#4491961 - 10/07/19 10:30 PM
Rambo: Last Blood
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 361
JCathcart
Member
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Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 361
Utah
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I loved First Blood, liked Rambo II, tolerated Rambo III and missed 4 altogether, although I heard it was actually pretty good. I had hoped Last Blood would bring a satisfying end to the saga.
Mild spoilers ahead...but, who cares?
What a disaster. The first 45 minutes is slow and plodding, introducing us to characters I didn't care about because there is almost no explanation about who they are or where they come from. Rambo has a niece. His brother's daughter? Sister's? Who knows? There's a woman living in his house, but I wasn't sure who she was. Housekeeper? Niece's guardian? No idea. The Niece's father is a horrible man who we think will play a significant role in the film, but...no. His story arc is gone as soon as we meet him.
My biggest beef with this film is that it's not a Rambo movie. John could have been any Stallone/Schwarzenegger ex-Spec Ops action star. They could have called this movie Cobra II and it wouldn't have mattered. There was absolutely no tie-in to previous movies at all until the final credit roll. I would have loved to see him re-visit the Pacific NW to visit an old friend and find himself enlisted by the local police to hunt down a younger version of his original character: Some young buck who recently returned from Afghanistan or something. Or maybe he receives a visit from his former colonel's son, who needs his help on a mission of his own...ANYTHING to show us that this is part of the same story.
The last 55 minutes are much more fun, but holy cow, the graphic violence is amped up to 11. It's somewhat satisfying in a scummy bad guys get what's coming to them kind of way, but DO NOT BRING YOUR KIDS thinking it's like the first film. My 13-year-old son liked First Blood and it led to a meaningful conversation about the Vietnam War and PTSD, but he will NOT be seeing this one for a while, if ever.
I'm not one of these guys who needs academy award-winning entertainment in my films. In fact, I can't stand most award-winning films, but I do want a little thought into character development and scripting in my action flicks. The dialogue in this movie is so cheesy, it could have been a Rambo parody if it were funny at all.
And the ending? There isn't one...not really. It's like the worst Monty Python sketch. Those lads from London knew how to start hilarious sketches, but they almost never knew how to end them, so they would sometimes just shoot someone.
Sly, I like you dude. You seem like a great guy and many of your films have been a blast to watch, but no more Rambo please. It's time to retire him and let him rest in peace. He's earned it.
Last edited by JCathcart; 10/07/19 10:33 PM.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." -- Ephesians 6: 12-13 KJV
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#4491991 - 10/08/19 06:47 AM
Re: Rambo: Last Blood
[Re: JCathcart]
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,505
DM
Senior Member
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,505
Prague
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I find it bizarre that Stallone, in his 70s now, is still making ego shooters starring himself. Fist Blood was one thing, but the follow-ons were just ego shooters designed to raise whoops from testosterone-fueled audiences IMO. Apologies to anyone who likes this stuff but it's not for me.
"They might look the same, but they don't taste the same."
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#4492009 - 10/08/19 10:27 AM
Re: Rambo: Last Blood
[Re: DM]
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,473
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
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Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,473
Miami, FL USA
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I find it bizarre that Stallone, in his 70s now, is still making ego shooters starring himself. Fist Blood was one thing, but the follow-ons were just ego shooters designed to raise whoops from testosterone-fueled audiences IMO. Apologies to anyone who likes this stuff but it's not for me. I have no clue about this personal financial situation but for all we know, he's doing these films simply to pay the bills.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
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#4492081 - 10/08/19 07:51 PM
Re: Rambo: Last Blood
[Re: JCathcart]
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,921
vonBaur
Senior Member
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Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,921
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"First Blood" was good...right up until Rambo decided to "take the fight to the enemy". His treatment at the hands of the sheriff and his deputies was (movie) realistic given the time in which it was set. His E&E was both pretty much spot on given his training and a nice commentary on what the average infantry-trained soldier found himself facing in Viet Nam. But Rambo's training would have told him to get the Hell out of Dodge once the townies believed he was dead, NOT go back in and shoot the place up. Although I watched all of the first four movies, the first half of the first movie and the ending of the fourth, where he walks onto the family farm looking very much like he did when Brian Dennehey pulled up next to him so many years before, were the only parts I really liked. But I will admit to having fun watching the action sequences, as ridiculously "Hollywood" as they were.
I will probably watch the current one...when I get a free HBO weekend. I see no reason to spend any money on it whatsoever.
SALUTE TO ALL!
