Rambo series

So, after all that back-and-forth regarding Sylvester Stallone’s latest work (and my own... let's say, lukewarm enthusiasm), I found myself looking backward for a bit of inspiration—since nothing else was really sparking my interest. That Rambo series about the Vietnam veteran, John J. Rambo, has always been sitting right at the top of my list of favorites from growing up, so, since I had some extra downtime, I figured it might be cool to run a little poll... seeing as I can see (read: notice) people starting to argue over which installment actually holds up best. Anthony Smith3, we’ll get back to our deep dive on The Expendables once I’ve had a chance to rewatch it.😉



Alright, let's start from square one. Back in 1972, a virtually unknown writer named David Morrell published a novel called First Blood, which details a small-town police force clashing with a misfit Vietnam veteran. Even though Morrell himself said the idea came from spending countless hours talking to friends and hearing about the struggles they faced after returning from Vietnam—back when there wasn't even a formal definition for PTSD—and that the story was meant to be a critique of American societal hypocrisy, it turns out the "critique" (and the readers) mostly just saw First Blood as another standard action flick made for pure entertainment...



First Blood (1982)
Trailer

A reputation like that doesn't take long to reach Hollywood, where the rights were quickly snapped up. But, the actual production stayed stalled for nearly a decade until the well-known producer duo Andrew G. Vajna and Mario Kassar (who were basically newbies at the time) decided to step in and take charge. Famous for Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone saw a chance to do something different with this unhinged Vietnam vet character, but that's when the production headaches truly began. The role of Colonel Trautman was originally set to be played by the legendary Kirk Douglas, but after filming a few scenes, he dropped out, leaving the part to the reliable Richard Crenna, for whom it became perhaps a career-defining role. That's when Stallone decided to tweak the script. Originally envisioned as a standalone project, First Blood was meant to be a faithful adaptation of the book, where Rambo isn't playing hide-and-seek with the cops, but rather just killing everything in his path. Fearing the audience wouldn't go for that kind of portrayal, Sly shifted the story so that Rambo doesn't kill anyone—which is almost ironic, considering how he changed things in the final installment where the character kills nearly a hundred people. Not wanting to take any risks, the producers also swapped the original ending—where Colonel Trautman kills his own student—for something softer and simpler, something Stallone didn't quite agree with at the time. The movie ended up being a financial success, though maybe not on the level of some other big titles, but definitely exceeding expectations. Critics were split, though. Some praised the intense pacing and tension, while others argued that we shouldn't be giving cinematic idols to actual maniacs. Either way, we didn't have to wait long for the sequel...



Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
Trailer

So, First Blood Part Two hits theaters three years later and ends up being this massive, totally unexpected box office smash... mostly thanks to a huge wide release and some aggressive marketing. But there’s actually a bit of an origin story here. The producers originally went back to the original author to see if he had any ideas, and it was Morrell who suggested sending Rambo right back into Vietnam—where, you know, the guy is basically a fish in water. There’s also this real-life story that kind of served as the movie's foundation. Back in the early '80s, a mercenary named Gritz went public claiming he was part of a mission to pull POWs out of modern-day Vietnam (he even knew the exact location), but as soon as he and his crew touched down, someone pulled the rug out from under them. To this day, Gritz maintains it was the US government shutting things down because they didn't want to reopen old wounds... if anyone wants the full scoop, you can find the details in the book "70 Greatest World Conspiracies," which pretty much became the backbone of the sequel. James Cameron eventually got involved too, bringing his own take on the script, though Stallone ended up tweaking things so much that nobody really knows for sure who wrote what since everyone tells a different version of the story... anyway, the sequel definitely borrows bits from the first one. Since Russian villains are a lot easier targets for audiences to root against, that famous sequence where Rambo uses camouflage and hides in the brush basically copies almost everything from the original novel—except instead of dodging American cops, we're dealing with Russian soldiers. It's actually why David Morrell ended up doing a novelization of the film (and he did one for the third one too—he's probably the only writer to ever write sequels to his own original work like that). Without all the heavy drama, opting for more direct action and bigger spectacles—some might even say it's a bit dumber—the "Part II" absolutely crushed it with audiences, even while critics were busy burying it under a mountain of bad reviews. The success made the lead character a global icon, and gave us that classic phrase One man army that people always use to describe Rambo's whole vibe.

