Rambo [Blu-ray]

Rambo Blu-ray

Product Description

Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 05/27/2008 Run time: 93 minutes Rating: R

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If youve been wondering what ever happened to exGreen Beret superwarrior John Rambo since he singlehandedly shot up a Pacific Northwest town (First Blood, 1982), returned to the jungles of Nam to free U.S. POWs held long after wars end (Rambo: First Blood Part II, 1985), and interrupted the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan long enough to blow lots of stuff up and rescue his old commandant from the Reds (Rambo III, 1988), then Rambo (2008) is for you. Without so much as a IV to dilute the brand name, Rambo--which is what most of us called the second, most iconic film in the series--may aspire to open a new era for a pop legend. But its a thoroughly mechanical attempt to reanimate a franchise that, absent the anger, frustration, and self-loathing of the post-Vietnam years, has no meaning or purpose. For some time now Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) has been putt-putting along the Thai-Burmese border in a longboat, catching exotic snakes to sell. As for the 60-year civil war in Burma between the brutal government and the Karen independence movement, he ignores it. Enter a party of American missionaries whose dewy blond spokeswoman (Dexters Julie Benz) asks Rambo to haul them upriver so that they can bring medical aid to the insurgents. After the requisite number of monosyllabic refusals, he does. Soon afterward the do-gooders are in a world of hurt, and hes summoned to lead a squad of mercenaries on a rescue mission.

As storytelling, the latest Rambo is the most bare-bones of the bunch. Rambo has little to say, so its especially galling that Stallone, as director and co-writer, obliges him to have essentially the same conversation at three different points (the final distillation: "Live for nothing or die for something"). The Burmese army goons seem in competition to commit the most hideous atrocity (e.g., child skull-crushing underfoot), the better to justify the eventual, lovingly protracted spectacle of them being eviscerated by high-powered weaponry. Although shot in Thailand, the movie has mostly been photographed in brown, reducing any particular sense of place but, perhaps, perversely increasing our gratitude for the splashes of purple whenever hot metal tatters flesh. --Richard T. Jameson

Beyond Rambo

Complete list of Rambo movies on DVD and Blu-ray

Soundtrack

Rambo: The Complete Collectors Set

Stills from Rambo (click for larger image)

Rate Points :4.0
Binding :Blu-ray
Brand :Lions Gate
Label :Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Manufacturer :Lionsgate Home Entertainment
MPN :LGEBR23299
ProductGroup :DVD
Studio :Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Publisher :Lionsgate Home Entertainment
UPC :031398232995
EAN :0031398232995
Price :$39.99USD
Lowest Price :$16.13USD
Customer ReviewsExtreme gore with a serious political point
Rating Point :4 Helpful Point :1
I was shocked by how much I appreciated this movie. Yes, it is extremely, but not excessively gory. The blu-ray version makes the violence even more real. The point of the violence is to show what people in Burma face every day - this isnt overblown, this is a fictional story of real everyday occurrences. The supplements in the film point out that the Burma military government is afraid of the movie and will kill or imprison for life anyone who sells the film in Burma, or will imprison anyone for 10 years who watches the film. They also point out that 1/2 of their national budget is used for weapons - and those weapons are only used against their own people. Rambo does a great job showing the West and rest of the world what innocent men, women, and children are going through in Burma.

Excellent Addition to the Series
Rating Point :4 Helpful Point :1
Despite what you may have heard, John Rambo is still very much alive. Hes battle worn, sick of the world, and "retired" in a village deep in Thailand where he catches snakes, fishes, and sleeps fitful nights. He probably would have lived out his days this way and quietly died years from now with us never hearing from him had not a group of missionaries from Colorado decided that they would go into the worst area of Burma on a humanitarian mission, or had Rambo been able to talk them out of it. But that didnt happen...

And with that set-up, John Rambo is back. I wont recant the plot anymore, suffice to say there is incredible action in this film, just amazing, and if you are like the rest of the population, and Rambo is your kind of American hero, youll follow his every move.

Sylvester Stallone gets some big props here for several reasons. Though you can pretty much guess whats going to happen, it doesnt matter. There are enough surprises, and each individual scene will keep you in your seat. Sly also gets credit for reminding us when he steps up, he can act pretty well. Despite at times being the killing machine you might expect, he does a very good job of the war torn Rambo, and allowing him to be a complex character. The film is also very nice looking, with terrific sound and visual effects, and Brian Tylers score pays good homage to the late Jerry Goldsmith.

There are a few things I had a hard time with though. For taking a step and reminding the world that the regime in Burma (Myanmar) is an oppressive dictatorship, the film may have missed out on showing its complexity and reality. In this film its simply an end of the world war zone of all war zones. Theres a fine line here, and Sly takes the stance showing the worst of the worst of Burma, in a worst case scenario. This would be more believable had the enemy not be partly faceless, and outrageously cruel. These guys are on par with the Nazis and some of the most brutal inhumane people in history. Are the Myanmar (Burmese) military that brutal? Perhaps at times they have been, but Sly doesnt spend any time showing why, or how it got to be this screwed up. It just is. The film is also incredibly violent and brutal. If youre not ready to see some amazingly realistic gore, youre not going to make it through the film. However, if you can stomach it, the film is very real. War battles arent guys getting shot with no blood, and rolling over telling their buddies to say good-bye to mom. They are loud, harsh, terrifying, fast and bloody, and this film is as realistic as it gets in this regard, reflecting that ugliness and brutality. Get ready.

Rambo fans, or really fans of any action film should watch it. Even if you think you might like this film, you should watch it. If you can handle the brutal reality of it, youll find its an excellent addition to the series by Sly and you wont be disappointed.

Better than anticipated
Rating Point :4 Helpful Point :0
Above par action movie. The bad guys are, as usual, really bad. The people to be saved, pure of heart. And John Rambo is pissed. Not a good thing for the bad guys. But the viewers will enjoy. A high gore content to please the video game crowd. An ending could be a sequel or did "Gran Torino" close that option.

GORE!!!
Rating Point :4 Helpful Point :0
Sylvester Stallones "Rambo" has an emotional resonance. Stallone poignantly completes the John Rambo saga. Stallone gets it right. Not to mislead, "Rambo" is brutal and mercilessly violent. Unlike its predecessors "Rambo" is all realistic carnage, surrounding the Karen peoples civil war against the heinous Burmese Regime. Director Stallone reminds us of this with opening images of the enslavement of Karen young men, and the rape and murder of women and children.

Excellent DVD in excellent condition.
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
The DVD was delivered in a timely manner as promised and in the new/excellent condition as advertised. That is all a customer asks for. Thank you.

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