First Blood (1982)

4 / 5
Tagline:  One war against one man.
Directed by:  Ted Kotcheff
Written by:  David Morrell, Michael Kozoll
Actors include:  Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Brian Dennehy
Genre:  Action 
Length:  93 minutes
Banned:  Nope

Review:
For those times when you just want to see everyone get decimated...  I wasn't sure this would be the film for me but it was actually beautifully filmed out in B.C. with views from the mountains.  It also did have a paper thin plot that was easy to follow, but it didn't matter because it jumps right in with the action and doesn't let up until the end.  Sylvester Stallone plays John Rambo, an ex Green Beret who wanders into a quiet town only to be pushed out by the Police.  He doesn't want to leave, so once they try to force him things get bloody.  He wages war with the Force killing or maiming everyone in his path during a thrilling adventure hiding out in the mountains.  It's got violence out the wazoo of course, it's beyond simple and nobody is really in the right there though of course you are going to want to side with Rambo.  I haven't seen any of the sequels yet but I probably will after this, a better made film than I had anticipated.

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

4 / 5
Tagline:  No man, no law, no war can stop him.
Directed by:  George P. Cosmatos
Written by:  David Morrell, Kevin Jarre
Actors include:  Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Charles Napier
Genre:  Action, Adventure, Thriller
Length:  96 minutes
Banned:  Nope

Review:

Well, it's far more over the top feeling than the original, but I enjoyed both about the same.  Both are rather nicely filmed, and both are violent (though I think this one with the rocket launcher and exploding arrows takes the cake) and both should make any action film fan happy.  This time Rambo is in jail breaking hot rocks in the sun when he's offered an out, if he goes to Vietnam and takes pictures of any POWs he can find he may receive a pardon.  Of course he volunteers, and quickly finds where the POWs are kept and he goes on a rampage killing and blowing up everyone in his path.  It's pretty exciting and action packed and yes the body count is very high.  He can't follow instructions and neither can the Army so things get out of control of course.  The actual character of Rambo could use a little personality but I'm sure that's just a small quibble since to most it won't matter.  I enjoyed it and so will most, it's exactly what you think it is.

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray