Rambo Evolution: To Hell and Back

Rambo from David Morrell Novel 'First Blood' Evolves over Four Films

May 4, 2008

Sylvester Stallone's Interpretation of John Rambo allows it to Evolve. Here's a closer look at 'Rambo III' and 'Rambo: To Hell and Back'.

In a previous article examining Rambo: First Blood and Rambo: First Blood Part II, the conclusion is drawn that John Rambo is a character whose actions speak louder than words. He suffers from feeling like an exile in his home country America, and his paranoia echoes American paranoia in the Vietnam war. How does Sylvester Stallone sustain this character over the next two films, while keeping the audiences glued to their seats? Why is Rambo a character that easily evolves? There is even talk of a Rambo V coming up.

Rambo and Warlike Behaviour

John Rambo is a man’s man. He shoots with lightning precision, wastes no words and does not get embroiled in messy affairs. But he earns extra points for not being chauvinistic. John Rambo does not follow up sharp action with a sharp tongue, there are no smarty-pants dialogues here. He is not out to impress the ladies, in fact in all four films, John Rambo only has one love interest, one best friend and one friendly match with the natives. If Rambo seems like a formula, it is certainly not worn out – the cult of Rambo is thoroughly alive – as long as he keeps evolving.

Rambo III is longer in duration. This time, Colonel Trautman gets John Rambo involved in Afghanistan. Rambo prefers the spiritual peace that Thailand offers, away from paranoid America. But when the Colonel is captured, Rambo has to step in (old-fashioned values win again).

This instalment has the appearance of Steven Spielberg’s treatment. Camera angles are panoramic, dialogue is funny and clever and even a child actor is introduced. Afghan guide Masoud provides lighthearted humour, but Sylvester Stallone retains his dead-eyed performance. Meanwhile, in the Soviet barracks, Colonel Trautman has a heated political debate with Soviet General Zaysen.

The little boy gives John Rambo a more human dimension, and completes Rambo’s motley family. This is established when Rambo gives the boy his jade necklace (keepsake from Co, his love interest in First Blood Part II). Rambo seems even friendlier when he admires the Afghans and plays their game on horseback. But violence soon follows, and fuels Rambo to save his friend and avenge the Afghans.

Twenty years on, and John Rambo has truly evolved in the latest Rambo film Rambo: To Hell and Back. Like a King Cobra snake, he is alone and out-of-sight, but just as dangerous if unleashed. He lives in Thailand, minding his own business, until a group of missionaries approach him to be taken into war-infested Burma.

But this time John Rambo’s mission is more spiritual. He follows a group of mercenaries to rescue the Christians. This is unusual for the loner Rambo. As one by one, the naïve missionaries learn of the power of the kill, Rambo realises that there is some goodness in people afterall. These four films come full circle, as Rambo finally returns to his home in Arizona. He has finally made peace with America.

Man versus Machine

Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger became popular action figures in the 1980s. The character of John Rambo holds his own against The Terminator, because Rambo is more man than machine. In Rambo: First Blood Part II, Sylvester Stallone makes it clear that Rambo’s victories are unaided by machinery. Rambo cuts his gear away from the plane before his mission to prove this point. Unlike The Terminator (man co-existing with machine), John Rambo is the champion of man’s ability to survive and overcome enemies, even invisible politics. As an American icon, Rambo is the fearless guerilla warrior who can survive in any environment.

The copyright of the article Rambo Evolution: To Hell and Back in Action Films is owned by Lynette S.K. Webster. Permission to republish Rambo Evolution: To Hell and Back in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.