Commando Ninja is an 80s action comedy tribute. It’s 1986 and John Hunter (Eric Carlesi), a Green Beret with a very particular set of skills, receives a visit from a former teammate who informs him that his ex-wife has been murdered and his daughter, Jenny, kidnapped. The story follows John on his mission to rescue his daughter and punish her captors.

This 68-minute movie was created by Benjamin Combes – an accomplished video editor and filmmaker. His previous work includes “Minecraft: The Prophecy” a live-action version of Minecraft that has over 4 million views on YouTube, “The Last Human in the Milky Way” a sci-fi short with excellent special effects and “Half Life: Foxtrot Uniform” which features many of the actors in this film. Having watched his previous work, one thing they all have in common is: very high production values even when there is no budget.

From the moment Commando Ninja starts with the Carolco inspired logo (Carolco were responsible for such classics as: the Rambo movies, T2, and Universal Soldier) you are taken straight back to the 80s. When the soundtrack begins (see my review of Thomas Cappeau’s score here) you realize that there is some serious talent involved in this production. The intro takes place in Vietnam and borrows heavily from Predator. It also introduces you to the dubbed style of the dialogue. Children of the 80s will be familiar with this from the Ninja films of the decade (such as the Sho Kosugi films).

Following the Vietnam prologue is a title sequence set to “The Pump” by Flash Arnold – another perfect choice. While the music is playing we are treated to more stereo-typically 80s visuals – almost like watching an episode of Baywatch. The montage itself is reminiscent of so many movies but Beverly Hills Cop 1 and 2 come immediately to mind. As the film continues, the references come thick and fast: posters, dialogue, special effects, camera angles and movements, soundtrack and even fight choreography – they all echo things that we’ve seen before and yet it’s never too much that you begrudge it. The beauty of a movie like this is – there could even be genuine mistakes on show but we would never know as they could easily be passed off as intentional (such as the arcade version of Operation Wolf being played on a NES)!

When it comes to the huge gun battle (which is of course a homage to Commando) it’s done incredibly well. The director wanted to use real squibs for all the bullet wounds and real, blank-firing weapons but it was beyond their limited budget. The action continues to a rooftop Ninja fight that is reminiscent of the finale in Revenge of the Ninja. Hunter’s adversary, the Red Ninja, is played by a selection of talented stunt performers from CinturiWolf and it elevates this production to another level.

If you were to create a list of things that you expect to see in an 80s action movie then they have hit every single one:

• Training Montage
• Gratuitous topless shots
• Poor dubbing
• Overacting macho hero who says fewer words than the number of bullets he fires
• One liners after killing someone
• A body count in the double figures
• Extras with unconvincing facial hair
• The same extras being killed over and over again
• Pop song over the end credits (that doesn’t sound anything like any other music in the movie)

My only complaint about the film is that ends very abruptly. It turns out that a real end for the movie was written that featured a huge battle between the heroes and Colonel Kinsky with his pig army. Sadly, the actors were not available for further shooting.

Younger viewers may not appreciate just how accurately the feel of 80s action movies has been captured here but those who grew-up watching movies like Predator, Terminator, Bloodsport, Revenge of the Ninja, and Commando will love it. One thing I am particularly grateful for is the very limited use of simple post-processing effects to give it a VHS quality. Instead, the movie has been shot in glorious HD and none of that is wasted here. This is another example of excellent judgement by the director.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Benjamin Combes and his team are called upon by some Hollywood big-wigs and given the opportunity to make something with a “proper” budget. Even if I’m wrong, then I hope they at least keep doing what they are doing because I don’t think I will ever tire of it. Watch it now.

5 / 5

If I was to make an action movie, I hope it would be as good as this.