Rambo III (1988)
Trailer

Rambo III hits right when those beefy action heroes were starting to see their prime fade out—but honestly, it’s just a weak movie... Trying to frame the guy as a global heavyweight, Rambo swaps out the jungle for the sands of Afghanistan and whatever political mess was happening there at the time. It's a poorly constructed plot that basically just recycles the best bits from the first two entries, featuring uninspired action scenes, those same old one-dimensional Russian villains, and this forced patriotism that feels more like a political pamphlet than an actual action flick. Critics, unsurprisingly, hated it, but the audience wasn't exactly thrilled with the shift from the first two either, so "Part III" just fell flat... Stallone moved on to other projects, Rambo went into a well-deserved retirement, but his legacy occasionally reminds us what a great target he is for parody. Hot Shots! sequel goes all out mocking the first two (and it's actually pretty funny), and even the recent McGruber plays with the gag of Rambo living a quiet life in Thailand. Even Stallone isn't above a good self-deprecating joke—he even says the famous line in Tango & Cash: "Rambo is a pussy!"—kind of like he's admitting himself that Rambo's war days are over.



Rambo (2008)
Trailer

But then, everything changes in the post-9/11 era. That first idea floating around about Stallone reviving the series with a sequel where his character hunts down Osama bin Laden sounded like a bad joke... Not even the die-hard fans saw much future in that. In an age dominated by CGI, choreographed stunts, and fancy fight sequences, bringing back such a raw, gritty character felt like a desperate move from someone whose career was starting to slip... As for the actual plot, it's about Rambo being back in the States, trying to live a quiet life, until some anti-American militia kidnaps his daughter and things kick off. That kind of Steven Seagal-style setup sounds better than the bin Laden idea, but still doesn't feel like it has legs. The final twist where John Rambo saves some missionaries in some random country feels like a poorly written punchline again... until the movie actually hits theaters. Maybe limited as an actor, but as a filmmaker/director/writer, Stallone strips this last part of the franchise down to its bare bones. No political pamphlets, no lecturing about the morality of getting involved in foreign conflicts, no overly complicated plots, and no massive ambitions... all together, the movie works as maybe the best entry in the series (maybe)... Aware of his age, Stallone intelligently avoids Rambo's usual habit of starting conflicts until the very end, and he shares the screen with a younger, colorful crew of mercenaries, which adds some much-needed freshness and pace. Critics were split again, but audiences turned it into an interesting hit; that old-school physical action is finding its way back into the mix... the one-man army is back.



Or maybe not... After wrapping things up with a decent finale where Rambo finally heads home, Stallone initially teased a fifth installment, though he’s been walking that back lately. Honestly, it might be for the best—given how some of these plot ideas involve mutant beasts and other nonsense... It could just end up ruining a solid send-off for a hero who’s been fighting wars and entertaining us for nearly three decades.

The poll is pretty straightforward. What’s your favorite entry in the Rambo series?

P.S. — sorry for the wall of text, just a hardcore fan, what can I say... it is what it is.

Anyway, enjoy yourselves.

🙂

First Blood - 9/10

Rambo: First Blood Part II - 5.5/10

Rambo III - 5.5/10

Rambo: First Blood Part II - 7.5/10

There you go... another solid take from you👍👍

Personally, I’m torn between the original and the last one, mostly because they both give the best insight into Rambo's actual character... especially that last one. Part II is just decent action for me, and honestly, I feel like if Cameron had directed it, it might have been received a lot better by audiences today...
As for part three... that's easily the most fun part of the whole Rambo series (kind of like Rocky IV). Is it stupid? Yeah. But the spectacle is absolute garbage. I have this buddy who lives for the Rambo series... and even to this day, he swears part three is the peak of the franchise, haha... nothing beats a tank versus a helicopter duel or taking down a chopper with an explosive arrow for him.😁😁🤣

Whatever... look... it had some imaginative action sequences... so I can't really agree with you there, briskhound2...

4 is my absolute favorite, but honestly, even the third one keeps that inner kid in me alive

Anthony Smith3 said:Well... just another stellar take from your side of the fence...👍👍

Thank you Quote 🙂

I’m honestly torn between the original and the latest installment—both give such a solid look at who Rambo actually is... especially that last one. For me, the second movie is just decent action... nothing crazy, but it works. I can't help but feel like if Cameron had directed it, it probably would've landed way better with audiences today...
When it comes to the trilogies... that’s honestly the most entertaining part of the whole Rambo series—kind of like Rocky IV if you think about it. Is it ridiculous? Yeah, obviously. But man, what a spectacle... it's just wild. I have this buddy of mine who's a massive fan of the Rambo series... and even today, he swears up and down that the third installment is the absolute peak of the entire franchise, haha. I mean, nothing else even comes close to that tank versus helicopter showdown... or that bit where they take down the chopper with an explosive arrow... just pure madness...😁😁🤣

I gotta admit, "Part II" is probably my favorite out of the whole bunch—it’s usually my go-to whenever I need a little bit of inspiration... but honestly, that’s just because it was the first one I ever saw. Don't get me wrong, the original is solid, but I can't stand how much they softened everything up. In the book, Rambo is way, way more intense than what we see on screen, and the action hits a different level entirely—like, he practically levels the whole damn town. For me, watching the movie feels like watching a classic Hollywood compromise where they take great source material and smooth out the edges just enough to make it palatable for the masses...

