30 Years of RAMBO - Fan Discussion

[MaulFan]

October 22, 1982, audiences get their first glimpse of John J. Rambo, the troubled Vietnam veteran struggling to find his place in the world.

30 years later, at least for me, the character, as portrayed by Sylvester Stallone, is still an icon of action films and the movies still some of the best and most entertaining action films around.

I celebrate today because Rambo is y most favorite movie character ever and the films my most favorite.

I have a lot more to say, but I hoped to share the celebration with fellow fans and here some of the stories and things you have to share.

 

[BadMoon]

Man I really liked 3. However, knowing what we know now Rambo helped the Taliban.

I cannot condone such actions and wish he would go back and take care of business.

First Blood for me.

 

[NAZGUL-KING]

October 22, 1982, audiences get their first glimpse of John J. Rambo, the troubled Vietnam veteran struggling to find his place in the world.

30 years later, at least for me, the character, as portrayed by Sylvester Stallone, is still an icon of action films and the movies still some of the best and most entertaining action films around.

I celebrate today because Rambo is y most favorite movie character ever and the films my most favorite.

I have a lot more to say, but I hoped to share the celebration with fellow fans and here some of the stories and things you have to share.

Hard to believe it's been 30 years. First Blood is still my favorite, but I do like the way they ended Rambo and had everythin come full circle. I can still quote the first three movies line for line.

I can remember my first job back in the late eighties we would always use names from The Rambo movies or Predator at the tops of our time cards. It was always hilarious walking up to the time card rack and looking at the names: Gail, Jody, Lonewolf, Raven, Murdock...

And just the random quotes that would get thrown around:

"What's the matter Mitch, don't ya' like water sports?

"Green Berets, those guys are real bad-asses"

"All right who brought the rocket launcher"

Once in a while if it's a more insane day at work than usual I'll still break out the entire "Nothing is over, Nothing. You just don't turn it off..."

Good times.

 

[Desamo]

I like Rambo and First Blood is best one of the series.

 

[karamazov80]

Man I really liked 3. However, knowing what we know now Rambo helped the Taliban.

I cannot condone such actions and wish he would go back and take care of business.

LOL

Unintended consequences Rambo--consider them

 

[BadMoon]

LOL

Unintended consequences Rambo--consider them

He went from full circle back down to 1/4 circle.

That's probably why he was hiding out catching Cobras and it took so damn long for a sequel.

 

[sparkstron73]

Got to be first blood for me.
Way back in 82 or round abouts we got our first vhs videostar video player, without the remote I might say.
No luxury here, but having to press the massive buttons down with force to play or record

Anyway I think we actually hired the machine weekly and the guy that rented also did tapes on a weekly basis.
These were pirated recordings and what was the first tape we borrowed?
First blood.
Watched the tape over and over and even crept downstairs and watched in the wee small hours when everyone was asleep.
Now considering I was about 9 years old, I was very impressionable and probably amazed at my first experience of on demand tv.
This was a factor but definately more to it than that.
Maybe I relate to the loner aspect of the film or I just like to see things get blown up, but everything about that film, especially the soundtrack makes it very rewatchable and engaging everytime

Great film one if not my favourite of all time.
happy 30th john j

 

[Johnny Utah]

My favourite is First Blood Part 2. It would have been sweet if HT did their homework and put up a teaser of their Rambo DX today.

 

[BadMoon]

I think First Blood would have been a way better movie had

Spoiler

Rambo shot himself at the end.

I think it would have had a completely different feel and made the audience feel even more for the hero.

 

[Solid_Slug]

I gave my vote to Rambo (4). First Blood isn't bad, but the way those heads are exploding is just an art

I think Rambo is everything that IMO expendables should have been. Granted that Rambo isn't perfect. It is somewhat black and white and occasionally even silly. There is still something.

 

[BadMoon]

I gave my vote to Rambo (4). First Blood isn't bad, but the way those heads are exploding is just an art

I think Rambo is everything that IMO expendables should have been. Granted that Rambo isn't perfect. It is somewhat black and white and occasionally even silly. There is still something.

I don't know? I think I have to give it to Expendables 2. I thought it was a big improvment over the first one.

 

[MaulFan]

I think First Blood would have been a way better movie had

Spoiler

Rambo shot himself at the end.

I think it would have had a completely different feel and made the audience feel even more for the hero.

I wonder if that ending would have stayed I'm any post-Vietnam time period. Part of the thought behind not using such and ending was fear that it would send a message that such a route was the only escape for troubled vets.

As for the idea of Rambo helping the Taliban, I know that was a considered plot line for Rambo 4 and could have been good if the story dealt with Rambo coming to terms with participation in the events leading to their rise.

 

[snoop101]

First blood will always be my favorite. Mostly everything in the first film is believable, where as the sequels were "Over the top" (pun intended) That's not to say I dont love all of the Rambo films, I just prefer First Blood.

 

[Wor-Gar]

As for the idea of Rambo helping the Taliban, I know that was a considered plot line for Rambo 4 and could have been good if the story dealt with Rambo coming to terms with participation in the events leading to their rise.

That would have been a very good angle for the series to deal with; the idea that we once supported the very enemies we now fight. It is organic to modern American warfare and an ironic nod to the character of Rambo himself in how he got started (First Blood).

 

[desisandy]

First Blood ,i love the raw and realistic action, its in my fav movie list. some of the modern CGI action are laughable cars flipping inches from actors face

 

[BadMoon]

As for the idea of Rambo helping the Taliban, I know that was a considered plot line for Rambo 4 and could have been good if the story dealt with Rambo coming to terms with participation in the events leading to their rise.

That would have been interesting but never would work in our "politcally correct" everybody wins society.

Now that I think about it, whoever he fights, some country or people some where are pissed about it.

 

[Voorhees27]

First Blood for me. Not only that it's one of my all-time favorite movies. The acting, story, score, photography, etc are all excellent.

First Blood
Rambo
FB: Rambo II
Rambo III

Stallones one of the rare cases where an actor has more than one iconic franchise. Rocky & Rambo. Dudes entertained me over the years.

Awesome thread, Sean

 

[sparkstron73]

Thought I'd mention this for people unaware.

NEW RAMBO VIDEO GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://www.sideshowcollectors.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113022

 

[MaulFan]

That would have been interesting but never would work in our "politcally correct" everybody wins society.

Now that I think about it, whoever he fights, some country or people some where are pissed about it.

Stallone's concern was that having Rambo come in and do his thing within a war going on as the film played would belittle the efforts of the real soldiers by pretending the one man army could do what they couldn't, but I think the weight of putting Rambo and the U.S. I'm a situation of consequences could make for powerful film and I'm his old age, Sly could write it.

The score

Jerry Goldsmith was as big a part as Stallone. His music was so spot on for every moment, he knew just what to do.

Like many, I had reservations about Rambo 4 due to Sly's age, but my main concern was Goldsmith not scoring it, I feared that the movie wouldn't feel like part of the franchise. I give HUGE kudos to Brian Tyler, his score wove the classic pieces in perfectly and introduced some amazing new ones that still feel Rambo. His score is actually part of why Rambo's my favorite of the movies, all the best of Goldsmith plus some amazing new stuff like the adagio at the end when he surveys the battlefield.

 

[Voorhees27]

I'm convinced Tyler was a fan of the franchise. I agree, the score was spot on. Rambo is a tough watch but it's also very well made. It didn't rely solely on violence to sell the film. Though there's tons of that too