Rambo: First Blood Part II (DVD)

In the sequel obsessed 80s, the success of First Blood meant that Part II was inevitable. Also in the fine tradition of 80s sequels, Part II chose to ignore all the elements which had made the original successful and simply make things more expensive and louder. First Blood Part II was a disappointment on release and has aged badly. Whereas First Blood was a fairly small affair and had a gritty, slightly realistic feel to it, Part II is painted on a much wider canvas, with bigger locations, bigger battles and more spectacular set-pieces. The "plot" (if it can be called such) is pretty minimalist. Rambo is released from prison to undertake ...  Read the complete review

Yes, it’s a piece of spurious, badly-acted, virulently racist nonsense, with a staggeringly poor charisma-free central performance from Stallone, and cack-handed direction from George Pan Cosmatos. But you really ought to have seen it by now. And here’s for why: 1) Learn that all gods have feet of clay ‘Titanic’ was soggy and ‘True Lies’ just went off half-cocked and never quite achieved its parodic objectives, but they were obviously poor films made by a great filmmaker. But sandwiched solidly in between ‘The Terminator’ and ‘Aliens’, the two greatest sci-fi and action films of the eighties, ...  Read the complete review

Being the avid Stallone fan that I am I guess I should really like his second outing as Rambo, but the truth is I don't, and never have done. This is trash cinema at its most trashiest, and not even in a "So bad it's good" sense either; Rambo First Blood Part II, in all honesty, is a truly awful, awful film. The story picks up a year or so after First Blood. The former Green Beret is given a choice by his visiting mentor Col. Trautman (Richard Crenna): to stay in the prison and serve his time, or be assigned to a special mission on familiar grounds in Vietnam, which involves tracking down any possible American P.O.W.'s that have been missing in ...  Read the complete review

The summary pretty much sums it all up. This is nowhere near as good as the original. With a script co-written by both Stallone and James Cameron (at the same time he was also writing Aliens). Most of the action was written by Cameron and the political aspects were written by Stallone. Sly was in the best condition physically as he was making this and Rocky 4 and he does look in great shape or jacked up to the eyeballs on steroids, depending on your own viewpoint or opinion. Rambo starts off in prison and is visited by Colonel Trautman who asks him to go on a special mission that could earn him a Presidential pardon. He eventually agrees and goes ...  Read the complete review

Directors: George P. Cosmatos and Sylvester Stallone. Producer: Buzz Feitshans Writers: David Morrell, Kevin Jarre, James Cameron and Sylvester Stallone. Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Charles Napier, Steven Berkoff and Julia Nickson-soul. This second in the package of Rambo movies was released in 1985 in the hope of being as successful as the first. **BRIFE PLOT** Following on from the chaos and mayhem of 'Rambo...first blood' John Rambo, (again played by the heavily muscled and toned Sylvester Stallone) is serving his time for the assaults, (and utter humiliation) of several state troopers. He is offered ...  Read the complete review