Arnold Schwarzenegger has long held the title of one of Hollywood’s premier action stars. Even at the age of 77, he remains synonymous with iconic action films, many of which continue to resonate with audiences today. His journey in the action genre began in earnest with Conan the Barbarian in 1982, but it was the groundbreaking The Terminator in 1984, where he portrayed the formidable T-800, that solidified his status as a cultural icon.
Classic titles such as Predator (1987) and The Running Man (1987) exemplify Schwarzenegger’s prowess in action, alongside the legendary Total Recall (1990). The 1990s saw his dominance with films like Kindergarten Cop (1990), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Last Action Hero (1993), and True Lies (1994). Among these, one film from the ’80s stands out not only as a quintessential Schwarzenegger action movie but also as a representation of the extravagant action style that defined the era.
Commando Receives Criticism for Inaccuracies from Military Expert
Addressing the Over-the-Top Elements in Commando
In 1985, Commando debuted under the direction of Mark L. Lester, featuring Schwarzenegger as John Matrix, a retired Special Forces operative who is forced back into action to rescue his kidnapped daughter. Despite mostly favorable reviews from audiences and critics alike, the film is rife with unrealistic depictions of military tactics and equipment.
In a recent analysis for Insider, former Green Beret David Harris scrutinizes a compound assault scene from the film, highlighting several inaccuracies. For instance, he points out:
Nope, not at all. Those claymores would not do that much damage. Basically what a claymore is is it’s a one-and-a-half pound of C4 with about 700 or 800 ball bearings on it, and then you blow it up and it scatters and can go out. And the kill radius is about 50 meters.
They use them to go defensive. They were designed to actually like get in your patrol base and put those out so guys couldn’t sneak up on you. And then the other way of using them was in ambushes you open up with those because they’re going to produce the mass casualties. It’s not blowing up, taking out two buildings. Pellets aren’t going to do that.
When we were in the old days of wars we used flamethrowers to go after bunkers. So the standoff of that was like 75 meters. From what I know of the quad-tube rocket launcher, that weapon system was designed so that we can get more standoff from the bunkers themselves. They were designed to be bunker busters where you could get more standoff, that was up to about 150 to 200 meters. So now the guy didn’t have to run up there with a flamethrower and gas on his back on a bunker where they were getting shot at.
The rocket launchers weren’t designed to shoot at moving targets. They were designed for bunkers, a stationary target. But if you were in a pinch, let them rip. They weren’t heat-seeking so they didn’t have the ability to pick up a heat signature […] it’s a point-and-fire weapon.
A blast from a grenade would not send two dudes doing somersaults into the air. They’re not designed for that. It’s an area fire weapon and, honestly, those two dudes, because it’s about a five to 15 meter kill zone, those dudes would have been dead on impact.
I would rate this a three [out of 10].
Reflections on Commando’s Subpar Accuracy Rating
Embracing the Unrealistic Elements
The unrealistic aspects of Commando are not a revelation to viewers, and they do not detract from the film’s overall enjoyment. As part of the ’80s action film landscape, it features the classic “one-man-army”trope, with Matrix depicted as a super soldier effortlessly dispatching enemies. Conversely, the narrative approach shifted in the ’90s, with films like Die Hard illustrating a protagonist who relied on resourcefulness and wits in addition to strength.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Commando boasts a critics’ score of 68% and an audience score of the same, further affirming its status as a fan-favorite. With earnings of $57 million against a $9 million budget, the film’s success is undeniable.
Such video analyses are not intended to undermine the film’s legacy. Rather, they provide a platform for military experts to share their knowledge and experiences. Viewers are likely aware that the film’s sequences diverge from reality, but it’s compelling to delve into how these discrepancies contrast with genuine military encounters.
Source: Insider
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