Rambo

January 25, 2008

Rated: R Runtime: 93 min Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Sylvester Stallone is bringing John Rambo out of retirement for one more movie. This time it’s simply called Rambo, and it’s the fourth movie in the series. Sly co-wrote and directed this installment.

Sylvester Stallone as Rambo When we catch up with Rambo he is still in Thailand just kind of living day to day. He has a boat which he uses to do things like round up cobras for the local shows. Meanwhile across the border in Burma there’s genocide going on with entire villages being wiped out in the most viscious manners possible. Enter some do-gooder missionaries who want to bring their religion and medicine to these villages. They need a boat ride and eventually talk John into taking them up there despite his warnings. Predictably, they get captured, and it’s up to Rambo to rescue them.

Ok, so the plot is pretty weak and predictable. The story exists only to setup one really large and long action sequence.

So, next question, can a 62 year old Stallone still pull off a believable John Rambo? Well, first off, Sly is in great shape for his age. And thanks to Grecian formula, he doesn’t look 60+ just yet. This incarnation of Rambo will use big guns when available and a bit of strategy instead of just gutting it out hand to hand against 100 men, but he can still outrun any explosion.

This is by far the most violent and graphic movie in the series. I believe Stallone intentionally went a little over the top, which is a smart business move as it keeps it from being just a lame sequel. Instead it’s a lame sequel with some of the most gruesome action shots you’ll ever see. Bodies explode as they step on mines, throats are ripped out and heads explode like ripe watermelons when shot with large caliber weapons.

We like a movie that knows exactly what it is and embraces it, that’s what is happening here. Even the radio advertising for Rambo is playing “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor”, and they do. People love a bad ass, and Rambo is still that. The audience we saw it with had quite a bit of clapping and cheering at the end. We give the movie 4 stars for being a good time. We’re glad they didn’t tone it down to a PG-13, the kids find their way in anyhow. And I confess to just sitting back enjoying myself thinking “uh oh, now you’ve pissed him off”, and then watching John Rambo do his thing.

Posted by Billy Bob | Filed Under 4 Stars, James Brolin, Julie Benz, Matthew Marsden, Paul Schulze, R, Sylvester Stallone, Theatrical 

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Comments

2 Responses to “Rambo”

  1. Mack Guffin on January 26th, 2008 12:44 am

    I didn’t realize Julie Benz was in that, she played Darla (Evil vampire) in the TV series BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER.

  2. Mack Guffin on February 15th, 2008 5:51 pm

    Residents of Myanmar (formerly Burma) face 10 years in prison/20 lashes if they’re caught with bootleg DVDs of RAMBO. CNN Video.

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