30 Years of RAMBO - Fan Discussion

[bigbrocha]

First Blood has so many great lines and the score is also awesome, such a great movie. I'm a big fan of Rambo and I really enjoyed what they did with the last film so I would say First Blood and Rambo are the best two in series.

 

[Solid_Slug]

Now that I think of it, it is funny how both Stallone's muscles and his knife are getting bigger and bigger with each movie (save perhaps the fourth).

 

[MaulFan]

While Sly was not in his prime in Rambo 4, I'd say his overall mass was the biggest I'm the series, and not fan, just bulky muscle and not the 0% body fat tone of 2 and 3.

 

[snoop101]

While Sly was not in his prime in Rambo 4, I'd say his overall mass was the biggest I'm the series, and not fan, just bulky muscle and not the 0% body fat tone of 2 and 3.

No doubt, he had more mass in 4 than he ever had. Though I prefer the more lean "shredded" look he had through out Rocky 3 & 4 and Rambo 2 & 3.

 

[brucecamblzchin]

No doubt, he had more mass in 4 than he ever had. Though I prefer the more lean "shredded" look he had through out Rocky 3 & 4 and Rambo 2 & 3.

'He's mo' shredded than a julienne salad man!'

First Blood is the realness. It's been said already but Rambo and Trautman in the police station at the end? That scene is amazing. I also love RAMBO.

 

[ebor]

First Blood remains one of my favourite films of all time.

I live a hours drive from Hope, BC where they filmed First Blood, they had a celebration this year, however, I was unable to attend.

My HTs Rambo M65 version was my first HT and remains one of my favourites.

 

[King Darkness]

First Blood.

Like Rocky, its got heart.

And like Rocky, the sequels (final installments excluded) where bloated 80's junk. Still enjoyable, but on a totally different level.

 

[MaulFan]

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

Tyler definitely get Stallone and the action genre, I kind of wish we could see him take on Rocky just to see what he'd do. His work on Rambo had me really excited and hoping he'd score Expendables and I'm glad he is because his work on those movies is great too.

As far as how tough Rambo is to watch and the violence, I was nervous in the early production when Sly made comments about trying to compete with audience demand for gore like the Saw movies, I feared he'd do gore just for the sake of gore, but most of the on screen violence was to server a purpose while carrying entertainment. The only over the top gore moment I'd say is his ripping the throat of the one soldier, a bit much. I do also think some of the deleted scenes should have been left in as they really explain and show where Rambo is at internally and make some of the moments that stayed make more sense or more powerful. The director's cut is a nice alternate take, but my ideal version is the theatrical with the deleted scenes just back in.

I do love Sly's commentaries though, he's very good at offering scene specific insight and really adding to the viewing experience unlike some directors who just use it as a couple hours to talk about whatever comes to their mind.

No doubt, he had more mass in 4 than he ever had. Though I prefer the more lean "shredded" look he had through out Rocky 3 & 4 and Rambo 2 & 3.

I just love how powerful he looks standing atop the hill after he's killed the leader of the Burmese army, between his bulk and the machete, it's just a great image, that's why I love the Rambo 4 theatrical poster so much too, they did a great job with that graphic.

First Blood is the realness. It's been said already but Rambo and Trautman in the police station at the end? That scene is amazing. I also love RAMBO.

Trautman is the only thing lacking in Rambo 4, a new performance that is, that I feel it lacks. Richard Crenna's a great actor and his job as Trautman was vital to the series I feel. I'm glad they at least worked his more important pieces of dialogue into the montage dream.

 

[xjamiex]

As much as I love First Blood, my vote goes to Rambo (4). It's just bloody awesome!

 

[brucecamblzchin]

Trautman is the only thing lacking in Rambo 4, a new performance that is, that I feel it lacks. Richard Crenna's a great actor and his job as Trautman was vital to the series I feel. I'm glad they at least worked his more important pieces of dialogue into the montage dream.

'Cubby leader calling raven? Talk to me Johnny!'

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkPUlkcLt-E[/ame]

 

[NAZGUL-KING]

I agree that the score across the series is great, especially in First Blood & Rambo II. There's times when I just don't feel like working out and I throw on the soundtrack for Rambo II and it's like instant motivation. There's just something about Sly's determination in the Rambo movies that I appreciate more than in the Rocky movies. I still get goosebumps when I hear "It's A Long Road".

 

[MaulFan]

Rambo's will to keep going is one of the things I love about the character. I really like in Rambo 3 when the Russians attack the village and he goes running for the big machine gun to take out the helicopter, great music to that scene as well.

 

[NAZGUL-KING]

Rambo's will to keep going is one of the things I love about the character. I really like in Rambo 3 when the Russians attack the village and he goes running for the big machine gun to take out the helicopter, great music to that scene as well.

Yeah, I like the whole lead up while Rambo's playing the game with the goat skin and they keep flashing to the Russian gunship flying through the canyons - really intense.

 

[MaulFan]

That's also another great piece of new music in that movie. I love the line of humor that starts that all.

"God must love crazy people."
"Why?"
"He makes so many of them."

 

[chewblacca]

I agree that the score across the series is great, especially in First Blood & Rambo II. There's times when I just don't feel like working out and I throw on the soundtrack for Rambo II and it's like instant motivation. There's just something about Sly's determination in the Rambo movies that I appreciate more than in the Rocky movies. I still get goosebumps when I hear "It's A Long Road".

The only motivation music better is James Horner's Commando. That thing is pure adrenalin!

 

[Jack D]

Hey guys, great thread.

Rambo is, and has been since I was younger, one of my top favorites characters. While I liked him for the action when I was a kid, I grew to appreciate the character as I got older. There are a lot of deep themes/commentaries throughtout, especially First Blood.

I love all the movies, though like many FB is my favorite. I was seriously impressed with the fourth one, and how there were a lot of nods to the earlier movies. As someone above said, and very appropriately, it came full circle.

First Blood had one of the most realistic hand-to-hand combat scenes I've ever seen in a movie. My father served in VN, with a special operations unit of the USMC, and told me of the mistreatment upon returning home as well as the post-traumatic stress and the difficulty integrating back to regular life. Also, the idea of a former SF soldier having to go rogue is a storyline that I've always found interesting (the Hunted is another movie like this I like). There are actually true life cases of this happening, though the end wasn't as fortunate as Rambo.

Great thread, great movies. It would awesome if HT revisited Rambo and made a definitive figure from all the movies.

 

[karamazov80]

Yeah, HT really needs to revisit Rambo. I thought they were going to do that and Rocky based on one of their polls from a couple years (?) back, but now I'm not so sure. Barney Fife from Expendables may be the only contemporary HT figure they give us of Stallone.

 

[SnakeDoctor]

Yeah, HT really needs to revisit Rambo. I thought they were going to do that and Rocky based on one of their polls from a couple years (?) back, but now I'm not so sure. Barney Fife from Expendables may be the only contemporary HT figure they give us of Stallone.

I was disappointed that they didn't include more Barney Fife in the Expendables. Coulda given Chuck Norris a run for his money.

SnakeDoc

 

[MaulFan]

Yeah, HT really needs to revisit Rambo. I thought they were going to do that and Rocky based on one of their polls from a couple years (?) back, but now I'm not so sure. Barney Fife from Expendables may be the only contemporary HT figure they give us of Stallone.

I'm surprised they haven't announced a new Rambo with Enterbay's being so well received by fans, though many are still waiting to receive him, but HT doesn't like EB getting fan favor.

Speaking of collectibles, for me, the EB Rambo 3 is the coolest one ever made, they did such a fantastic job. For nostalgia, I still really treasure my Coleco Rambo from the old cartoon.

 

[hrambo001]

Great thread!

Like many of you, I grew up watching the Rambo movies.

My first venture into the Rambo world was First Blood Part II. To date it remains one of my all time favorites. The opening sequence with Rambo in prison asking if this time they get to win still resonates.

The score is fantastic and Murdoch remains one of the most hateful characters in the series without ever actually getting his hands dirty!

Rambo was an excellent conclussion to the series.

Moving on to HT, I too am dissapointed. I have Trautman and the original Rambo 2 release. Both are great figures, but it's def. time for an update. I was hoping for a new Rambo II DX and or a Rambo 4 figure, maybe with the 50 cal??