Rambo – First Blood
released 1982
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“Rambo” is an American, action, revenge film based on the novel called “First Blood” written by David Morell. It is part of a film but the first on is really the only one worth seeing. It was produced by Buzz Feitshans, Mario Kassar, Herb Nanas and Andrew G. Vajna. It was directed by Ted Kotcheff and the screenplay was written by David Morell, Michael Kozoll, William Sackheim and Sylvester Stallone.  It stars a talented cast which includes Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Brian Dennehy, Bill McKinney, Jack Starrett, Michael Talbott, Chris Mulkey, John McLiam, Alf Humphreys, David Caruso, Suzee Pai, Bruce Greenwood, David L. Crowley, Don MacKay, Charles A. Tamburro, Robert Metcalf and David Petersen.

Rambo IMDb webpage

“Rambo” is the story of a wounded Vietnam War veteran John Rambo, played by Sylvester Stallone, who goes to Hope Washington in an attempt to find a U.S. Army Special Forces friend named Delmore Barry. When he arrives at his friends residence he discovers that his friend died of cancer from Agent Orange poisoning. He travels into the town of Hope to find a place to eat and maybe a job but encounters a corrupt sheriff named Will Teasle, played by Brian Dennehy. When the sheriff starts to harass and degrade John Rambo it triggers his severe post traumatic stress and John Rambo acts on it. What follows is havoc wrought on the corrupt sheriff and the town of Hope. John Rambo wages war against the cruel sheriff the way he was taught to. The sheriff thinks he is dealing with a vagabond and savage but soon finds out that Rambo is a type of super soldier.

The story is as much a revenge yarn as it is a critique of corrupt authority and a government that mistreated its veterans, as was the case of the Vietnam War. John Rambo was essentially refused the right to reintegrate back into society after his service, a service he performed admirably at, but he was shunned for it as so many Vietnam veterans were. I feel that a film like this one has historical value because it references a time not too long gone. It is also a good cautionary tale against corruption of authority and those that feel immune from the forces of vengeance.

The title of the film is “Rambo: First Blood” and sums up the story very well. Symbolically you have a wounded veteran who did everything he was asked and ordered to do but was rewarded only with scorn by the very society and nation that sent him abroad. Rambo explains that it was the corrupt sheriff who drew `first blood´ not he. He only wanted to live his life in peace and try to heal his psychological scars as best he could. The truth is that he probably should have been hailed as a hero but he was cast out. This is ultimately a sad film about someone who was done wrong to and that is why we side with Rambo in spite of the fact that he unleashes incredible violence and destruction on the town of Hope.

This is a very good film that is both ageless and fun to watch more than once. I´ve said many times that movies age very quickly but some stand the test of time and “Rambo – First Blood” is one of them. So go out there and check it out because it´s more than just an action film and it definitely isn´t a hokey propaganda war film. So give it a watch and enjoy it.

Written by John Ink2Quill

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