John Matrix Kills the World
The 1985 film Commando is easily one of the greatest action movies ever made. If you think that you can deny that FACT, then you are both mistaken and an asshole.
I have seen Commando so many times that I would need an abacus just to keep track of that shit. It is one of my favorite movies of all time and deserves to be placed in the Smithsonian alongside a picture of Ronald Reagan and a Winchester Model 1873 rifle. We’ve made a mission here at Bulletproof Action to celebrate the days that really matter, and for this day, the 31st anniversary of Commando, I thought that I’d give you some insights into what are my favorite kills in this classic one-man army film.
6: Diaz – Gary Carlos Cervantes: (Killed 13:55) Last Words: “If you want your kid back you better cooperate, right?”Matrix : “Wrong!” Bullet to the head takes out Diaz. He didn’t get a chance to have much impact in the story. He was present during the opening scenes with Bill Duke as they took out former members of Matrix’s team but dying in the first 15 minutes of the film clearly shows he wasn’t worthy of a great death.
5: Henriquez – Charles Meshack: (Killed 22:20) Last Words: “Open your mouth again and I’ll nail it shut.” Matrix boards the plane with Henriquez and wastes little time in knocking him out and snapping his neck like a Rold Gold. He tried to intimidate Matrix but there are very few men alive who can do that and Charles Meshack is not one. Matrix then laid on a solid one liner with, “Do me a favor, don’t disturb my friend. He’s dead tired.”
4: Arius – Dan Hedaya: (Killed 1:19:07) Last Words: The good general didn’t get any last words. He was one of the last men killed in the film and Matrix was in a pretty big rush after murdering about 100 guys trying to get to Arius. Matrix and Arius share a pretty solid gun battle before John takes him out with a combination battle roll and shotgun blasts to the chest. No last words, but we’re given a pretty stern and lengthy stare as Arius’ body flies through the window.
3: Cooke – Bill Duke: (Killed 47:35) Last Words: “F*ck you asshole” Matrix: “F*ck you asshole.” They may look like the same quote, and they are, but Matrix clearly emphasizes the “you” more and if he had a posse behind him they would have been freaking out cause Cooke got burned! The two men brawl through a couple of hotel rooms, disrupting a guy trying to poke some chick with big jugs, before Matrix finally impales Cooke on a piece of cheap hotel room furniture.
2: Sully – David Patrick Kelly: (Killed 41:25) Last Words: Matrix: “Remember, Sully, when I promised to kill you last?” Sully: “That’s right, Matrix, you did!” Matrix: “I lied.” In what could have easily been the best kill in any movie, Matrix drops Sully from the top of a cliff like one of those claw machines at the bowling alley. Sully was an utterly unlikable guy, too. Those are the best kind to have in a movie where the hero kills upwards of 100 people.
1: Bennett – Vernon Wells: (Killed 1:24:10) Last Words: “John, I’m not gonna shoot you between the eyes. I’m gonna shoot you between the balls!” Unfortunately for Bennett, speaking too soon is a problem that he’s had throughout his life. This time, Matrix rips a steam-filled pipe from the wall and throws it like a Zulu warrior. “Let off some steam Bennett.” The line is an absolute classic one liner for the king of the one liners. The kill gets the number one spot because it’s so damned cool and it was the fuel that drove most of the movie. Bennett hated Matrix for kicking him out of his unit, created this situation with Arius, and now Matrix finishes this puppy with one of the best death scenes in action history. I think I need a cigarette….
Honorable Mention: A tip of the hat to the dozens of nameless, faceless men who are sent somersaulting through the air by grenades, impaled by lawn tools, and filled with enough lead to sink a cargo ship. Thanks for you sacrifice boys!
