On R List of Movie Reviews
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Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
10/03, 5/04, 4/05, 10/07, 7/11, 1/17, 8/20
4/05:
"To survive a war, you gotta become war."
So it goes in Rambo: First Blood Part II. Sylvester Stallone has never been more thrilling before or since. It's the
role that made him a worldwide icon. My favorite line, which is on the definition of expendable, is: "It's like someone invites
you to a party and you don't show up. It doesn't really matter."
All in all, Rambo: First Blood Part II is a unique action-adventure war picture that stands the test of time.
10/07:
John Rambo does everything and never runs out of ammunition in Rambo: First Blood Part II, one of the most thrilling
action-packed pictures of all time.
All in all, a lot of people make fun of Rambo: First Blood Part II but can be surprised to realize how good the movie
is if they would give it a chance.
7/11:
Rambo: First Blood Part II keeps getting better all the time.
1/17:
Of the trilogy, Rambo: First Blood Part II is the most memorable.
So much deal has been made out of it, spawning many spoofs. Well, guess what? Sylvester Stallone still kicks ass.
Rocky was great, and these films put Sylvester Stallone on the map. But
Rambo: First Blood Part II made him an instant worldwide icon. It's by far the most famous role of his career. When people
think of him, they think of the absolutely ripped, shirtless Rambo with an M60E3 through the jungles of Vietnam, ready to mow
down everybody who stands in his way.
Sylvester Stallone did his own stunts, and he's unbelievable. A lot of hard work went into it. According to IMDb:
"To prepare for this role, Sylvester Stallone did eight months of training for four hours a day. He also took SWAT combat,
archery, and survival courses."
A lot of people make fun of the film, but honestly, it's that good and has many memorable scenes, right down to
Stallone's famous scream during the helicopter ride. Whenever I think of the greatest action-adventure pictures,
Rambo: First Blood Part II ranks right up there. It's hard to come up with a better one that's as explosively
action-packed.
The editing, especially with the helicopters, is marvelously done. Rambo: First Blood Part II, given its staggeringly
high body count, is so fast-paced that a lot of things are happening at the same time, but there's a beautiful rhythm to it.
It's easy to absorb every shot and know what exactly is going on, something that's been missing in cinema nowadays.
The story is creative and a complete detraction from the original. That's why a lot of people have either forgotten
about the first film as it never existed or thought of the sequel as the original. Some of the lines remain memorable
to this day:
"Sir, do we get to win this time?"
"Sir, I'm alive. It's still alive, ain't it?"
"It's like someone invites you to a party and you don't show up. It doesn't really matter."
"To survive a war, you gotta become war."
"You may scream. There is no shame."
"Dragonfly...Wolf's Den...colorful names!"
"Murdock...I'm comin' to get you."
"Mission...accomplished!"
"You know there's more men out there, and you know where they are. Find 'em. Or I'll find you."
"I want what they want and every other guy, who came over here and spilled his guts and gave everything he had, wants. For
our country to love us as much as we love it. That's what I want."
All in all, Rambo: First Blood Part II is an all-time great action-adventure film.
8/20:
The Killer and Rambo: First Blood Part II are two films that come to my mind when
I think of par excellence in editing.
Truly in the greatest shape of his life, Sylvester Stallone is mesmerizing. It must have taken an unbelievable amount of
energy to pull off the stunts. He became the character, and for that, Stallone should've gotten at least an Oscar nomination.
The screenplay is another aspect I like which has many well-written lines. My favorite is
when Rambo explained the concept of expendable: "It's like someone invites you to a party and you don't show up.
It doesn't really matter." Another classic is when Rambo was asked how he felt after being electrocuted by a
metal bed frame: "Tough night." Yeah, no kidding.
All in all, there's nothing like Rambo: First Blood Part II.