A Note on Commando

Following is not essentially a review but more of what I feel about action movies with Commando being the case in point.

Speaking strictly from a business perspective, wouldn’t it make more sense if there were more movies that catered to the vast male population who are hungry of some quality action cinema?

The Box office verdict of a movie like Commando does not contradict or negate my aforementioned question. Commando is just a first in the line (hopefully) of some others to follow. A small budget action movie centered on a hugely talented Vidyut Jamwal and his breathtaking stunts, Commando serves exactly what has been missing from the Hindi movie Action scene.

Have you ever wondered why Die Hard is such a celebrated and loved movie all around the world? So much so, that when every other year, a new Die Hard movie comes to screen, people do think about giving the first one a watch again-just because of the sheer mention of the title!! It’s because, Die Hard shows what most action lovers want to see in a movie- “Believable Action” In the fight of one vs. many, you can’t win based on your muscles or your heavenly presence; you can only win because of your skills and your intelligence. Die Hard showed that and so does Commando.

Vidyut doesn’t act like a Super Hero- He acts- or should I say lives the character of a commando on screen. He is not eager to show off his skills and only uses them when required the max. Regarding the action and choreography- It’s the best action movie since Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi which in itself was a massive step forward from India’s then action scene. Commando lacks a substantial story and that’s where it doesn’t end up as a great movie. Its brilliant if and only if its action is considered – not so much when viewed on the whole.

After Watching Commando and being in awe of Vidyut Jamwal’s capabilities, I happened to catch 7aum Arivu- A Tamil movie based on Bodhidharma- the man who taught china- Martial Arts. While the concept of this movie was good, they couldn’t implement the action scenes and the dedication this movie required. Someone like Vidyut Jamwal and Akshay Kumar would have rocked the party here. It is so important that a hardcore concept based action movie features an actor who loves action. That’s where the likes of Vidyut and Akshay would succeed. There are so many local and regional concepts to be explored. In a country that still has tribal population (Andaman, Lakshadweep etc) and Banjaras who tame snakes and Lions, a considerable study could result in brilliant material for indigenous action movies- something that won’t be leaning on Camera work or invisible ropes but real people doing real action. If China can come up with Crouching tiger hidden Dragon, just imagine the potential for such movies in India.

There is a great misconception that people don’t want to watch such cinema; that they only like masala or melodrama or 5 songs with some comedy- It’s an excuse by the filmmakers to not be creative and keep serving the same lame dish again and again. If you would keep serving the same years after years and then once in a while throw in a KKK or commando- of course you won’t find many takers right away, because they have been groomed and fed on masala. Give them variety and give them that in quantity and you’ll see a big section of audience taking interest. China may be rich but its people are not and still they make a CTHD hit. It’s all about serving your audience well to get their love.

Commando is an average film with good to great action. Since Akshay kumar, Vidyut Jamwal is the most talented action hero. Great Job. Even though it’s an average film still, it’s a must watch.

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21 Comments
  1. FS 11 years ago

    Vidyut is much more talented, flexible and agile than Askhay. I have not seen the film but whatever I have seen in the promos, his moves are equally good as of Michel jay white or tony jhaa or scott adkins. Most try to copy scenes of tony jha’s or scot adkins but at the end they end up like a spoof instead of tribute. Even akshay’s attempt to incorporate Tony Jha’s moves in one such film was a disaster but vidyut’s physicality and his flexibility complement each other.

  2. SYED IMRAN 11 years ago

    Disagree with you…. Though I agree that Vidyut is talented and good in action…. But Akshay is the best stunt hero in the industry..Nobody can match him in action scenes… there is a particular kind of comfortability in him which makes his action look better and thrilling…

    • FS 11 years ago

      Have u seen any of the films starring jay white, jhaa n adkins? please let me knw the names.

  3. Baba 11 years ago

    excellent review suprabh. very insightful at many levels.this puts my own commando review in a better perspective.

    I saw 7aum aviru on your reccomendation. its concept was very good about how martial arts originated in India and how it developed in China from where it went to Japan,Thailand, Korea and other countries.Of course the film has lot of issues but then you cant expect originality or creativity from a murugadoss and most other Indian directors who are not well-informed and aware of their own history and culture. I am quite sure an outsider like Ang Lee or Wong kar Wai or even a Prachya Pinkaew will make an oscar worthy film out of 7aum aviru concept.
    Its a shame that inspite of its origin in our country, it is almost killed today due to our negligence, let alone developing it. Some days ago, I saw The Raid Redemption and i was amazed by the advanced moves of Penchak Silat

    Now coming to Commando vs KKK. KKK is better as a film. Firstly it was a big budget film where the director had the luxury of casting WWE wrestlers, shooting abroad etc. Also it came in 1997, when akshay himself was evolved as an actor.Commando is made a debutant director in ashoe string budget with a lead who has not done a single lead hero film so far.Given those limitations, I think the makers and vidyut did more than fine.hats off to vipul for producing this.

