'Commando' meets his match in one of the most popular sci-fi/action films of all time.

Rating: 9/10 (17 August 2011)

Muscle-man, Arnold Shwarzenegger's screen presence dominated the destructive, macho action films of the 1980s, and this innovative classic combines those very ingredients from 'Commando' with sci-fi monster horror and emerges itself as one of the most popular Hollywood blockbusters in history.
Arnie leads a team of military mercenaries along with government man, Carl Weathers into the deep Central American jungles to infiltrate an enemy operation only to find themselves up against an alien hunter who is attracted to heat and violence and hunts for sport. This is the perfect blend of tough-guy, military clichés featuring all of the nasty dialog and heavy artillery (You gotta love Jesse' "The Body" Ventura and his ultra-destructive Gatling gun) with a remarkably technological creature (played by a towering 6'8" Pittsburgh native, Kevin Peter Hall) that can camouflage itself to its terrain ,see in infrared vision, and utilize a force of unstoppable high-tech weaponry. Arnie uses his trademark one-liners, and a great ensemble cast featuring Ventura, Weathers, Bill Duke, Sonny Landham, and Richard Chaves) pulls no punches especially during an introductory action scene presenting one hell of a fire-fight. The monster meticulously stalks the soldiers one by one until an unforgettable showdown with Arnie himself, and the creature's unmasked face at the film's climax is a real accomplishment in make-up effects. The kills happen quickly and sometimes seem quite illogical (a fireball is shot through the head of Duke, and is later on shown completely in tact, as well as Ventura's ribcage scene.), but most of the inconsistencies are negligible due to such tremendous suspense and pacing which is only enhanced by Alan Silvestri's legendary musical score.
Its classic sci-fi/action that helped define the genre, and spawned a huge barrage of successful follow-ups including it's subsequent infusion with the 'Alien' series. Director, John McTieran will also go on to direct the excellent slam-bang action hit, 'Die Hard', and Kevin Peter Hall returns for 'Predator 2'.