Man, I don't know about that... he really had some imaginative action flicks under his belt—so on that specific point, I’m gonna have to disagree with you, briskhound2...

I just can't seem to get it to sit right... 😛 I’m not a huge fan of how the pacing drags through the story—there’s way too much filler that feels either pointless or just straight-up propaganda... and honestly, the action is nothing more than a mediocre middle-of-the-road effort. Now, that finale in the second film? That was the peak for me. That helicopter assault and the showdown between the birds always gets me hyped up, but when you get to that little tank versus helicopter duel... I’m kind of speechless. Maybe it’s because the scene is just poorly shot, though. There’s zero creativity involved. It’s just one shot of a chopper, one shot of a tank, one shot... and then they crash. Just lazy...

briskhound2 said:Personally, I just can't get into it properly. 😛I'm not a fan of how the plot wanders around; there’s way too much editing that feels pointless or just serves as pure propaganda. As for the action, it’s honestly just mediocre. For me, the finale in the second movie was the peak—that helicopter attack and the duel between helicopters always hits for me. But seeing a tank versus a helicopter? I’m speechless, and not in a good way. Maybe it’s because the scene is shot so poorly; there’s zero creativity. Just one shot of a heli, one shot of a tank, one shot... then they crash.

I can't recall the specific directing details regarding the stunt work, but I remember the production itself being a massive spectacle. The story? It's basically a carbon copy of the second one... and heavy on the propaganda. Same vibe as Rocky IV. Like I said... this one falls right into my "guilty pleasure" category.

Might just pull an all-nighter with a Rambo marathon this weekend... since I'm home alone anyway... peace and quiet... and Rambo with a bazooka, haha.😁😁 🤣

By the way... you reminded me of that whole "shot of a heli, shot of a tank" thing. A buddy of mine who loves the third movie once complained about how action is filmed these days... shaky cams, frantic editing, all just to force some fake high-speed rhythm. He says back in the day, you'd just set the camera up and let Sly or Arnie blow everything in frame to pieces with a bazooka, and the whole shot looked dynamic, epic, and never boring—plus, you could actually see what was happening.

Sometimes I think he might be onto something, haha.😁

I’m putting my vote on the first one,👍mostly for the acting, the script, how they built the lead character, and that tension. After that, I’d say the fourth part is next—solid plot, heavy action, gritty🙂 and it doesn't try to pass off mindless trash as cinema. The second and third entries are pretty dumb, but fun enough if you're younger, though the third one is definitely the weakest of the bunch.

First Blood: 9/10

Rambo: First Blood Part II: 6/10

Rambo III: 5/10

John Rambo: 8/10

Without getting too deep into the weeds here:

First Blood: 8/10

Rambo: 6/10

Rambo III: 5/10

John Rambo: 7/10

People can say whatever they want about his acting style, but for me, Sly is the absolute GOAT. I trust him completely—whether he’s playing Rambo, Rocky, or even Drew.😁

First Blood - 8.3/10

Rambo 2 - 7.4/10 😍

Rambo 3 - 7.5/10 😍

John Rambo - 8.5/10

First Blood is basically its own standalone movie. The way they handled Rambo's character and the whole vibe of the film is so different in the second and third installments—it’s almost like we’re watching a completely different guy. But honestly, even though Rambo 4 actually picks up where First Blood left off, I don't think it would be nearly as much fun to watch if we hadn't already gone through the journey of the second and third movies first...
(It's a bit of a stretch, sure, but look at it this way: you wouldn't appreciate Unforgiven half as much if Eastwood hadn't spent years grinding through all those classic spaghetti westerns first.)

So, here's my take: First Blood and Rambo 4 are the real deal, while Rambo 2 and 3 kind of just sit on the same level.

The Rambo - Tetralogy is hands down my favorite franchise of all time. I basically grew up on these movies—I still remember how awkward it felt going to the local Blockbuster to rent them because the staff would just stare at you, thinking, "Oh, here goes this guy again." They’ll always hold a special place in my heart. And honestly? This latest Rambo exceeded every single one of my expectations. Sly is the absolute king!

It looks like we’re all on the same page here :-D. For me, the first one is definitely the best, followed by 4, then 2 and 3 are about even..

Jerry Martinez50 said:Look, I'm not even gonna try to get all deep and analytical here:

First Blood—8/10

Rambo 2—6/10

Rambo 3—5/10

John Rambo—7/10

People can say whatever they want about his acting, but for me, Sly is the absolute GOAT. I’m riding with him through thick and thin, whether he's playing Rambo, Rocky, or even Drew😁

especially when it comes to Drew

The third one's definitely the worst

I put my vote down for the first one, though I’ve got some thoughts on the last one too.
The third installment is definitely the worst—just your run-of-the-mill American garbage about helping the underdog fight back against the communists.
Or, you know, just the usual endless tug-of-war between America and Russia...

Anyway, the topic at hand is👍

First Blood is easily my favorite in the whole franchise. After that, I’d say Rambo 4, then Rambo 2... as for the third one? Honestly, it shouldn't have even been made, or at least it needed a completely different plot.

Perhaps Americans and Russians shouldn't have even bothered with the Cold War in the first place ;-).. It's pretty obvious why movies like this were being made back in the 80s, just like all those Delta Force or Missing in Action flicks.

The fourth installment and the first one are both on my radar, but I went with the original. It’s hard to beat the impact of First Blood.

David Price5 said:Maybe Americans and Russians shouldn't have even bothered with the whole Cold War thing in the first place... I mean, it’s pretty obvious why movies like that were being pumped out back in the 80s—you know, all those Delta Force flicks, Missing in Action, and stuff like that...

Aside from the fact that the first Delta Force movie uses Palestinians as the villains... there aren't any Russians in it. 🙂

Anthony Smith3 said:I can't quite pin down the exact directing details when it comes to the trilogy stuff—my brain is a bit foggy on that—but man, I do remember that movie being an absolute beast from a production standpoint. The plot? Honestly, it’s basically a carbon copy of the second one... plus a massive dose of propaganda. It’s the exact same vibe you get with Rocky IV. Like I said before... for me, that flick definitely sits in that "guilty pleasure" category...

I don't know why, but the third one just feels like the weakest production of the bunch—maybe because the sets feel so cheap... I really can't get behind the whole argument that the story is just a rip-off of the second movie. In the second one, the plot actually feels intriguing because it leaves certain things hanging in the air—which, let's be honest, you expect from an action flick anyway—whereas the third installment tries way too hard to make the Russians look more menacing than they actually are. Still, I'll give it one redeeming quality. I actually liked the subtle hint that Rambo is jumping into the fray for the sake of a friend, rather than doing it for some oppressed masses (which happens later on)... if they hadn't forced all that political messaging and just stuck to Rambo's raw, grounded reasons for fighting, it would have been a much better film. It worked perfectly that way in the fourth part...

I’m seriously thinking about pulling an all-nighter with a Rambo marathon this weekend... since I've got the house to myself anyway—just pure peace and quiet... plus a little Rambo with a bazooka for good measure, haha...😁😁🤣

So, did the decision actually go through? Are you really planning on waking up the entire neighborhood with the sound of a bazooka... 😁

Man, you just reminded me of that one shot—you know, the one with the helicopter and the tank... It actually brings to mind this buddy of mine—the guy who’s obsessed with the third movie—who was complaining the other day about how action is filmed these days. He says the whole thing is such a mess... the camera is just wandering all over the place, the editing is totally frantic, and they do it all just to force some kind of "fast-paced" energy onto the screen. He was saying back in the day, you’d just set the camera up, let Sly or Arnie go absolutely nuts with a bazooka and blow everything in the frame to pieces, and the whole shot felt dynamic and epic without being boring... and the best part was, you could actually see what was happening...

On one hand, I get it—those older action flicks had this much more direct way of showing the carnage. Like that shot where Rambo fires that arrow, or when those trucks go flying off the bridge... man, those were solid. The issue is that it’s all become a bit static. Honestly, a little camera movement goes a long way in making things feel visceral. And that whole big showdown between the tank and the chopper? To me, it feels a bit like those few shots from Bullitt where the guy is slamming through gears just to reach tenth gear (when there are only like four or five speeds) just to fake a sense of speed. It’s the same thing here—every single shot gets closer to the tank or the heli, but it’s really just one continuous sequence stretched out. Look, I have my favorites when it comes to Rambo, but his direction can be a bit hit-or-miss—not that I can really blame him, since the first three movies were directed by guys who barely knew the first thing about staging an action scene, so it didn't always land perfectly...