Rambo – 2008
**½ Out of ****
Many of our beloved action stars have been headed over-the-hill as of late. But apparently on the other side of that hill is Hollywood, and personally I am quite pleased to see our favourite action heroes back into the fray. From Bruce Willis’ return in last years Live Free or Die Hard, to Harrison Ford’s long overdue resurrection in the upcoming Indiana Jones: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull it seems like down and out is not an option for these rough-and-tumble elite. Of all these born-again heroes no one’s return has been more invigorating than Sylvester Stallone’s. With his rebirth as the Italian Stallion in 2005’s Rocky Balboa, which is the best since the original, we once again have John Rambo to admire. At 62 years of age you have to admire his commitment, and if I look that jacked at his age I’ll be giggling all the way to my grave.
This is the first of the Rambo series to be directed by Stallone, and as we know he is no newcomer behind the camera. He has a flair for producing crisp, well shot pictures, and Rambo is no exception. The problem lies in that the crisp picture being shown is mostly that of blood and guts. While the story is closer to First Blood, it far exceeds the body count of the trilogy combined by my guess. The gratuitous violence instead of warring thin as the picture proceeds actually becomes more warranted. The opening third of the movie comprises of showing the massacres in Burma, and in vivid detail I might add. The movie instructs us that it is here where we can bear witness to the longest running civil war in history. While instructing us of this using such a visual channel is an appropriate way to make an impact, the way in which it is constructed is overdone and sickening.
The first shots of the movie show us actual pictures of the atrocities, and these have the strongest impact. The rest of the opening third gives us morbidly vivid depictions, such as soldiers tossing a baby into a fire, women and children being blown up and raped and the locals being tortured for sport by the militia. It is hypocritical for Stallone to say that the violence should be stopped, and then show it as he does. Yet, you can tell he is passionate about the subject and I give his kudos for that. What is boils down to, is the opening act gives us a platform which warrants and excuses Rambo when he gets on the .50-calibur and blows away an army with bloody precision. The movie is at its best when it is a straight up testosterone fuelled shootout, not a political statement.
We join Rambo in Burma where the veteran now catches snakes and tours the river for a living. He is much aware of the civil war that rages, but he is of the belief that he as one man can do nothing, so he just lives his life. On another ordinary day for Rambo, a group of missionary’s come asking for passage up the Salween River so they can help the victims of the struggle. Rambo is reluctant, but eventually agrees, mostly due to the charm of Sarah Miller played by Julie Benz who travels along with Paul Schulze as the sheltered but passionate Michael Burnett . After the drop-off Rambo returns to his regular duties, until a few weeks later he is visited by Rev. Arthur Marsh (Ken Howard) pleading on behalf of the ill-fated group. He tells Rambo that they have gone missing and he now must take a squad of soldiers for hire up the river as well, who include Matthew Marsden as the ace sniper “Schoolboy” and Graham McTavish as the brash Lewis. As you can imagine, Rambo joins up and this is where the movie takes a turn for the better, and features a furious and entertaining chase scene as well as a bloody battle between a boat and a jeep.
While this movie does not epitomize the series, nor the golden age of the comeback, it serves a visceral thrill and proves that over-the-hill is never over and out. As Rambo puts it heroes never die, they just reload. Indeed.
