1h 33m
Director: Ted Kotcheff

This film is the beginning of the Rambo series starring Sylvestor Stallone. It's my favourite of the series because the character John Rambo reads like a normal person and not the super muscular ubermensch that appears to have become very popular in the late 80's.

He's a Vietnam vet. He has PTSD. He's highly trained. A cop hassles him. He goes feral. Entertainment ensues.

Aside from the very serious PTSD side of war, First Blood is an action movie that feels like war might feel before Hollywood got its hands on it.

It's not ostentacious, it's not loud, the protagonist is certainly floored and not perfect as an individual.

As a character, he feels lived in, he feels real, so when a cop starts pushing on him you can empathise with his reaction.

I've noticed that as I've done more reviews I've lurched into trying to describe the plot. Big mistake. If you've seen it you already know the plot and if not then I doubt you want it spoiled before you watch it.

There's some really good helicopter shots, I mean that it's a notoriously difficult vehicle to fly but there are some really nicely framed shots which must have taken some courage to get! (especially in the canyon).

It's a good movie. It's a bit over the top but it does address the issues that someone might face having been plunged into the depths of the Vietnam war. America is quite famous for spending tons of money on military hardware but neglecting their veterans, many of them have ended up as homeless drug addicts.

How is that OK by the way? That a government can assign you to support a supposedly noble cause but end up leaving you living on the streets with drug problems and PTSD? It appears that money has a lot to answer for.

First Blood attempts to cover some of those issues albeit in a sensational way because John Rambo is pitched as a highly trained expert in guerilla warfare.

Although the first time I saw this movie I was fully engaged in John's journey as the film punctuates his violent acts as heroic with music, subsequent watches (as an adult) have you more concerned about the police force, some of whom are untrained volunteers trying to detain someone who's clearly lost his handle on reality.

Give it a go. It's a blast and it sets you up for the much more sensational films in the franchise. It's a classic!



Trailer: