Most people – critics and fans alike – are united in their opinion that RAMBO III is the weakest of the original trilogy, but having watched it again after a long while I'm not so sure. In fact, I think all films are equally amazing! RAMBO III is the epitome of the '80s US action film, detailing a larger-than-life battling against overwhelming foreign forces and coming out on top. It equals COMMANDO for pure mind-blowing entertainment, and as a guy's film it doesn't let up. The story begins in somewhat cheesy territory as we witness our hero engaging in a brutal stick fight – the kind of tournament battle popularised in the late '80s by Van Damme in BLOODSPORT. From then on in, the plot evolves pretty much as you'd expect, with the exception that Richard Crenna is the hostage this time around – allowing the seasoned actor to get his teeth into a more developed role than in the previous two films. Good call!
From then on in, Rambo makes his way to Afghanistan, where he proceeds to absolutely kick the backsides of the assembled Russian forces there. He joins forces with Afghanistan partisan forces (NOT the Taliban, a common misconception) and stages a stealthy rescue attempt. When that fails, he just loads up and goes on a massive killing spree. It's all good fun, very violent in an '80s way, with a reliance on huge, impressive explosions, and bloody bullet hits as the bad guy soldiers get taken out (but not to pieces – you have to wait until RAMBO (2008) for THAT level of violence). There are also some novelty moments, such as the return of Rambo's bow and exploding arrows, his knife (way bigger than ever before) and a great bit where a bad guy explodes with grenades after getting hanged on the end of a rope – contrived, yes, cheesy, yes, brilliant? Oh YES!
Stallone is a mountain of muscle in this, the toughest looking guy I've ever seen in a film – forget Schwarzenegger. The supporting cast do their jobs without ever setting the screen alight, although the main villain is a little weak after Steven Berkoff in the previous flick. Kurtwood Smith IS in the cast, but he's wasted in a little cameo appearance at the beginning instead of acting as a villain a la ROBOCOP. After the initial half an hour set up, this film really doesn't let up and I was surprised at how many elements are re-used in Stallone's fourth film – Rambo using the gun mounted on the jeep, the village attack, the mortars, etc. Anyway, it's all good fun and effortlessly rewatchable. Check it out!
From then on in, Rambo makes his way to Afghanistan, where he proceeds to absolutely kick the backsides of the assembled Russian forces there. He joins forces with Afghanistan partisan forces (NOT the Taliban, a common misconception) and stages a stealthy rescue attempt. When that fails, he just loads up and goes on a massive killing spree. It's all good fun, very violent in an '80s way, with a reliance on huge, impressive explosions, and bloody bullet hits as the bad guy soldiers get taken out (but not to pieces – you have to wait until RAMBO (2008) for THAT level of violence). There are also some novelty moments, such as the return of Rambo's bow and exploding arrows, his knife (way bigger than ever before) and a great bit where a bad guy explodes with grenades after getting hanged on the end of a rope – contrived, yes, cheesy, yes, brilliant? Oh YES!
Stallone is a mountain of muscle in this, the toughest looking guy I've ever seen in a film – forget Schwarzenegger. The supporting cast do their jobs without ever setting the screen alight, although the main villain is a little weak after Steven Berkoff in the previous flick. Kurtwood Smith IS in the cast, but he's wasted in a little cameo appearance at the beginning instead of acting as a villain a la ROBOCOP. After the initial half an hour set up, this film really doesn't let up and I was surprised at how many elements are re-used in Stallone's fourth film – Rambo using the gun mounted on the jeep, the village attack, the mortars, etc. Anyway, it's all good fun and effortlessly rewatchable. Check it out!