Revisiting the iconic Rambo films reveals a striking departure from the original essence that made the series resonate with audiences. The franchise, which began with David Morrell’s novel adaptation, saw its first installment, First Blood, released in 1982 featuring Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo—a Vietnam veteran grappling with PTSD. Following this groundbreaking film, the series expanded with the explosive Rambo: First Blood Part II in 1985, Rambo III in 1988, the 2008 reboot simply titled Rambo, and the 2019 installment Rambo: Last Blood. Unfortunately, each subsequent film escalated in violence and absurdity, transforming Stallone’s complex character into a more cartoonish figure devoid of the original depth.

Related

Rambo’s Sequels Strayed Far From the Original Character of Stallone’s First Blood

The narrative in Rambo: First Blood is a profound character drama that becomes overshadowed by the exaggerated approach in the subsequent films.

Despite its legacy, the Rambo series drifted away from its foundational narrative as it progressed. In First Blood, Rambo is portrayed as a deeply troubled individual, grappling with the traumatic memories of his experiences in Vietnam. However, when we reach Rambo: First Blood Part II, he morphs into a stereotypical action star whose sole lament about the war is his failure to eliminate more Viet Cong soldiers. This character shift not only dilutes Rambo’s original complexity but also escalates in subsequent sequels, where he transitions from a heartbroken veteran to an unyielding champion of violence and nationalism.

The Decline of the Rambo Franchise Post-First Blood

First Blood Established a Benchmark for Character-Driven Action Films

For those familiar with the later, high-octane entries, it’s easy to overlook that First Blood is fundamentally a character-driven narrative. Throughout the film, Rambo is subjected to threats, humiliation, and violence from a local police force, only retaliating when pushed to his limits. Even his acts of vengeance lack glorification or heroism. As noted by filmmaker Quentin Tarantino in his insightful book Cinema Speculation, the film softened the original novel’s tragic ending by sparing Rambo’s life, allowing him a faint glimmer of hope rather than meeting his demise in the battle against law enforcement, as initially intended.

First Blood made Rambo’s character arc more palatable, presenting a slightly more hopeful version of the deeply wounded veteran depicted in Morrell’s novel. However, the subsequent sequels of the Rambo franchise utterly neglected the character’s original motivations, transforming him from a psychologically scarred soldier into a ruthless warrior. In Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rambo’s initial horror at the Vietnam conflict is eclipsed by an urgent need to re-engage in the violence. The later films further trivialize his journey, with Rambo slaughtering countless indistinguishable adversaries while the narrative encourages a disturbing sense of approval from the audience, subduing any critique against the U.S. military or law enforcement in favor of a jingoistic glorification of violence that starkly contradicts First Blood’s critical viewpoint.

How Rambo Became a Cliché After the First Film

Rambo’s Later Installments Abandoned the Franchise’s Meaningful Themes

Initially, First Blood sought to authentically explore the psychological ramifications of war on veterans. However, by the time Rambo: First Blood Part II was released, the series began to take a more commercial route, culminating in the cartoonish Rambo: Force of Freedom. The franchise not only ceased its critical stance on military and police actions but also glorified their most violent aspects in later films, including Rambo: Last Blood. The excessively gory conclusion of this 2019 sequel resembles an R-rated rendition of Home Alone, showcasing how far the Rambo series has strayed from its original direction.

Source: Cinema Speculation (Quentin Tarantino)

First Blood

Cast

Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Brian Dennehy, Bill McKinney, Jack Starrett, Michael Talbott

Director

Ted Kotcheff

Source link