Craig Zablo

Rambo (2008)

Director: Sylvester Stallone

Screenplay:  Art Monterastelli, Sylvester Stallone

Stars:  Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, Paul Schulze, Matthew Marsden, Graham McTavish, Rey Gallegos, Tim Kang, Jake La Botz, Maung Maung Khin and Ken Howard.

Tagline: Live for nothing, or die for something.

The Plot…

Twenty years have passed since Rambo’s rescue of Colonel Trautman in Afghanistan.  Rambo makes his living as a snake catcher and ferryman.

When Michael Burnett approaches Rambo to take his missionary group up river, Rambo refuses. Burnett wants to go into a war zone to render humanitarian aide to villagers brutalized by the Burmese Army.  Burnett’s fiancée, Sarah, makes an appeal to Rambo, but he again refuses.  Burnett’s group believes in nonviolence.  They’re traveling without weapons or additional security.  Odds would be against their survival.

Later that night Sarah speaks to Rambo again.  Burnett’s group is going with or without him.  Against his better judgment, Rambo agrees to take them up river, drop them off and return home.

Not long after, Arthur Marsh informs Rambo that Burnett’s group are held prisoner by Burmese soldiers.  Marsh has hired mercenaries to rescue them.  He wants Rambo to take the mercs up river.

Rambo agrees.  But this time, Rambo’s not just doing a drop off.  This time, he’s going to war.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Rambo’s creator, David Morrell had this to say about the movie: “I’m happy to report that overall I’m pleased. The level of violence might not be for everyone, but it has a serious intent. This is the first time that the tone of my novel FIRST BLOOD has been used in any of the movies. It’s spot-on in terms of how I imagined the character – angry, burned-out, and filled with self-disgust because Rambo hates what he is and yet knows it’s the only thing he does well.”

Rambo, like Rocky Balboa is such a great bookend to its franchise.  While it is true that each had more movies to come, at the time it was thought that each would end the series.

One of my favorite John Rambo scenes is when the river pirates stop the group.  Stallone’s direction, shows Rambo silently assessing the situation.  Rambo determines the greatest dangers and the order he needs to eliminate them.  I also love the scene when Sarah returns in the pouring rain to try to convince Rambo to take them up river.

I know it’s sacrilege, but if push came to shove, I’d pick Rambo over First Blood.

Rambo (2008) rates 5 of 5 stars.