Rambo: Last Blood

Man, Robert De Niro absolutely crushed it in Taxi Driver. Beyond his incredible performance, there’s this bizarre cinematic atmosphere—really haunting, with an unconventional, almost diabolical plot and brutal scenes. It clearly got under people's skin, and for good reason... Hard to put into words.

Robert De Niro is a genius in Taxi Driver.

By the way, I mentioned on the Martin Scorsese thread that Taxi Driver is overrated, even if it is very good. Overrated because everyone treats it like gospel, so I basically agree with you. Now, Rocky is good, and this one is very good. Network is the movie I’d give the Oscar to. Maybe they didn't like the critique Network offered, yet it remains relevant day to day. I even get why Rocky won the Oscar. It deals with that favorite Hollywood theme: hope. "I have a dream" type rhetoric. But then you have to ask why Shawshank didn't win back in the 90s. It had its own version of Forrest Gump, another film hitting that same Hollywood sweet spot like Rocky 16, seventeen years earlier. Just like many other films before and after.

Back to Rocky. It’s a good film, but honestly, I don't see it as the masterpiece people claim it is. Credit where credit is due—it's influential in a good way—but in terms of pure quality, it's just a good movie that shouldn't have taken the Oscar during the 70s, arguably cinema's strongest era.

Regardless, I can't wait for the new Rambo. I liked the second and third parts. How could anyone not enjoy Rambo? ☕

As for Copeland. I thought Sylvester Stallone was solid there. Maybe it surprised people that he could actually act, and now everyone has been shouting about how great he is for years. I don't know. For me, much like Arnold Schwarzenegger, he stays in my mind as a subpar actor whom I respect immensely for those 80s and 90s action flicks.

briskhound2 said:Can someone please explain to me, like I'm some first-grader, why there's so much hype surrounding Taxi Driver? This Oscar stuff gets on everyone's nerves. The movie basically glorifies a complete moron—someone incredibly unstable and, frankly, obsessed with the filth of the world around him. Fine, I get it. But what's the big deal? The guy grabs a gun and kills a couple of people at the end. Happy End, suddenly, and all his mental issues vanish and he's functioning like a normal human being. I wouldn't even mind if he'd just smoked a joint at the end, but... Christ, saying Rocky won an Oscar over Taxi Driver is probably a million times overdone. Yeah, sure, the movie is simple, yeah, the lead is a bit of a simpleton, and yeah, the "messages" are about as subtle as an elephant in a greenhouse, but damn it, the movie has a much stronger impact than Taxi Driver. Or is it that old cliché—is it Sylvester Stallone vs. Robert De Niro? Does the first have to be mediocre for the second to be considered a genius?

Actually, he isn't obsessed with the filth; he despises it. There’s a massive difference. Beyond that, it's a story about a man who is completely isolated from society, totally alone. Maybe a lot of people have gone through a phase like that at some point in their lives, which is why the film resonates with them. Plus, you have Robert De Niro's top-tier acting, incredible direction, and one of the best depictions of New York City ever put to film. Even the soundtrack is brilliant. Personally, I don't see this movie being put on such a ridiculous pedestal. 🤷

I think Rocky is a great movie too, but it's still weaker than Taxi Driver and Network. Network is also a masterpiece, though as a huge fan of Taxi Driver, I truly believe it would have been more deserved if Network had been crowned the best.

Rick Deckard, look, I usually love tearing apart some overrated flick, but this one actually holds water from the get-go. It’s got this cinematic quality—if you’ll excuse my being so damn blunt since I can't find a better word for it. Sure, the ending could've been more impactful or even logical, like having him kick the bucket too, but hey, it’s Hollywood. We aren't exactly expecting a legend like Robert De Niro to die on screen.