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#4492105 - 10/08/19 10:55 PM
Re: Rambo: Last Blood
[Re: vonBaur]
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 11,946
Crane Hunter
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 11,946
Master Meme-er
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"First Blood" was good...right up until Rambo decided to "take the fight to the enemy". His treatment at the hands of the sheriff and his deputies was (movie) realistic given the time in which it was set. His E&E was both pretty much spot on given his training and a nice commentary on what the average infantry-trained soldier found himself facing in Viet Nam. But Rambo's training would have told him to get the Hell out of Dodge once the townies believed he was dead, NOT go back in and shoot the place up. Although I watched all of the first four movies, the first half of the first movie and the ending of the fourth, where he walks onto the family farm looking very much like he did when Brian Dennehey pulled up next to him so many years before, were the only parts I really liked. But I will admit to having fun watching the action sequences, as ridiculously "Hollywood" as they were.
I will probably watch the current one...when I get a free HBO weekend. I see no reason to spend any money on it whatsoever. The book which the first movie was based off of was quite a bit different from what I remember, Rambo dies at the end of one thing. I can't recall the reasoning for Rambo's going back into town, but it must be said that the Canadian born author was not a military man and had to rely on other's experience when it came to Vietnam and the military.
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#4492141 - 10/09/19 11:21 AM
Re: Rambo: Last Blood
[Re: JCathcart]
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,840
ricnunes
Senior Member
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,840
Portugal
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First of all, I must say that I haven't seen this last Rambo movie (Last Blood). Secondly, I fully agree with others above, the first Rambo movie (First Blood) was the best of them all and by far! And Rambo IV was IMO the second best of them also by far when compared to the other two Rambo movies. I really liked/enjoyed Rambo IV, I was quite surprised (positively) by this movie specially after Rambo II and III. Third, and speaking of Rambo II and III these were UTTER CRAP! I don't have anything positive to say about Rambo II while the only positive thing about Rambo III was that it served as an inspiration for one of the funniest movies that I ever saw: Hot Shots 2
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#4492211 - 10/09/19 08:11 PM
Re: Rambo: Last Blood
[Re: JCathcart]
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,921
vonBaur
Senior Member
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Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,921
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My favorite part of the "Hot Shots" movies was the scene in the second in which Charlie Sheen's character is in the boat writing in his journal. Another voice enters his narration and slowly gets louder until he notices it and looks for its source. He sees another fast boat approaching from the opposite direction. As it gets closer you recognize Martin Sheen dressed like he was in "Apocalypse Now". As the two boats pass the two men look at each other and say "Loved you in 'Wall Street."
Second favorite is the same movie, same boat where the younger Sheen is firing the mounted M-60 in an impossibly sustained burst as he is engulfed by a slowly growing pyramid of empty casings.
SALUTE TO ALL!
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#4492380 - 10/10/19 10:25 PM
Re: Rambo: Last Blood
[Re: JCathcart]
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 24,712
Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
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Measured in Llamathrusts
Lifer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 24,712
Alabaster, AL USA
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Ah, dammit.
The reason most of us liked First Blood and didn't like any of the Rambo movies too much was that John Rambo was very damaged goods. Yes, he had combat skills, but was completely absorbed by PTSD that he couldn't relate to civilian life in the slightest.
I was really hoping for a return to a coping John Rambo in late life, and, as suggested before, helping an Iraq/Afghanistan/Africa* veteran who has gone off the rails a bit. Maybe a useful to the plot nephew?
* I mention Africa because the soldiers fighting ISIS and their ilk all over the continent, from Nigeria to Somalia, get zero mention in the media, and most folks are unaware we're humping rucks there.
The opinions of this poster are largely based on facts and portray a possible version of the actual events. More dumb stuff at http://www.darts-page.comFrom Laser: "The forum is the place where combat (real time) flight simulator fans come to play turn based strategy combat."
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#4493596 - 10/19/19 12:35 PM
Re: Rambo: Last Blood
[Re: vonBaur]
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,075
semmern
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,075
Oslo, Norway
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My favorite part of the "Hot Shots" movies was the scene in the second in which Charlie Sheen's character is in the boat writing in his journal. Another voice enters his narration and slowly gets louder until he notices it and looks for its source. He sees another fast boat approaching from the opposite direction. As it gets closer you recognize Martin Sheen dressed like he was in "Apocalypse Now". As the two boats pass the two men look at each other and say "Loved you in 'Wall Street."
Second favorite is the same movie, same boat where the younger Sheen is firing the mounted M-60 in an impossibly sustained burst as he is engulfed by a slowly growing pyramid of empty casings. Both Hot Shot movies are basically continuous strings of hilarious scenes and quotes. Cutting the fence into the compound, just to have it fall down and leaving him with the cutout in his hands. Lloyd Bridges as the President being hilarious all the time. Jumping out of the plane, going «Geronimo! Geronimo!» then Geronimo himself jumps, shooting «Me!» The only movie to be equally full of quotable lines and scenes in my opinion is Guy Ritchie’s «Snatch.»
In all my years I've never seen the like. It has to be more than a hundred sea miles and he brings us up on his tail. That's seamanship, Mr. Pullings. My God, that's seamanship!
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Exodus
by RedOneAlpha. 04/18/24 05:46 PM
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