Rambo [Blu-ray]

I must admit, that as of recent I have enjoyed current mainstream movies regardless if they are released to the theater or directly to video so I can abase them. In other words, I truly find pleasure in ripping movies apart. It has been my perception, my perception, that about 70% of movies made in the past 5 to 6 years are horrid. One might ask why I feel this way, well it is rather simple. Most movies are a plug in for a new phone, car or maybe to promote a soundtrack. These movies also rely more on special effects and visual stimulation, where acting, directing and story take the backseat. Therefore, movies (for the most part) in modern times are nothing more than a 90 to 100 minute commercial. Then of course there are the movies that are so over the top they are just down right silly. This is the perception I had when I saw the trailer for "Rambo" (it was titled "John Rambo" when I first viewed it on the internet). I thought, "What the hell is Stallone thinking"? I didn't see the most recent "Rocky", but I heard it wasn't any good. I didn't really care too much about the quality of a new "Rocky" movie, but I felt like there was nothing else to do and all doors were closed when "Rocky 5" was made. Why was Stallone going back to Rocky? Was there a point to it? Now he is going to make another Rambo movie, why? Both these characters whose names start with "R" make a return after not being seen for almost 20 years? I digress to the trailer for Rambo I saw on the internet. I was laughing so hard I couldn't take it. The way this movie was presented was comical. I had said to my brother and some friends, "I can't wait to see this movie, I need a good laugh". Then the day came, it was a work night (the same as a school night, but you go to work early the next day instead of school) and I went to a 9:40pm showing with my brother and two of our friends. I was so pumped and all four of us were ready to laugh very hard. As a side note, this is the first time I had been in a movie theater to watch a new release in a very long time. We watched and we absorbed this movie and when the end credits rolled and the lights came back on in the theater we were speechless. I thought this was the first wonderful and moving film I had seen in a long time. (So did everyone else in my view party.) I couldn't believe it. I have seen all the other Rambo films and yes they were entertaining, but I wouldn't say they were deep or compelling pieces of cinema. This new Rambo movie had something to say. It followed a different format, it seemed more dramatic and the violence (there was plenty of it) was brutal and candid. When I say candid, I mean that many of things that happened in this movie, happens in the real world. The plot of this film is rather simple, Rambo now lives in Southeastern Asia near Burma and some American humanitarians need a guide and ride by boat to provide health care, food and education to the poor people in the area. They find John Rambo and after some persuasions from a female team member (Julie Benz) Rambo signs on. Consequently, there is a large militant and fundamental group that has nothing better to do than torture and massacre the less fortunate people in their country. It doesn't take a wizard to figure out what happens next, Rambo, guns, violence, death, and blah, blah, blah. However, the violence doesn't seem to be moot or without justification if that makes sense. The best comparison I can make is to "Saving Private Ryan", the violence in that film was graphic and at times over the top, but made a point to portray the reality that was World War 2. "Rambo" has the exact type of feel to it with respect to violence being graphic, over the top and making a point. Mind you I am not saying that "Rambo is a better film or as good as "Saving Private Ryan", but it was used more as a frame of reference. Oddly enough, "Saving Private Ryan" came out in 1998 and "Rambo" came out ten years later (2008), perhaps in 2018 there will be another violent film with a message. Stallone did a good job too in this film he gave a rather minimal performance, not much dialogue but did display a level of dichotomy towards his emotions to events in the plot. I felt the story was also simplistic, but it worked, the movie didn't need a multi-leveled storyline. I also felt the direction of the film was very good too; by the way Sly wrote and directed this movie. "Rambo" was a motion picture that stirred myriad thoughts in my head when it was over. It made me think how revolting and disgusting it is that there are still countries in the world that can't get health care or are being "controlled" and/or restricted to certain living conditions by a dictatorship or totalitarian government that results to violence or casualties of human lives. It also made me think how insane it is that U.S. presidential candidates are able to raise thousands, if not millions, of dollars for their campaigns, but when they get into office, it then becomes difficult to "raise" money for the things they promised before they were the incumbent. Then I thought about how everyone wants to go "green" and save the environment, yet it costs more money and there is less tax breaks to "go green". Not to mention Earth Day is only one day a year, rather than year long recognition. What about relying on fossil fuel when there are other forms of fuel for our cars/machines? Or that many people are more up to date with Reality Television than what is going on in the world. In conclusion, I am not sure this was Sylvester Stallone's intention to stir the pot of modern social sciences or in my case promote schizophrenia when making this movie. However, I felt this film didn't pull any punches and says a lot about the world we live in, on many levels. I recommend this film to anyone who wants an eye opening experience. This is a lot coming from a person who thought this movie was going to be the number one unintentional comedy of 2008 and now believes it was one of the best movies made in a very long time.

