Reviews of First Blood

You don't turn it off!

Posted : 1 year, 1 month ago on 28 October 2008 07:14 (A review of First Blood)

''Nothing is over! Nothing! You just don't turn it off! It wasn't my war! You asked me, I didn't ask you! And I did what I had to do to win! But somebody wouldn't let us win! And I come back to the world and I see all those maggots at the airport, protesting me, spitting. Calling me baby killer and all kinds of vile crap! Who are they to protest me? Who are they? Unless they've been me and been there and know what the hell they're yelling about!''


Sylvester Stallone: John J. Rambo

Richard Crenna: Col. Samuel Trautman

A mentally unstable Vietnam war vet, John Rambo, when abused with a small town's police force, begins a one man war with it.

Back in the 80's, a film was released, which i was pleased to get to watch recently that would change the way action movies felt.

The film of course is Rambo:First Blood and it made a small time actor called Sylvester Stallone into an action star.

Based on a novel about a disgraced and out of place Vietnam veteran by David Morrell, First blood tells the story of John J. Rambo who returns to America after a torturous tour of duty in Vietnam. His friends are gone, killed in action and he returns to a world where he is treated like an alien or a criminal by the Police force.

He's an outsider and they really don't likeany outsiders. What follows is a brutal and harassing unprovoked attack on John by them.

Finally something snaps inside him and Rambo becomes a one man army who no-one can control. When it comes to the crunch, Rambo has no mercy. he becomes detached and unstoppable, a collosus...

Relentless in his goal he will destroy anything or anyone who gets in his way.

There is a powerful message in First Blood. Rambo is one of the many Vietnam war Veterans (whether fiction or factual) who returned after slugging their guts out fighting a losing battle that was the Vietnam war.
Only to return unappreciated, unwelcome and unheard even ignored.
The ones who lost their limbs or worse for a war no-one cared about. What hell these people must have gone through. I mean it makes you think, What was the whole point of fighting for a country that never cared?
Why bother risking your life and body on the line only to have your neighbour spit back in your face and not give a damn? I have always felt sorry about these unfortunate people since i learnt about the Vietnam war in History lessons from School, it was a horrifying time. The things they did to people doesn't bear thinking about.
So i was feeling for Rambo from the very start. To go through all that and then get the treatment he got from the Police, he just didn't deserve it. He wasn't even hurting anyone for the first half of the movie, THEY were hurting him. I never felt sorry for the cops at all in this film, as far as i was concerned they deserved everything they got. They didn't deserve my pity, they bought it all on themselves. They really made him a vicious one man army so justice was ultimately dished.

First Blood contains great performances from Richard Crenna as Col. Trautman, Brian Dennehy as Sheriff Will Teasle, David Caruso (who found renoun in NYPD Blue and CSI Miami) as a wet behind the ears deputy and of course Sylvester Stallone as the main character who became a hero to Vietnam vets and the American citizens by playing John J. Rambo. First Blood is easily a film that can be watched again and again and will stand it's ground in the seas of time.

That last scene will stay with me forever, it was so powerful between the Colonel and Rambo i couldn't help but get teary eyed...

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Absorbing action/adventure movie!

Posted : 1 year, 7 months ago on 2 May 2008 03:36 (A review of First Blood)

"I could have killed 'em all, I could kill you. In town you're the law, out here it's me. Don't push it. Don't push it or I'll give you a war you won't believe. Let it go. Let it go."

Because of Sylvester Stallone's reputation as being the tough, unstoppable action hero (an image painted in films like Cobra, Cliffhanger, and all the Rambo sequels) people have immediately type-cast Stallone as a luminary of the 80's action genre who can't act and doesn't display much depth.

First Blood is something far from a brainless 80's action ride. In fact, it's one of Sly's most intelligent films. Before Rambo the only recognisable action hero would be someone like James Bond; a man who always stays calm and never seems to display any real vulnerability. The character of John J. Rambo is the most unconventional action hero of all time. Rambo shows that he is not invincible - he bleeds, he screams, feels pain and has emotions. This is different to the character featured in the novel by David Morrell of the same name; but in my honest opinion I felt this was a more human image, hence a change for the best.

John J. Rambo (Stallone) is a disillusioned Vietnam vet who has become a drifter eschewed by a prejudice society. Rambo is an ex-Greet Beret and a medal of honour recipient. On a journey to visit an old Vietnam buddy he drifts into a small town where he is made very unwelcome by the local Sheriff Teasle (Dennehy) who doesn't accept drifters in a town that he rules with an iron fist.

