#rambo 1

Recap

Cast and Acting

I had no idea that Stallone had it in him. Seriously, wow, the ending monlogue that he gives is the longest that he speaks since the very beginning of the film, and you can feel the pain in his delivery, both when he’s shouting his lines, and when he’s sobbing them. Other than being a badass, Stallone gives Rambo an inner pain that should be implied by his status as a Vietnam War veteran...but one that I still was not expecting. It was fantastic. And he’s not the only one! Brian Dennehy plays a dedicated slimeball, and does it well. Richard Crenna as Trautman is also good in his role, and the rest of the supporting cast does their job well. Even Caruso, for the tiny role that he has, is at least a little memorable. I have no complaints about the cast or the acting, real talk.

Cast and Acting: 10/10

Plot and Writing

Stallone puts pen to paper once again, which he was able to do because of his success with Rocky (which I am now VERY much looking forward to). And yeah, the writing here is pretty good throughout, excelling once again in that ending dialogue, even though Stallone’s delivery really pulls it off. As for the rest, it’s good, even if it has the typically dramatic tone seen in most of Stallone’s films. Michael Kozoll and William Sackheim also deserve credit for this script, which took 18 drafts until completion. As for the story, it was based off of a book by David Morrel published ten years prior. From what I know, Stallone made sure to make Rambo FAR MORE SYMPATHETIC than he was in the book, while making the Sheriff a lot more villainous. The ending from the book is also changed. And it does indeed work well, even though the changes made were drastic. You should check out CineFix’s YouTube video on this film if you’d like to know more.

Plot and Writing: 8/10

Directing and Action

Ted Kotcheff is the director for this baby, and he does a great job! Cinematography is good, even if it isn’t the most amazing cinematography I’ve ever seen. But the action? Check out that clip in the GIF above! And the one below! The action in this movie is AWESOME, and the action sequences are fantastic. So, even if the directing isn’t too much to write home about, the action certainly is!

Directing and Action: 9/10

Production Design

Production design is the new term I’ll be using to describe costume and set design from here on out. And...yeah, it’s great again! I feel the haunting spirit of the woods, and that spirit is John Rambo. While the lighting sometimes leaves something to be desired, Rambo’s final look, as well as the iconic forest sequence and setting, makes this category stand out above average, at the very least.

Production Design: 8/10

Music and Sound

I’ll be honest...I don’t like the ending credits song. Took me out of the tone of the emotional ending. But the rest of the score, composed by Jerry Goldsmith, is awesome! It’s not the most memorable score in the world, but it still heightens the experience of the film while you’re in it, that’s for sure. If anything, the film takes great advantage of silence. And that, in and of itself, is an achievement.

Music and Sound: 8/10

86%. That’s my final score. And that’s pretty damn good. Personally, I like it more than that, but I’m comfortable with that score.

This movie is an example of what I’m hoping to get out of this whole year: an unexpected delight of an experience. I mean, my God, I was NOT expecting to like this movie in the way I like it. The depiction of PTSD in this film is one of the first of its kind, and it seems to be done very well. I’m not a psychologist, but I was still severely affected by this movie. Made me really feel for John Rambo. I always thought that I would like the action sequences, but really wasn’t expecting to like Stallone’s acting. All I know is that I’m looking forward to seeing Rocky, and other Stallone movies.

Wow. First Blood, man. Made me think, made me cheer, made me undergo my own form of 2020-related PTSD. What else can you ask for? Well...maybe not the last part.

OK, then. Two Cruises, two Stallones. Who’s next? I mean...wait..oh. Uh-oh.