RAMBO 4 (AKA RAMBO)
Director/writer Sly Stallone returns as RAMBO, a character he’s portrayed 3 other times during the 1980’s big muscle, lets win the Vietnam War THIS WAY type of movie. The first one was great. Second one was action packed and full of cheesy heart. the 3rd was extranious, in a DIE HARD 2 kind of way.
So years later, we are treated with #4. RAMBO is far retired and living in on a river near Burma. He is somehow talked into taking a boatload of missionaries into Burma to bring religion and medicine. Despite his sagelike advice, they go in anyway, and get caught. And guess who gets to get them out???
What this film did right is the camera moves. In parts with extreme violence and exposions (which there are PLENTY of) its all shaky cam. but not to the point of where you cannot see whats going on, ala TRANSFORMERS. You get glimpses of the horrors of war. Violence at its most evil. Stallone looks to be in his prime. He’s tough as shit, brooding and bulky. Fast and mean. Just like an old RAMBO should be.
Where I feel this film fails is its heart. It tries for a message somewhere, but its lost in the action. We don’t get the sence that RAMBO is a soldier without a war. Just a regular guy. If we didn’t already follow his exploits before, we would never know. I would have liked some dialog like “I have no war anymore.” He is always brooding and bitter. Why? He says he hates the world and has nothing in America that interests him. Why is that? Furhter exploration on these points would be nice and give it that heart that made ROCKY BALBOA so successful.
What this film is VIOLENT! Probebly the most violent I’ve ever seen, aside from cartoony splatter punk type of films like DEAD ALIVE. I mean. Saving Private Ryan has nothing on this. Its a hard R. For some sexual assaults, swearing and assloads of decapitations, blood baths and digital blood everywhere. It looks beautiful if you are into that sort of thing. I felt myself at times widening my eyes and going “WHEW!” at some of the things he shows on the screen. Its shocking, but in that good way. so if you are a fan of extreme gory violence, you will enjoy this movie. but you will have to get through 55 minutes of draggy, uninspired scenes to do it.
Its shot well, colors vibrant. Effects and stunts are really nice. and some heart-wrenching torture games played by the Burma soldiers. But it misses the political points it could have made. Plus the ending throws me for a loop. I almost wanted it to continue for another 20 minutes to see what happens after that. It just ends abruptly and really could have been expanded. but in the end, you go to see a RAMBO movie for the violence, and not a dramatic love story. That is ROCKY’s job. RAMBO just kicks ass. And he does plenty of it and its welcome.
GRADE: 4 buckets of blood out of 5
Worth a watch or rental. Isn’t as great as part one, cause its sorely missing its social commentary of post-vietnam drama. But bloody fun nevertheless.
For more from the author ADAM TALLEY, including a look at his independent comic book work, visit http://www.idiothead.com
Raised primarily in central Michigan all his life, Adam is a successful writer, artist and self publisher. He is best known for his comics: PLEASANT LIFE, THE EXPENDABLES, WISE INTELLIGENCE and the upcoming ANNA POCOLYPSE. He also wrote a free online how to book called "IN THE TRENCHES: HOW TO SURVIVE AS A SMALL PRESS COMIC BOOK PUBLISHER." He also has done some pinup work for ANTARCTIC PRESS and logo designs for many other clients. He has been featured on web sites, newspapers, television and magazines talking about his work and travels around the country promoting it. He resides in Southwest Michigan. 