Edit: Now that the fifth film is out, I wanted to say this one sticks out even more. It really is the perfect Rambo film after the first one. Highly underrated. Well, Rambo is visual poetry on many levels. A lot of great shots of the land, politics, and violence amid a few positive intonations that showcase the humid and intoxicating setting in very natural tones. Many people just don't seem to get these kinds of films. This isn't Shakespeare per se, and it doesn't want to be, but there was plenty of violence in Shakespeare obviously. This is an action film through and through. You are into the film as if you are one with the surroundings and story. There is battle and gore. The good guys mostly win. Few films do this as well as Rambo. Pump up the volume and watch the Bluray or UHD on a big screen. The dialogue is quite honestly surprisingly good and better than Rocky Balboa imho. A few lines might call out to people, some of the acting is average at times but never bad, and the integrity of a ferociously moody plotline never lets any faults get in the way. This, I'm happy to say, is a film that pretty much sets a new benchmark for action films. It's got a little bit of everything in it and almost always plays to its strengths. Rambo is the best ending a franchise needed or wanted, and yet they still made another one after it. Now about this extended edition. It cuts some violence that didn't need to be cut. It adds some things that may not need to be there. Basically it rearranges a few random things. For what reason I don't know. The UHD version includes both cuts, but both are noticeably different and feature cooler color temps than the Bluray theatrical version. Some viewers might actually prefer the warmer colors of the Bluray presentation, which to my eyes has a very high bitrate and is a near perfect transfer itself. I know I will not be selling mine, as the UHD has very little extra detail, though, it does offer a very nice Atmos soundtrack. I for one do not understand where they sourced the UHD. It's adds almost nothing above 1080p detail and very much changes the color timing, which makes for a different experience. The UHD includes the extended cut as well. There are a ton of extras to view about the making of the film, and Stallone has commentary on the UHD. It's up to you, but for my money I will take the theatrical cut and the Bluray as the best version of the film. To my eyes the warmer color timing is better than the UHD, but I also have the UHD if I want to test out the Atmos. Either or you are getting one of the best action films made in the last couple decades.

It's a good movie

This review is about the Blu-ray "Rambo (Special Edition)", ASIN B0015XHP2W. Very low quality case, arrived broken, front almost separated from back. The movie itself is great, much better than Rambo Last Blood, and in my opinion the best of all 5 Rambo movies. On amazon.pl the audio and subtitle info is missing, so there it is: Audio: English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio Subtitles: English, Spanish

Super

Todo se ve brutal y más el sonido que se escucha brutal.

Rambo The Fight Continues is by far the best Rambo movie yet. Once the action starts it gets very graphic and bloody and it shocked me at times but I still loved every minute of it. Once the action starts it does not stop until the end. The audio on the 4K disc is in Dolby Atmos and on the Blu-Ray it’s a 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and they rock! The movie comes with the Theatrical and Extended versions of the film on the 4K disc and the extended version is available on the Blu-ray. This is by far the absolute best Rambo movie yet and I give it a 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a 2 very enthusiastic thumbs up.

Superb movie with lots of action....love to watch again And again .......must have in your collection..