Question for the Week of Nov 26-Dec 2: Random Re-casting

What's the best random reinterpretation of a movie I've ever seen or heard of?

A while back, I was talking to a coworker, Josh, and the movie Commando came up. We both shared how much we liked it, and how good the old Schwarzenneger films were. Suddenly, the conversation turned to Commando's villain, Bennett. He was played by Vernon Wells, an Australian actor who also appeared in Weird Science and Mad Max 2. That's Vernon on set with Arnie.

He was an over-the-top villain, but Commando was a very OTT movie. How OTT? Arnie kills someone by hurling the blade of a circular saw at their head.

Bennett has a real problem with Arnold Schwarzenegger's role, John Matrix. From the very beginning of the film, Bennett is executing John's former Delta Force team, one by one. Then Bennett kidnaps John's daughter to force the hero into assassinating someone.

I know the movie pretty well, and I think it's a very solid, if crazy, action film. The chases and fights tend to be fun, and the characters are vivid. Commando certainly is wildly entertaining. And it has Bill Dukes!

But my coworker blew my socks off with a simple but great idea that I'd never thought of: Josh always watches the movie and pretends that Bennett is actually being played by Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen. That's Freddie there on the left.

Pure genius. I was laughing so hard, I thought I might have to leave the room. It's such a delicious idea - Freddie running around as this pumped-up psychopath, tormenting Arnie with guns, knives, and harsh language. In fact, it fits in perfectly with Bennett's outfit - a chain-mail vest over a black sleeveless t-shirt and leather pants!

Especially since Mr. Mercury died so tragically, it makes me all the happier for this film. I'd rather think of an alternate universe where Freddie never got sick and died, and instead pursued a side-career in acting. If I get the chance (and the know-how), I'll see if I can set a video of Commando clips to either (a) "Don't Stop Me Now" or (b) "Bohemian Rhapsody." It'll be so good.

Wanna know the worst part? I mentioned this to my brother, and it turns out he already had the same damn idea and he never told me! I've been deprived of years of good hilarity...

Sometime this month, I'm going to watch Commando all the way through. The whole time, I'll be imagining that the actor portraying Bennett is, in fact, Freddie Mercury. And it will be great.

I'm gonna make a supersonic man out of you, John!