Rambo comes into the town looking for something to eat, instead he is turned away. He is arrested for resisting his unwarranted mistreatment. Beaten and humiliated, Rambo utilises his skills to escape and flee into a neighbouring forest where his one man war commences...on his own terms. Using his extensive knowledge of guerrilla warfare and setting traps, the local police force have no idea what they are about to walk into.

First Blood is an unconventional entry to the 1980's action genre; instead of frequent violence and a high body count we instead are shown an engaging, absorbing character study of a man who is pushed over the edge. Rambo is mentally unstable and is still haunted by his Vietnam days. Flashbacks are triggered when he is given nothing but unprovoked treatment from the police.

Unlike most action films, First Blood develops the characters and doesn't focus on the action. Rambo does not want to kill someone unless absolutely necessary. Even after being treated so badly by a discriminatory society he does not wish to start mindless killing and violence.

Stallone is John Rambo. There is no-one else who could possibly play the role. It's like Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones or Bruce Willis as John McClane; a replacement would be futile and offensive. Stallone's muscles aren't exaggerated or bulging. He is a trim man with innocent facial expressions that tell his story. For most of the movie he says very little dialogue; instead staring at someone or yelping in pain. His final monologue is one of the most poignant few minutes of any action movie. It has heart and it helps us empathise with the character. If someone can find an 80's action movie featuring Van Damme or Dolph Lundgren that has heart or soul I beg you to recommend it to me.

Richard Crenna is a fantastic patriarchal figure who was once Rambo's mentor during Vietnam. Crenna's performance is also heart-felt and further allows us to get engaged in the spellbinding personality of Rambo.

The filmmaking in every aspect was fantastic. The lush scenery of the forest gives one the feeling of isolation. And it feels like just your average common town that Rambo finds himself drifting into.

Action scenes were accompanied with taut direction and a riveting score by Jerry Goldsmith. Goldsmith's score is outstanding. The Rambo theme is poignant and powerful. When there's an action scene the music is intense and engrossing. The audience are compelled to keep their eyes ardently glued to the screen. You won't want to miss a second.

First Blood is one of the best 1980's action films that is a perfect vehicle for Stallone to display intensity and aptitude as an action hero. I always find myself captivated and mesmerised, as well as highly entertained. The credibility is sometimes thrown to the wind which is the only drawback on an otherwise superb production.

Even if you're not a fan of action movies, First Blood is a must see movie that cannot be missed. Followed by 3 sequels.

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Great film that does some justice...

Posted : 1 year, 9 months ago on 2 March 2008 09:58 (A review of First Blood)

When people hear Sylvester Stallone most people think of Rocky, but when I hear his name I instantly think Rambo.

In First Blood, Stallone plays John Rambo, a ex Special Forces operative come back from the Vietnam war at first trying to find one of his last friends from his unit and after finding out that his friend was dead, Rambo starts to drift and comes to a town with a sheriff that doesn't like Rambo and arrests him for trying to go back into town for something to eat. Rambo is brought in the local jail and is really mistreated by the deputies and escapes and makes his way in to the near by mountains where he is chased by the sheriff's and later by the National Guard with nation wide media.
I'm not going to spoil the end because its a great ending with a great message that says something that most Vietnam vets have wanted to say for years, that they are not baby killer, but men fighting for their countries freedoms.

Acting in the movie, on everyones part, is superb even for a action film in it time.
Music is sometimes haunting and other times glories all fitting the moments their in.
Other effects, sound and visual, fit great and are never over the top giving the movie a more realistic feel then other movies of it's kind.

Over all, First Blood in one of my favorite action movies that speaks a message at the end that I believe to true and sincere and should be enjoyed by anyone how watches.

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In town you're the law, out here it's me

Posted : 1 year, 10 months ago on 18 February 2008 07:46 (A review of First Blood)

I assume the consensus for this film is that it's an all-guns-blazing kill-fest, but I don't think that could be further from the truth. From the serene and beautiful setting of the opening sequence, the film follows a former Vietnam veteran on his return to civilian life in America. After tracking down the only surviving member of his unit and realising that he has died since his return, Rambo assumes the role of a drifter who aimlessly roams from town to town trying to re-adjust to everyday life.

He is arrested for no reason whatsoever by a small town sherif and humiliated for the entertainment of the deputies. Sparking a series of flashbacks form his time in the jungle, Rambo flips and stages a daring escape to the nearby mountain covered in thick forest. A manhunt ensues and media attention grows as Rambo flourishes in his natural surroundings. Seeking closure on his ordeal, Rambo manages to escape back to the small town and embark on a destructive rampage before confronting the local town sherif. Throughout the film you feel nothing but empathy for Rambo and his troubled history and this culminates in a depressing final scene in which he breaks down in the face of the amassed national guard and police force who are baying for his blood. He just wanted something to eat!

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