A Film Review of Rambo (2008)
Sylvester Stallone Returns For the Fourth Time as John Rambo
May 30, 2008
A Quick History of the Rambo Films
In 1982, the world was first introduced to John Rambo in the film First Blood. A disillusioned Vietnam Veteran, Rambo has now become a mentally distraught drifter. While visiting a friend from the war, John finds himself at odds with the law in a small town and is eventually arrested. After escaping from prison, John heads off into the forests of Oregon and battles for survival through the use of his Vietnam fighting skills. Starring Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo, First Blood hit theatres to rave reviews and great commercial success.
The film, as do many films inspired by the Vietnam War, attempts to capture the alienation and despair felt by the people who fought in this war. The film was logical and character driven (rather then action driven) which eventually led to three sequels.
In 1985, Rambo: First Blood Part 2 hit theatres and was followed three years later by Rambo 3. In these two films, John Rambo’s disillusioned persona evaporated promptly and soon he became a mere caricature of himself. John Rambo was no longer a grief stricken individual but rather had become a one man army who destroyed every possible threat to world peace (through the use of violence of course).
It has now been twenty years since Rambo was last seen on screen but he has finally reemerged from hiding. In the years that have passed, one would have hoped that John Rambo would have become grounded and more understanding that violence never solves anything. On the contrary, John is still disillusioned with the world and is as handy as ever with a machine gun (and all this at the ripe old age of 61).
Rambo Review
At first glance, it appears that ‘Rambo’ (co-written and directed by Stallone) has its heart in the right place. Focusing on the oppression and destruction of the inhabitants of Burma (in Thailand), the film opens with news reel footage of violence and torture being inflicted. From numerous voice-overs from news reporters, the audience learns that for the past fifty years, Burma has been a war zone. The Karen people of the region, who consist of peasants and farmers, have endured brutally oppressive rule from the murderous Burmese military and have been struggling for survival every single day.
In despair, a group of Christian missionaries arrive in Thailand hoping to rent a boat from John Rambo in an attempt to bring medical supplies to the wounded. After many scenes of contemplation, John eventually agrees to take them himself.
It is at this point of the film that the social goal of peace quickly begins to dilute itself and the movie becomes just a pointless exercise in gratuitous violence. Is there any other way in action films that in order to bring peace to a situation, violence must ensue? John Rambo must think so. According to IMDB, ‘Rambo’ has 236 killings. The film is only 90 minutes long which thus averages out to 2.59 killings per minute.
The fact that there are many deaths in an action film does not shock anyone. However, the way they are depicted in ‘Rambo’ is to almost glorify them in a sense. They are brutal and horrific but they are exploited nonetheless. There are hands being chopped off, heads being blown apart and children being shot and stabbed as the camera penetrates the action. There is even a scene where John shoots an arrow through a mans head and he falls and lands on a landmine! It is almost as if to say that the filmmakers wanted to make a social message about the state of the world while simultaneously entertaining and astounding us with their inventive use of violence.
The film is action packed which should entertain many viewers but there is no character development nor is there any chemistry between any of the cast members. The main villain is a one note psychopath who is given no screen presence other then to command his army to maim and decimate groups of individuals. Even Sylvester Stallone as Rambo is quiet and statuesque (stiff) throughout (that is until he gets to do some killing). Most of the time, he merely grimaces and mumbles.
The fact that this film was made did interest many because of their past relation to the character. In recent years, many film icons have returned to the screen after long hiatuses. From Rocky Balboa to Indiana Jones, society has a soft spot in their hearts for these characters.
‘Rambo’ begins with great intentions but then spirals into a violent showcase for Stallone. Now in his 60s, Stallone has proven that he still has what it takes to be an action star. It’s too bad that he got carried away with it all and forgot about the story.
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