Just look at how they wrapped up True Detective. For God's sake... screw it, that's just Hollywood for you.

p.s. Honestly, Rocky should've died from all those beatings he took. 🙂 Even Maminjo wouldn't have survived that.

bluenomad2 said:🤣

🤣

Sure, those movies are trash too, but that's besides the point. Look, Sylvester Stallone is a legend, but you guys are completely missing the reason why. He and Arnold Schwarzenegger have been the absolute kings of action from the 80s all the way up to today. Both of them have hit movies (first Rambo, The Terminator, Total Recall), solid movies (Rocky, Terminator 2, Conan, True Lies), and then they have their bad ones (Cobra, Commando). Okay, fine, there are more bad ones, but hey, they're fun to watch.

And honestly, Rocky is massively overrated. By today's standards, it's almost kind of a joke. I mean, how does that movie win an Oscar before Network and Taxi Driver 🤦

What even are you talking about? You basically just repeated everything I already said.

So, when you say Rocky is overrated, are you talking about what the audience thinks or what the Academy thinks?

I see you have zero actual arguments, just a bunch of academic nonsense, IMDb ratings, and whatever else fits that mold. Honestly, who cares? At the end of the day, these are all just individuals with SUBJECTIVE opinions. I’ll tell you this: you should be worried if someone else's opinion actually bothers you. I've seen everything under the sun, and now on the internet, people get offended just because someone calls something overrated. Big fakin deal!

Peter Thompson4, it was always going to be a question, just a basic one.

Do you think the academy is overhyping him, or are people like friends and acquaintances just talking him up too much?

Personally, I think Rocky is way better than those other two, and I'd take a rewatch of Rocky over Taxi Driver or Network any day of the week.
In my opinion, it just has more staying power when you want to watch something again.
As for Taxi Driver, I watched it once or twice and that was pretty much it for me.

bluenomad2 said:Let’s be honest—Rocky is massively overrated. Looking back at it now, the whole thing feels almost laughable. It's hard to wrap my head around how that movie managed to snag an Oscar before heavyweights like Network or Taxi Driver even had a shot. 🤦

It really comes down to personal taste, doesn't it? Personally, I can't get behind the idea that Rocky is overrated—nor do I buy the argument that Taxi Driver should have taken home the Oscar instead.

Taxi Driver is a legendary piece of cinema—I absolutely love it—but for me, Rocky is basically The Bible. It’s a total masterpiece. I know, I know... people have their own preferences, but I certainly am not alone in feeling this way. Quite the opposite, actually. 🙂

Everything about *Rocky* was executed to perfection—and I’m not saying that about *Taxi Driver*, mind you. From the acting to the screenplay (which wouldn't have worked an ounce without Sylvester Stallone), it just hits differently. Honestly, I can't even picture anyone else in that role in *Rocky 1*; it just wouldn't stick. There’s this weird, positive paradox at play here: because of the way Stallone actually carries himself, he feels more authentic as Rocky than if you had somehow dropped someone like Jack Nicholson or Pacino into his body. Even with their massive acting talent, it wouldn't have landed the same way—it wouldn't have felt as real as it did with him. It was just Stallone — so natural, aka: a masterclass in acting.

Plus, here’s something a bit more sentimental—something that hits home for me, and I’m certain it does for millions of others. To me, the core message of Rocky stands even taller than Taxi Driver. It’s about how Rocky 1 managed to pull a sense of human spirit out of the audience—something so raw and profound that it arguably did more to stir the soul of humanity than every religion on this planet combined.

I’m struggling to wrap my head around the criteria being used here—what exactly makes Rocky a "laughable movie" by today's standards?

If you had applied that same logic to Rocky 2, 3, 4, or 5, then—and only then—would I actually concede the point.

But a single unit? How exactly is that supposed to be funny? There’s nothing remotely laughable about it—it’s a boxing movie that stays as grounded in the reality of that era's sport as it possibly can. The core message of the film is all about Rocky’s sheer endurance; he’s a guy who possesses absolutely nothing in this world except for one vital thing: the refusal to ever back down when he finally gets his shot. He’d sooner die than stay pinned to the canvas.

Do you actually find those kinds of athletic mentalities believable? To me, Rocky 1 serves as the ultimate cinematic manifestation of that specific spirit found in so many legendary sports icons.

