... Read more

Published 4 months ago by Mr Greeves

4.0 out of 5 stars Censored
A lot of you are blaming this heavily cut version on the BBFC. Well, the blame lies with Fox since this is the American TV version which Fox submitted to the BBFC. Read more

Published 6 months ago by K. Jones

4.0 out of 5 stars 1980s classic action movie.
I bought this in hmv and i was excited. watched it, brilliant movie. its old but its a cool schwarzenegger movie.

IF YOU LIKE A CLASSIC ACTION 1980S MOVIE. BUY IT.

Published 7 months ago by George Dunn

5.0 out of 5 stars hey, i just recieved my copy of commando region 1 dvd, but works on every region 2 dvd players on my british players it plays
im very happy with my purchase, iam very happy n will hopefully comntinue shopping from u guys, its a region 1 dvd movie: commando (directors cut), but on my uk region 2 dvd... Read more

Published 8 months ago by Nazrul Islam

4.0 out of 5 stars Let off some steam Bennett
This is definitely one of Arnie's most under rated movies but one which has everything you would expect from a 1980's Schwarzenegger action flick. Read more

Published 9 months ago by meatshake

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesomeness!
This is a truly entertaining romp starring Arni and Veron Wells. Yes it is cheesy and yes it is over the top. Read more

Published 10 months ago by Stitch Jones

5.0 out of 5 stars Region 1 Directors cut
I recommend fans of the movie considering the R2 dvd or blu ray to avoid and get the Region 1 directors cut. Read more

Published 11 months ago by S. J. Lowe

3.0 out of 5 stars Cut
Yes this film is cut - and cut badly.

Neck Break in the plane the "Let of some steam bennett" electrocution are badly cut and you have to ask why? Read more

Published 11 months ago by M. Edelman

5.0 out of 5 stars commando dvd
Glad I bought this dvd - great to see the film in it's full content rather than the censored version normally available. Read more

Published 12 months ago by S. Holmes

5.0 out of 5 stars Commando Blu-ray (Region A Only)
This is totaly uncut the sound is DTS Wow it is a shame it is only region USA (it can be watched on playstaion 3 console)

Published 14 months ago by Dawgy "Shake it"

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 92 customer reviews on Amazon.co.uk

Search Listmania!