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Rambo - First Blood
1982
Features: 'Rambo - First Blood', 'Rambo - First Blood - Part II' and 'Rambo III' RAMBO III, which could be called 'Rambo In Afghanistan', is set in 1988, near the end of the Soviet Union's involvement there. At the beginning of the film, John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is living a secluded life in a Buddhist monastery in .. Read more
| Starring | Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Brian Dennehy, David Caruso |
|---|---|
| Director | Ted Kotcheff |
| Run time | 89 mins |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Thriller |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Although two jingoistic sequels reduced Vietnam veteran John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) to an indestructible cartoon figure, this first film in the series is an involving action drama about an ostracised loner pushed too far. Brian Dennehy is on fine snarling form as a bigoted small-town sheriff, the catalyst for a woodland cat-and-mouse chase in which his battle-hardened quarry quickly assumes the feline role. The warfare is tautly assembled by director Ted Kotcheff and Stallone portrays Rambo with enough wounded conviction to forgive some of his increasingly far-fetched escapes. It's a shame that Richard Crenna, as Rambo's revered Colonel, is little more than a know-all caricature and that the film's initial message about the lack of understanding bestowed on returning soldiers becomes lost among the trail of destruction. Yet there is a thread of humanity here that went missing in action during his later missions.
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A long-haired undesirable, run off-limits by a small town sheriff, turns right around and comes back. Taken to the... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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12 out of 12 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
High Noon for the Reagan era
To his Mum he's John, to his Dad simply J, but to the rest of us, this one man fighting machine is known only as... Rambo. Based on David Morrell's Novel, and directed by Ted Kotcheff, First Blood sees Rambo back from Vietnam and searching; searching for answers. Rambo has become a vagabond, a Green Beret in a country that doesn't care and doesn't want him there.
First Blood is Kotcheff's Reaganite response to High Noon, just as Rio Bravo was for Howard Hawks, only this time we have moved forward 30 years and small town America isn't like it use to be. Brian Dennehy stars as the Sheriff Will Teasle, hell bent on keeping the peace, being Gary Cooper. But this is post Vietnam, Reagan era film making, the establishment can no longer be Gary Cooper, the Establishment turned into Lee Van Cleef. Rambo is the one man army, he doesn't want to kill, he doesn't want to be pushed around, he just wants to eat. But the Sheriff and his establishemnt soon find out what happens when you stop a wild animal from eating and this is where Rambo replaces small town America for Small town Vietnam.
After some one-sided scuffles we realise the Establishment can't handle the starving beast, the beast who seeks peace. So an unwanted visitor arrives, promises to help, knows Rambo inside out, taught him everything he knows, can put the beast back on the straight -and-narrow, in comes Colonel Samuel Trautman; but in classic fashion they don't want to listen to Uncle Sam, small town Vietnam can handle their own problems and small town Vietnam want to handle their own problems. The small town forgot it was Uncle Sam who created Rambo and its Uncle Sam who must stop Rambo.
First Blood is action, it's gung ho, it's sentimental and at times it's absurd but it is Rambo at his best. Before Afghanistan and Burma, before the pen was truly replaced by the sword and Rambo became invincible, First Blood is a great tonic to these heady times. Sit back, enjoy and watch Uncle Sam control his beast. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
rambo first blood
a decent enough production considering its age. The old ones are always the best, where everything is 'real', no special effects.
Stallone for once is convincing and the story has something of interest and keeps you attached til the end.
all in all, worth a watch :) -
News and features
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Rambo storms Leicester Square
- 14 Feb 2008
Not-to-be-trifled-with one-man army Rambo stormed Leicester Square last night as Sylvester Stallone hit the red carpet for the movie's UK premiere. The BBC reports that the new film, which sees haunted Vietnam vet John Rambo maraud into action for the first time in 20 years, is the goriest instalment of the franchise yet. It follows 1982's First Blood, First Blood Part II and 1988's Rambo III. Set in Burma, the new film follows Stallone's character as he attempts to rescue a group of aid... Read more
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