The Commander
Lewis Collins is back to leading mercenaries on the move in Southeast Asia. This time the cast is unusually good including Lee Van Cleef, Brett Halsey (Cop Game), Romano Puppo (Robowar), Mike Monty (Raiders of Atlantis), Bobby Rhodes (The Great Alligator), etc. Anyway, Van Cleef has Collins go on some random mission to locate a disc with all sorts of valuable crazy intelligence data on it. It just happens that Donald Pleasence, a random government official, hires another mercenary-for-hire Manfred Lehman to tag along and make sure the data ends up in the right hands. Van Cleef isn't taking any chances, and since he is crooked and murders Collins's other bosses quickly, he places Romano Puppo in the group as well to make sure the operation runs smoothly. Collins may not be too expressive but at least he seems to figure out quickly who's out to get him, so the mission continues with lots of double-crosses, twists and turns, and of course lots of explosions!
Insights
Plot Summary
A disgraced space commander is given a chance at redemption when he's tasked with a dangerous mission to retrieve a stolen alien artifact. He must navigate treacherous asteroid fields and confront a ruthless pirate crew. The fate of humanity rests on his ability to overcome his past failures and outwit his enemies in the vast expanse of space.
Critical Reception
The Commander received a mixed to negative reception from critics, with many pointing to its low budget and derivative plot. While some appreciated its ambitious sci-fi elements, the overall consensus was that it fell short of its potential, suffering from dated special effects and inconsistent pacing. Audience reception was similarly lukewarm.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its attempt at a grand space opera on a limited budget.
- Criticized for its weak script, wooden acting, and uninspired special effects.
- Seen as a forgettable entry in the sci-fi genre of the late 80s.
Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce and largely unenthusiastic, with many viewers finding the film to be a dull and unoriginal sci-fi flick that fails to deliver on its premise.
Fun Fact
Despite its low budget, the film features a notable cast including Donald Pleasence, known for his role as Dr. Loomis in the Halloween franchise.
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