Commando

Very entertaining movie, this one. Saw it upon it´s initial release here in Sweden (1982). It has a 007-feeling and Bond-ish quality about it, which I love. Lots of crew members from 007-productions behind the camera.

It is also very suspenseful and it´s got solid action scenes combined with good acting and snappy directing. What´s not to like?!:/

I can very well imagine that the S. A. S. Operates with a similar modus operandi. Since they (of course) doesn´t reveal anything one can only speculate and read books on the subject matter (S. A. S.) It looks and seems real enough (yes, I know it´s a movie).

It´s a pity and very strange that some films doesn´t get the attention and respect they deserve?! Instead loads of crap (WOKE, PC, man-hating - etc.) finds an audience.

Highly recommended film!++++

Who Dares Wins is a top British action movie made in the early 80's. It's star Lewis Collins was very well known in the UK from the hit TV show "The Profesionals". It was certainly made to cash in on the famous Iranian Embassy siege a mere year before they released this, which was televised live in Britain as the SAS stormed the building. Who Dares Wins has certainly dated as all 80's action films have, but it has great action scenes and stunt work. Collins is good in this and perhaps would have made a good 007, I don't know if he ever tested for the role but his Bond would have been closer to Connery than any since. The story is very silly and some scenes like the "rock concert" are cringe worthy but the action makes up for it, with a superb siege at the end.

Yes, there is some cheesy acting, but the payoff in this film is excellent! After reading other commentaries on this film, I won't spoil the ending for anyone who hasn't see the film when I say that it concludes with an accurate portrayal of special ops folks in action. But it is not only accurate, it is exciting, and well shot (love the view through the mask!). Combine accuracy and excitement and you have something that beats most of those other "special ops" films hands down. It makes Rambo et al seem downright nonsensical (which it is), and rightly so.

And as someone who studied in Europe for several years and saw the political far left in action on the streets of the major cities, I can tell you that many of them talked just like they do in the movie. And yes, the guerrilla theatre production lampooning the US is accurate, that type of theatre did take place.

I have given this a 8 not because of the acting or the film its self,it was full of goofs,but the story was bang on the mark. How people forget how it was back in 1983 when the film came out if you get yourself along to a disused nuclear shelter like the one in Fife,Scotland (Secret Bunker)and take a look at the posters of all the CND marches,ban the bomb,etc you begin to remember how it was back then and the fear the cold war had on people,it was also a time of extreme Right,and left wing politics in the UK (Skinheads,Anarchists,National Front,and Communist party's) The SAS were also in the news,and the footage was almost like the Iranain Embassy footage at the time complete with Anna Ford news reading for ITN

From an army point of view,there was some good Accuracys amongst the goofs,the SAS train with live ammo,not blanks,the HQ was correct,the train in the Welsh hills,and they founded the flash bang grenade,the Hotel entry was also correct,blowing the hinges of the front door,with a shot gun,and the SAS train with other international army's (deemed friendly to the UK)

the funding for the terrorists was not too far from the real life truth,and it was a time of mercenaries,everybody was hiring everyone who was special op trained

I found the Film'looked' a bit like the Proffesionals TV series at the time in places,and the Music also conveyed this,this was deliberate on Sir Lew Grades part as to make a smooth transition from small screen to Big for Mr Collins

the real hero in the film is the Scottish actor who plays a fellow solider (of Collins) in the film,who plays it straight and realistic throughout

I have had this film since it came out (2 tapes,and a DVD),not in my all time top 10,but comes out from time to time,to bring back memory's of a forgotten time,and a time of Cold War fear

Donald Suttie

It's pretty obvious that "Who Dares Wins" (a.k.a. "The Final Option") was an attempt by the British film industry to compete with American action/suspense films coming out at the time. And it does get a few things right. Though not give a gargantuan budget, the movie does look pretty slick and polished. And the last half hour does contain some genuine excitement and suspense, as well as some good action. However, the first ninety or so minutes do have some significant flaws. There's little in the way of sympathetic characters; even the hero has a significant degree of unlikability about him. Also, while he's a professional, he commits some sloppy acts here and there. (For that matter, the bad guys also come across as dumb sometimes.) There are also some draggy bits; the movie could have used some more action and suspense in those first ninety minutes. And the anti-American musical number around the twenty-one minute mark is very unintentionally funny. Despite these flaws, I have to confess I didn't find the movie boring (though it gets dangerously close to being so several times.) Though I can't label it a must see, it is okay if your expectations aren't great and you can't find anything better to watch.