So, if you really want to get into it, just go ahead and dig through the archives and look at what Janica Kostelić accomplished—dominating her sport even when she was basically skiing on one leg. Or look at Goran Ivanišević back in 2001, or Michael Jordan during that 1998 NBA Finals run, where he played through a fever and the flu so intense that most people wouldn't even be able to make it to the corner store, let alone pull off an MVP performance. It’s all right there if you actually bother to look.

Maybe people don't realize just how raw and grounded *Rocky* actually is—it hits a certain level of reality that most modern flicks completely miss. It manages to tap into those deep-seated human desires and struggles that we all recognize in ourselves, making the whole thing incredibly relatable. And honestly? The soundtrack is nothing short of legendary—it stands up alongside everything else that makes this movie a masterpiece.

To me, *Rocky* is an absolute cinematic masterpiece—I’m not saying *Taxi Driver* isn't, but for me, there is simply no debate between those two. With all due respect to *Taxi Driver*, *Rocky* earned its Oscar fair and square. Even if that exact same movie were released today—say, if *Rocky* hadn't happened back then and was just being made right now with Sylvester Stallone (and let's be honest, imagine if he wasn't as seasoned as he is today)—I would still hand it an Oscar without blinking.

If you can’t wrap your head around the sheer scale of that "simple" yet absolutely masterful message in Rocky 1—the performance, the direction, everything about it—and you still have the nerve to call it "silly" for modern audiences, then honestly, I'm at a loss for words. You might think Taxi Driver is better, but you really have no right to label a film like Rocky 1 as ridiculous.

Not going to happen, outlaw.

briskhound2 said:Sure, the movie is straightforward. Sure, the lead is a bit of a simpleton. And yeah, the film is about as subtle as an elephant in a greenhouse when it comes to its messaging. But damn it, the movie hits way harder than Taxi Driver. Or is it just that old cliché—where if Sylvester Stallone is in it, it's a dud, but if Robert De Niro is starring, it's a masterpiece?

Over the years, the Oscars haven't just been handed out based on cinematic merit alone; they definitely take broader social contexts into account. However, in my view, those initial reasons you mentioned are more than enough to prevent a film from winning an Oscar, especially when the competition is fierce.

It’s not that I have anything against Rocky or his Oscar win; as far as I'm concerned, he earned it, especially when you consider Sylvester Stallone's life story. His energy and sheer enthusiasm are genuinely moving, though I suspect he didn't play the "simpleton" because he lacked the range of a top-tier actor, but rather because he simply hadn't mastered anything else yet. But honestly, who cares?

When you run into a weak year for cinema, it really makes me regret that some of the heavy hitters from previous years didn't get a shot at competing or winning. I feel for the people for whom the Oscar actually matters, but there are plenty of other film awards and accolades out there; surely, they still hold significant weight for someone's specific career in the industry.

It’d be about time if the military actually took down at least one helicopter in a single sortie. Use an arrow, a bazooka, a tank—hell, just go at it with your bare hands if you have to. If they won't touch a chopper, then fine, let them hit a drone or some other flying hunk of junk.

I think Taxi Driver is just a brilliant movie—easily one of Martin Scorsese's best—and it absolutely deserves its reputation. Now, whether it actually tops Network is a whole other debate, but both of those are clearly in a different league compared to Rocky.

I've always had a soft spot for Sylvester Stallone, and I feel the same way about Arnold Schwarzenegger; I genuinely enjoy sitting down to watch their films.

stormyridge2 said:It would be about time he takes down at least one helicopter in that squad. Use an arrow, a bazooka, a tank—hell, even just his bare hands if he has to. If he won't hit a chopper, then at least take out a drone or some other flying machine.

Why not? He's Navajo on his father's side, after all. Bows and arrows are in his DNA.😁

Though I'd much rather see him wielding a .50 cal.☕



And a little philosophy...

