 | |
List Price: $22.98 | | Label: Lionsgate
Salesrank: 18947
Released: May 27, 2008 |
| Our Price: $6.43 |
| Used Price: $2.88 |
|
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure
Rating: R
Release Date: 27-MAY-2008
Media Type: DVD
Description of Rambo (Special Edition + Digital Copy):
If you've been wondering what ever happened to ex–Green Beret superwarrior John Rambo since he singlehandedly shot up a Pacific Northwest town (First Blood, 1982), returned to the jungles of 'Nam to free U.S. POWs held long after war's end (Rambo: First Blood Part II, 1985), and interrupted the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan long enough to blow lots of stuff up and rescue his old commandant from the Reds (Rambo III, 1988), then Rambo (2008) is for you. Without so much as a IV to dilute the brand name, Rambo--which is what most of us called the second, most iconic film in the series--may aspire to open a new era for a pop legend. But it's a thoroughly mechanical attempt to reanimate a franchise that, absent the anger, frustration, and self-loathing of the post-Vietnam years, has no meaning or purpose. For some time now Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) has been putt-putting along the Thai-Burmese border in a longboat, catching exotic snakes to sell. As for the 60-year civil war in Burma between the brutal government and the Karen independence movement, he ignores it. Enter a party of American missionaries whose dewy blond spokeswoman (Dexter's Julie Benz) asks Rambo to haul them upriver so that they can bring medical aid to the insurgents. After the requisite number of monosyllabic refusals, he does. Soon afterward the do-gooders are in a world of hurt, and he's summoned to lead a squad of mercenaries on a rescue mission.
As storytelling, the latest Rambo is the most bare-bones of the bunch. Rambo has little to say, so it's especially galling that Stallone, as director and co-writer, obliges him to have essentially the same conversation at three different points (the final distillation: "Live for nothing or die for something"). The Burmese army goons seem in competition to commit the most hideous atrocity (e.g., child skull-crushing underfoot), the better to justify the eventual, lovingly protracted spectacle of them being eviscerated by high-powered weaponry. Although shot in Thailand, the movie has mostly been photographed in brown, reducing any particular sense of place but, perhaps, perversely increasing our gratitude for the splashes of purple whenever hot metal tatters flesh. --Richard T. Jameson
Beyond Rambo
Complete list of Rambo movies on DVD and Blu-ray | 
Soundtrack | 
Rambo: The Complete Collector's Set |
Stills from Rambo (click for larger image) Rambo (Special Edition + Digital Copy) Reviews:
RAMBO 
2009-10-18 - If you thought this was just (FUNNY) then you must be a garatrooper! For what it stood for this rambo was best from an old man. If you were there in the grass then you know too!
Totally Surprised
2009-10-17 - I was really expecting a real dud with this one. Aging Stallone trying to show he still has it etc... I was pleasantly surprised with this Movie. Best Rambo in the series next to First Blood. The body parts flying is pretty extreme so be careful with the kids. Having said that the action is extreme and very well done. Enough said.
"God didn't save you.....we did" 
2009-09-25 - As a child of the 80's I grew up watching Stallone as Rambo. I wanted a knife with a compass so bad after seeing "First Blood" I could hardly see straight!! But I have to admit when I first heard that Stallone was going to milk the Rambo teet for another film, I had serious reservations. But I guess having Rambo help create the Taliban in Part III isn't the best way for one of America's heroes to go down in cinematic history.
I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed "Rambo", it's a violent gore-fest which tries to cram in message about fighting for "something" in it's 80 minute run time. The basic story is you get some bible-thumpers who want to spread medecine and "the word" to the poor folks in war-torn Burma, and they want Rambo to guide them upriver into this stinking hell-hole. Well you know whats going to happen from the first moment Rambo leaves these do-gooders alone, but how it happens is a whole other matter. When the bad guys make an entrance.....they make an entrance. People getting blown up left and right, ripped to pieces by machine gun fire..and it's not like the old "Rambo" flicks where somebody would get shot and fall down, when someone gets shot here you see limbs come flying off, guts come pouring out, heads explode...it's some of the greatest gore effects this side of the "Saw" films. Seriously it's like "Rambo" meets "Cannibal Holocaust".
Of course the main reason to see a Rambo film is to watch Rambo get his revenge. And this he does, and in true gruesome fashion. More limbs go flying and more noggins erupt in blood spouts, and of course Rambo puts his hunting knife and bow to great use.
So, is "Rambo" a good film? I enjoyed it. But then, I love horror films so splatter doesn't really bother me too much. (If anything I kept thinking that whoever did these special effects really needs to be hired for the next "Friday the 13th" flick!). If you are squeamish, then this probably isn't the flick for you. If you are looking for the rah-rah go America Rambo of the 80's, you'll probably be disappointed as well, as Rambo himself makes it clear he isn't fighting for country or god..he's just fighting for himself. Also, if you are looking for Rambo to be a one-man extermination squad, you'll probably be disappointed as well. This film is more like "Team Rambo" with several mercenaries thrown in to help Rambo out. But if you don't mind the blood, and just want to watch Rambo kick some butt, then you will enjoy this flick.
Embarrassingly bad 
2009-09-06 - I should have known better than to rent this and expect it to be anywhere near the original First Blood and Rambo films. Those were made when Stallone was at his peak. Here, he's just pathetic. The acting is horrid, the plot is pointless. Save yourself the trouble and rent the originals. This HAD to have been made as a money-raiser. How far the mighty have fallen.
Great movie, but hid the most important point on Burma
2009-09-05 - For pure entertainment, he movie was fantastic. I'd rate it as as good as the first Rambo. I did notice that all mention of China's involvement in Burma was ignored. The current government in Burma is a Chinese puppet government. China needed a direct rout to the Persian gulf, and now has one through Burma. In Rambo II, the Russian presence in Vietnam was made clear. Why were the Chinese not mentioned in this Rambo? Likely because the US is deep in debt to China, and Washington pressured the studio to keep the American people from knowing what evil bastards they really are. We might stop buying all the poisoned crap they are shipping to our country. I will rate it 3 stars. Five for entertainment, and 1 star for letting the Chinese off the hook.
