Sac, CA RAMBO: A Review (Mild spoilers - summary of movie's Premise)

Okay, so I'm no huge Rambo fan. Never saw any of the films ever in my memory. I'm aware vaguely of who Rambo is... but that's about it. But since I first saw the sketchy, choppy trailer put together for a film festival... I've wanted to see this film. Taking into account last year's Rocky Balboa, it seemed about time for another Sly Stallone flick. Unlike Rambo, I'd watched snippets of Balboa... which I felt was a serviceable, feel good movie about taking one last shot at your dreams that didn't require any knowledge of the previous Rocky films. I'd give Balboa a good 2.5 stars. Nothing amazing about it, but it worked. And it didn't blow a lot of smoke up our tailpipes... in many ways, it resonated closely to the first Rocky.

Now. About Rambo. Our retired vietnam war vet has been spending his later years as a snake catcher near Burma (present day Myanmar) when he's approached by christian missionaries who want to get into the country to provide medical relief to villagers in the country along with their religion. After repeatedly turning them down, Rambo finally agrees to take them into the country... and surprise surprise, they don't come back. Now, Rambo goes back into Burma with mercenaries hired by the missionaries' elders back home to bring them out...

One of the trailer's taglines is "In the heat of the jungle... blood will flow". And it's totally true. Pulled from wikipedia:

That said, if you're squeamish - beware that Rambo pulls no punches. It vividly depicts torture, violence against, women, children, and outright slaughter on the part of "Burmese Government" against civilians. In fact, Myanmar has banned the movie in the country because of this... but is it "uncalled for"? I don't think it's a false portrayal to some extent, because if the newsreels we see in the beginning of the film are any indication of the socio-political climate in Burma and other third world countries... that sort of thing happens all the time.

But okay, enough of that. The plot is simple - Rambo has to save some missionaries, and in the course of doing so he confronts his own inner demons. But I think that it works. It's not meant to be a blockbuster film - and in the course of doing so - its one "set piece" makes perfect sense and is actually cleverly executed. As a result, Rambo is a gristly look at what the future holds for old warhorses who've never quite let go of the past, and shines a light on the turmoil and real plight happening in South East Asia.

Good job, Sly Stallone. I give Rambo 3 stars out of a possible 4.

 

Part of me wants to see the Rambo movies and other part of me doesn't. I've already seen Commando and Predator...I kind of feel that even though this movie and Rocky put Stallone on the map it just doesn't have that spark of interest for me as much as the first two movies I mentioned. I've only really seen 3 movies with Stallone in it which I thought were Great (post Rambo-Rocky era) and those are Cliffhanger, Daylight and Stop or My Mom Will Shoot!" Rambo just seems too macho kind of a movie and I probably will never see these films. I'd rather watch of course James Bond who is macho without acting like it..the more I think about seeing Rambo the more I can do without..I'll probably stick with James Bond which I'm up to the Pierce Brosnan era now. BTW, I think one of the reasons why I enjoy Timothy Dalton as James Bond is because where you see Sean Connery seems a little one dimensional as James Bond and doesn't really show emotion or smile. While George Lazenby showed emotion especially at the end of the movie..same with Roger Moore.."I felt his presence" and thought he just did a great job. After watching the 2 Dalton incarnations right off the bat..Timothy shows a great smile and emotion that Sean Connery never had. Don't get me wrong I think Sean Connery is a great actor but overall if I had to put him up against Morgan Freeman who also is a dignified actor..he has many faces to his roles in movies and isn't one dimensional..I know in some ways it comparing Apples to Oranges but at the same time it isn't..they are almost the same age and I find Morgan a better actor overall. Heck, even in The Rock or The Hunt for Red October you can see that Sean just is very one dimensional..you can say he has a great voice but so does Morgan..anyways..enough rambling for now..I'm probably going to skip the Rambo movies in my lifetime.

 

Well, I think it's selling Rambo short (as in this movie), to simply decide it's "too macho" because that wasn't my interpretation of this particular movie - especially since you'd be making the judgement without seeing it. Granted... Rambo has never been known for being "deep" - but there are far more "macho" characters out there in this movie then Sly Stallone... rather, Rambo is more the old warrior who just wants to live a quiet life of numbness, tortured at night by the scars of his past.

