It’s a different film than 1982’s First Blood– this is more like a straight revenge (simple, over the top) 1980’s action B-movie. First Blood is trying to say something and strikes a more specific mood— creates an actual character—this is weaker in that respect
the title hurts my head to think about
Stallone has almost always been chasing the Eastwood star/actor/director (or artist) playbook—here there is a lot of Eastwood from his spaghetti Leone “Man with no name” stares and the plot is pretty close to a 1-man Dirty Dozen
Iconography—the serrated knife, that stiff bodybuilder walk, the muscles, the machine gone grunts, the bandanna—the line “Do we get to win this time?”
…muscles, bandanna …
….serrated knife– iconography in Rambo: First Blood Part II
James Cameron with a half-credit on the screenplay—he’s great at broad tropes and tapping into universal simple themes. He’s also good at giving you awful lines like “I always thought the mind is the best weapon” (from Rambo no less)
“If you accept that Rambo is not the same kind of movie as First Blood and watch it on its own merits, it’s a badass action movie.” – this is perfect from Tom Breihan from the AV club
The DP Jack Cardiff actually shot Black Narcissus like 40 years before this
The torture scene is trying to channel Deer Hunter, and the overly out of control repetitive action to end the film is trying for The Wild Bunch but yeah— it’s not close
“I’m expendable”
The score is really good- the great Jerry Goldsmith (Patton, Planet of the Apes, The Omen, LA Confidential)
Siskel from the Chicago Tribune “In short, Rambo is very good at what it does, but what it does isn’t always that good”
Recommend but closer to the fringe than the top 10
I don’t get the criticism for First Blood Part 2.Certainly it goes for too much on violence and one man against an army.But the film is really well made.The death of Rambo’s girlfriend was very well done.Glad it is in the archives.Sort of a cult favourite.
I’ve only seen all the Rambo films once, except first Blood, which I recently rewatched a second time. I really like First Blood a lot and it surprisingly held up super well. But, I just remember after that it got all pointless action. I don’t remember the second one that well though. I do remember the third one and that one is absolutely horrible (the one where he goes to the Soviet Union).
Do you watch sequels?I have a sequel to reccomend.I think this one is better than it’s reputation.
It’s in a blockbuster franchise and has a sublime ending.
First Blood is genuinely a very good movie with a sad ending. I think the franchise gets stupid after that
I don’t get the criticism for First Blood Part 2.Certainly it goes for too much on violence and one man against an army.But the film is really well made.The death of Rambo’s girlfriend was very well done.Glad it is in the archives.Sort of a cult favourite.
I’ve only seen all the Rambo films once, except first Blood, which I recently rewatched a second time. I really like First Blood a lot and it surprisingly held up super well. But, I just remember after that it got all pointless action. I don’t remember the second one that well though. I do remember the third one and that one is absolutely horrible (the one where he goes to the Soviet Union).