    Coming to vidyut vs akshay, akshay was the best action hero of his time because only he could do the stuff that he used to do back then.Which other actor could do say a tornado kick like him? But the action since then has evolved,lots of new things have come and vidyut seems adept in it. Also has age on his side.so for now, he is the best action hero in India given the global stds of action today.

  4. ank_16n 11 years ago

    @Sup

    Vidyut was brilliant in the movie yes he is far better Action hero that we are seeing now like Ajay, Salman and Sanjay dutt.. and certainly the best since Akshay kumar… but he does not match AKSHAY KUMAR in my opinion.!!

    Reasons—

    1. Vidyut is good in 1 or 2 forms or style of Action while AKSHAY is perfect for all type of Action forms..!!

    2. Akshay has done some 30-40 Action movies of Different Range so we should give him more time and movies to think we have got the best..!!

    i have myself seem many Trying to copy Tony Jaa action scenes and Akshay himself did that in Dewaane huye paagal yes he might have not able to match Tony jaa’s intensity(all that screaming and yelling) but it was very close and best copy that is ever been done of Tony jaa..!!

    LET VIDYUT DO 5-10 MOVIES(ACTION) then we will see whether he is able to bring the same Freshness(as he has done in Commando)..!!

    • Baba 11 years ago

      ank16

      “he might have not able to match Tony jaa’s intensity(all that screaming and yelling but it was very close and best copy that is ever been done of Tony jaa”

      LMAO! do you have any idea what crap you are talking? Tony jaa is qualified in muay thai, taekwondo, aikido and a host of other art forms. he is a legend. there is simply no comparison here.and you gave ample proof that you have zero idea about action when you labelled the “Kiai” in martial arts as “yelling anf shouting”. go through this link and teach yourself why martial artists do it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiai

      “Vidyut is good in 1 or 2 forms or style of Action while AKSHAY is perfect for all type of Action forms”

      LOL! have you even seen the film? vidyut displayed moves from capoeira, wushu, taekwondo, parkour, ninjutsu in commando.I can pinpoint the exact scenes with timings where he did so.

      “Akshay has done some 30-40 Action movies of Different Range so we should give him more time and movies to think we have got the best.”

      please tell me the names of those 30-40 films and what kind of art forms did akshay do in them?. try it, i wil later tell you anway, which art forms he did in KKK and his other films, because i am sure you have no idea about it.

      • ank_16n 11 years ago

        @Baba —
        “LMAO! do you have any idea what crap you are talking? Tony jaa is qualified in muay thai, taekwondo, aikido and a host of other art forms. he is a legend. there is simply no comparison here.and you gave ample proof that you have zero idea about action when you labelled the “Kiai” in martial arts as “yelling anf shouting”. go through this link and teach yourself why martial artists do it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiai
        is it so much difficult to understand my comment….did i anywhere said he is crap , he doesn’t know Action……
        i just said the screaming and yelling that he makes with his mouth while fighting…..i even didn’t said that it is bad thing ….i just said Akshay didn’t matched his screaming and yelling in that APD scene….m i wrong ???
        moreover i like Jet li and jackie chan style more maybe that’s why for me screaming and yelling is somewhat bad while for u it might be classic….!!
        and saying kiai is one thing and making another person deaf is another thing….at least in my opinion..!!
        saying do u know what “Kiai” means in martial arts ???? is like saying do u know what a movie doing 100 cr business means in bollywood as if movie doing a 80-90 cr will destroy bollywood or will make hell lot of difference. !!
        ” vidyut displayed moves from capoeira, wushu, taekwondo, parkour, ninjutsu in commando.I can pinpoint the exact scenes with timings where he did so.”
        may be u know better than me but it seems u also know better than Vidyut himself as he still maintains he has done “Kalaripayattu” in commando….while

        • ank_16n 11 years ago

          @Baba —
          “LMAO! do you have any idea what crap you are talking? Tony jaa is qualified in muay thai, taekwondo, aikido and a host of other art forms. he is a legend. there is simply no comparison here.and you gave ample proof that you have zero idea about action when you labelled the “Kiai” in martial arts as “yelling anf shouting”. go through this link and teach yourself why martial artists do it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiai
          is it so much difficult to understand my comment….did i anywhere said he is crap , he doesn’t know Action……
          i just said the screaming and yelling that he makes with his mouth while fighting…..i even didn’t said that it is bad thing ….i just said Akshay didn’t matched his screaming and yelling in that APD scene….m i wrong ???
          moreover i like Jet li and jackie chan style more maybe that’s why for me screaming and yelling is somewhat bad while for u it might be classic….!!
          and saying kiai is one thing and making another person deaf is another thing….at least in my opinion..!!