-TJ

 

I saw Rambo last night, and I must say, for someone who has read the original book by David Morrell, and was ticked Sly changed the movie First Blood so radically for the movie, I was happy to see John Rambo come full circle. It was a very well done movie, showing the non-violent side of Rambo, and how has become so hard over the years living away from the US.

But when the violent Rambo comes out, wow ... is it violent! It felt like Saving Private Ryan after drinking a six pack of Red Bull! But, I am glad it turned out good for Sly. The ending was perfect for Rambo. He finally came to terms and can finally live in peace.

Damn good movie. Glad I went!

 

I do understand what your saying TJ..maybe it is unfair for me to sell this movie or any of the Rambo movies short for that reason but at least I'm not saying it sucks like some people do when they haven't even seen it. I think one of the reasons I have no interest seeing this movie is because they are too vietnamish..I don't really care for Jungle type movies. Perfect example is that I prefer the 2nd Predator over the first. Another one is Good Morning, Vietnam..I think Robin Williams is funny but to me that's not my favorite of his..same thing with Deer Hunter. I was enjoying the movie until they went to Vietnam..Don't get me wrong I have nothing against our troops that fought for us during that time..I'm not like Jane Fonda and being an anti-troop supporter..but movies I rather watch are from the Civil War era or World War II. It's just not my cup of tea because by looking at the previews it's just another shoot em up kind of stuff. Oviously you could make your arguement about AVP-R but at least there are some part of the movie that take place in the city and the Alien franchise is one of my favorite. I think it's great that people enjoy Rambo..including my friend Dustin but it's not on the top my movie priority list. If I ever seen Rambo I'm going to wait until the 4th is on DVD and it will probably be 5 years from now. My tastes have changed. If you were to ask me 15 years ago if I were to see Rambo I would have said heck yes..that's a stupid question. But now stick with the things that I already have seen and peak my interest and/or movies that either I've been wanting to see for many moons or realistic movies like Schindler's List or Ben-Hur. Again I enjoy Stallone in Cliffhanger, Stop or my mom will shoot and Daylight. Now I will watch every Arnold movie..even Conan which I haven't seen yet.

I respect your opinion TJ but Rambo and Rocky are just not my cup of tea.

Alex

 

Fine with me!

-TJ

 

I don't know if either Rambo OR AVP can withstand any more critical analysis.

 

Oh hush. If the rest of you old fogies would simply post, I wouldn't be out here flogging the corpse of Sly Stallone's latest movie.

-TJ

 

Anyways TJ...I look forward to seeing you at the meeting..Rambo or not

BTW, I'll be bringing Lavenderrose after dropping off Belda like last time

See you later my friends

Alex

 

That is true. The boards are just too dang quiet all the time anymore. I'm sure the plan is for everyone to start posting after the 19th when I can no longer check all day long. Waaaaah! It's a conspiracy, I tell 'ya.

 

I would love to post more but it jsut seems everytime i do it becomes an argument or someone takes it the wrong way, really it just boils down to "I don't care what you think, you are obviously grossly missinformed or down right wrong" and yes I do beleive me to be right 99.8% of the time.

Maybe i wil stir up some more trouble in my own thread.

 

Awwww, that's our widdle imperial pr guy!

-TJ

 

Yep, da boardz have been pretty low key aside from the hardboiled AVP VS. OBAMA discussion.

I hope to make it to the meeting but dragging my lazy tookis up to Sac town seems hard from the perspective of someone who left the office at midnight last night.

I also think I need to sit down and watch the original trilogy - which I haven't done in a while - to re-energize my Star Warzness.

I have been listening to a lot of Pink Floyd; that's about as close to outer space as I've gotten lately.

"How can you have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?"


[image=http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Stadium/3395/dscover.jpg]

 

You know Bith supposedly Roger Waters is gonna be Coachella this year. Did you watch Wizard of Oz along with the album?

 

No I haven't but I do know they are supposed to be in sync.

Actually i think its official that Roger Waters is playing Coachella, he's closing the show.

 

Yeah...wow...Pink Floyd...that's some fun toe-tapping, sing along music.

 

"All and all you need another kick in the bal.."

 

someday you might actuallyy understand music, until then enjoy your Adam Ant.

 

THAT makes me laugh. I love Adam Ant. A man with two drummers and frou-frou clothes and eyeliner can't be all that bad. He was a pirate before pirates were cool.

Sheesh.

 

Heh... pirates. Because not everyone can be a ninja.

-TJ