Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) starring Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Charles Napier, Steven Berkoff, Julia Nickson, Martin Kove directed by George P. Cosmatos Movie Review

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)   4/54/54/54/54/5


Sylvester Stallone in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

Rambo Does More Blood

After being sent to prison for his rampage in the woods John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone - Rocky IV) is given an opportunity to get out when Col. Samuel Trautman (Richard Crenna - Body Heat) approaches him with a mission into Vietnam. There is a strong belief that American PoW's are still being held in the Vietnamese jungle and they want Rambo to do reconnaissance. But in the jungle Rambo's killer instinct surfaces as he sets about rescuing the men he sees being kept captive.

"Rambo: First Blood Part II" is not the only movie to be made during the 80s which ran with the idea of a former Vietnam vet returning on a rescue, one Chuck Norris also appeared in a movie with a similar theme. But "Rambo: First Blood Part II" is without the doubt the best of these movies because firstly it doesn't try to be anything more than it is and secondly it features Stallone in one of his iconic characters. As such what we have is Stallone playing a larger than life action hero, nothing more nothing less and it doesn't disappoint.

Julia Nickson in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

Now in fairness "Rambo: First Blood Part II" is seriously over the top, not so much when it comes to the storyline which to be honest borders on action fantasy but to John Rambo's ability. To not give too much away here we have a man who can end up going through hours of torture and still have enough left him to defeat a couple of armies. It's not just Rambo's ability which is over the top as when a helicopter gets blown out of the sky not everyone dies when it reality they would. But then being outrageous is in truth not a problem because this is simply escapist action with a solitary good guy taking on bad guys and killing as many of them as possible, yes there are a lot of killings in this second Rambo movie.

The thing about all of this is sounds like "Rambo: First Blood Part II" is just a simple action movie and in truth there is no plot complexity although there are a couple of diversions. Yet Sylvester Stallone manages to make John Rambo such a fascinating character as whilst he delivers the action he also plays him strong and silent which makes us want to know what he is thinking. It is such a simple but effective characteristic and makes us think of Rambo as being one step ahead of those he is around. Stallone is not the only good performance and the likes of Julia Nickson, Charles Napier, Steven Berkoff and the returning Richard Crenna all deliver well worked characters.

What this all boils down to is that "Rambo: First Blood Part II" is a very good follow up to "First Blood" giving us some great action escapism whilst also cementing the character of Rambo as the ultimate soldier.


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