Commando at 40: Schwarzenegger’s bonanza of bullets, bad guys and biceps rewards a rewatch

By Daniel O'Brien, Lecturer, Department of Literature Film and Theatre Studies, University of Essex

Earlier this year I created a video essay about Arnold Schwarzenegger. While making it, I realised that Commando, Schwarzeneggers’ most excessive one-man-army film, was about to turn 40 – so I decided to rewatch it.

I found that the film’s mature age contrasts with its juvenile absurdity, which I absorbed all too easily when I first saw it, far too young, as a pre-teen. It was one of the few VHS tapes I had access to (thanks to an older sibling) and I watched it more than I should probably admit.

By the time The…

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