          ” vidyut displayed moves from capoeira, wushu, taekwondo, parkour, ninjutsu in commando.I can pinpoint the exact scenes with timings where he did so.”
          may be u know better than me but it seems u also know better than Vidyut himself as he still maintains he has done “Kalaripayattu” in commando…..

          “please tell me the names of those 30-40 films”
          ok…i will try….
          1. Mr. Bond
          2. Khiladi
          3. Ashaant
          4. Sainik
          5. Jai Kishen
          6. Mohra
          7. Paandav
          8. Zaalim
          9. Sabse Bada Khiladi
          10. Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi
          11. Sapoot
          12. Aflatoon
          13. Keemat
          14. Angaaray
          15. Barood
          16. International Khiladi
          17. Jaanwar
          18. Khiladi 420
          19. Awara Paagal Deewana
          20. Khakee
          21. Aan: Men at Work
          22. Police Force
          23. Zulmi
          24. Daava
          this is when i have not included Rowdy Rathore ,Tarazu,Insaaf,Lahoo Ke Do Rang and many more……
          rest u can add 3-4 if u want….yes 40 could be a little high but 30 toh mill hi jayegi..!!

          “which art forms he did in KKK and his other films, because i am sure you have no idea about it.”
          as far as i remember it was Tackwondo and Savate…..but since u know better than me so will be able to throw more light into it..!!

          • ank_16n 11 years ago

            why my comment in Moderation…????

            • sputnik 11 years ago

              It went into moderation because you gave lot of links in your comment.

          • Baba 11 years ago

            you are right about taekwondo. and you say he did savate. savate is french. dont think akshay has ever done that in any film. even considering both, thats just two art forms in almost his entire career. you were claiming about 30-40 different art forms 😉

            Vidyut says he has done advanced/contemporary form of kalari. he collaborated moves from many disciplines which i mentioned above.traditional kalari is nothing like the stuff done in commando. in traditonal kalari, there are no punches, you are supposed to hit only with your palms.

  5. Serenzy 11 years ago

    ank_16n,

    I’ve always wanted to ask you about your ID.

    Let’s say ank might be ANKIT – Your name?

    But what’s with the underscore and 16n??? 🙂 🙂

    • ank_16n 11 years ago

      @serenzy—   underscore is just another special character nothing else…
      16 is the birth date and ‘n’ is again nothing important..!!
       

  6. Dhamaka 11 years ago

    agree babaji that akshay was best of his generation but vidyut clearly has more experties. it is unfair to compare them

    • Baba 11 years ago

      yes dhamaka, agreed. thats what i said in my big comment. they both are good from their generation. vidyut is more evovled now as action itself  is also more evovled from what it was 20 years ago.

  7. Tulmul 11 years ago

    Itna Sanaata kyon hain bhai???

    Msin toh yaha aaya tha kuch tod-phod dekhne

    @Dhamaka

    Paa ji Sat sri Akal.. Sunny paa ji aaya tha kya 😛 ??

    • Dhamaka 11 years ago

      paaji 😀
      sat sri akal
      O nahe yaar msg aaya tha paaji ka ke kabhi kabhi msg ker dia ker kake warna is baar karachi ki baari hai 😛

    • Baba 11 years ago

      i had posted a related news on this yday on other thread. its great that sanothoshi has cofirmed it himself.

      “When contacted, Santoshi confirmed the developments. He said, “Yes, we are working on a script for a big action film. Vidyut is someone who deserves the best. People had been asking me to make something on the lines of Ghayal and Ghatak. This one is going to be it.””

      this is a huge news

      • sputnik 11 years ago

        The other link you posted yesterday said – “Actor Vidyut Jamwal, often called the new age action hero of Bollywood, has reportedly bagged a key role in filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi’s next.” but looks like he is the main lead based on what Santoshi is saying.

        I hope he is the main lead and it will be great if the movie is intense like Ghayal but with the action that Vidyut is famous for.

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