John Rambo: [Director's cut ] go Live Your Life 'cause you've got a good one.
Sarah: It's what I'm trying to do.
John Rambo: No, what you're trying to do is change what is.
Sarah: And what is?
John Rambo: That we're like animals! It's in the blood! It's natural! Peace? That's an accident! It's what is! When you're pushed, killing's as easy as breathing. When The Killing stops in One Place, it starts in another, but that's okay... 'cause you're killing for your country. But it ain't your country who asks you, it's a few men up top who want it. Old men start it, young men fight it, nobody wins, everybody in the middle dies... and nobody tells the truth! God's gonna make all that go away?
[pause]
John Rambo: Don't waste your life, I did. Go home.

Colonel: I didn't come here to protect Rambo from you... I came to protect you from Rambo.🙂

The first Rambo is a gritty action drama centered on combat PTSD

Powered by COGITO, ergo SUM

Peter Thompson4 said:Madman, it was a simple question. Just a basic one.

Do you think it's overrated by the Academy, or are people like friends and acquaintances just overhyping it?

Personally, I find Rocky to be better than those two; I'd always rather watch Rocky than Taxi Driver or Network.
It has more rewatch value in my opinion.
Taxi Driver was a one- or two-time watch for me, and that's it.

Calm down and stop being insulting. You just repeat whatever you read elsewhere like a parrot. It’s overrated in my view because it's just a good movie, nothing more—hardly a masterpiece. There is nothing there that makes it a masterpiece. Not the acting, the script, or the direction. It just uses that theme of HOPE that Hollywood loves. Take 'It's a Wonderful Life,' for example; it eats Rocky and Shawshank for breakfast when it comes to that theme. That's how you make a great film. It's all subjective, which clearly escapes you. These are just individuals expressing their own opinions. Unlike you, I don't care about IMDb or the Academy, but you've shown repeatedly that they matter to you and you use them as "arguments."

More rewatch value 🙏

The Goonies has more rewatch value for me than Odyssey or Network. More value. 🙏

vivideagle7 said:Taxi Driver is a genius film. It’s the best Scorsesean work out there and deserves the reputation. Whether it beats Network is debatable, but both are leagues above Rocky.

I like Stallone, and I like Arnold Schwarzenegger too. I enjoy watching their stuff.

Especially Network. Taxi Driver is a class above Rocky, and Network is two classes above. 😁

Totally agree. To me, Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger are legends. They managed to become icons through movies that mostly only appeal to action fans. Some of the films I mentioned are good, sure, but they're basically just guilty pleasure action flicks. Personally, I find Arnold Schwarzenegger's life story even more impressive than Stallone's—given everything he did to get where he is today.

bluenomad2 said:I’m honestly more impressed by Arnold’s life story and his grind than anything Stallone did. The sheer amount of work he put in to become who he is today is incredible.

Was he on steroids? 🍿

Do some reading on what he went through growing up and how he mapped it all out. You can find plenty of his motivational speeches on YouTube about mental conditioning and setting life goals. What he achieved, even much better actors haven't managed to pull off—and we aren't even talking about acting quality here.

bluenomad2 said:But De Niro is a total genius in Taxi Driver

Hold up, based on what exactly? The acting? Honestly, Rocky and Travis are pretty much the same guy—kind of one-note characters without much gray area... except Rocky actually has a decent motivation, and regardless of how anyone feels about him, he's still Rocky. With De Niro, you can tell he's performing. As for how much Sly was actually acting versus just being himself... well, that’s a whole other debate for another day (and maybe a different thread)

I think De Niro was actually great in Taxi Driver. Maybe it wasn't his absolute peak performance, but he managed to interpret such a complex character way more effectively than Stallone did in Rocky. There aren't any shades of gray in Travis? I just can't get behind that idea.

I find it incredibly shortsighted to even attempt a comparison between Sly and Schwarzenegger. To be blunt, the German actor never really tackled anything with significant dramatic depth, whereas Macaron has clearly demonstrated he possesses the range for those kinds of heavy, character-driven roles.

P.S. Don't get me wrong, I think Network is a phenomenal piece of cinema, though I often wonder how much of its message actually landed with audiences back then. Regardless, it remains one of my all-time favorites—an absolute legend of a film.