Rambo: First Blood Part II

Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest novels of the century!
Review: Rambo 2 is the startling account of one of the true icons of our culture and his struggle against corruption in the military, the ghosts of his painful past and his longing for true love. The writing here is some of the finest prose written in this century. The words flow effortlessly and carry the reader through every breathtaking moment. Morrell is a genius and this novel should be taught in every college literature program. Morell's writing can be complex at times but several readings will be rewarded with enlightenment and life-changing affirmations. The film is also a masterpiece and Stallone's acting is stellar (why he wasn't nominated for best actor is beyond me) but read the book first! Do not deprive yourself. Read Rambo 2!

Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest novels of the century!
Review: The most dangerous man in the world is back in this novel (and Movie) and this time it's for his country! Co-written by David Morrell (FIRST BLOOD), he intended for Rambo to die in the first book, but Sylvester Stallone liked the character so much that he and James Cameron brought Rambo back for a sequel.

John Rambo is in a Kentucky prison for the bloody one-man war against small town Sherif Teasle. Colonel Trautman offers Rambo's signed release if he agrees to take on what would be a suicide mission for most men. His first objective--penetrate the remembered jungles of Hell (Vietnam), and find the missing Americans who are still being tortured there. His second objective--DON'T rescue them. Only bring back photos. DON'T engage the enemy. DON'T get revenge. For Rambo, the first part is tough. The second, impossible.

But Rambo does agree to the conditions. He goes to Vietnam only to be abandoned by his only means of getting out of Vietnam, who have left on the orders of the Commanding officer Murdock to leave him there to be killed.

But remember, this is Rambo. A killing machine trained by the best to survive in the worst conditions. He decides that if Murdock will back out of his side of the deal, he's going to do the same. Forget taking pictures of the P.O.W. camps. Rambo's going to become a one-man army once again, and is going in to save them....and then he's going after Murdock for abandoning him.

Rating:
Summary: First Blood Part II - The Adventure Continues
Review: The most dangerous man in the world is back in this novel (and Movie) and this time it's for his country! Co-written by David Morrell (FIRST BLOOD), he intended for Rambo to die in the first book, but Sylvester Stallone liked the character so much that he and James Cameron brought Rambo back for a sequel.

John Rambo is in a Kentucky prison for the bloody one-man war against small town Sherif Teasle. Colonel Trautman offers Rambo's signed release if he agrees to take on what would be a suicide mission for most men. His first objective--penetrate the remembered jungles of Hell (Vietnam), and find the missing Americans who are still being tortured there. His second objective--DON'T rescue them. Only bring back photos. DON'T engage the enemy. DON'T get revenge. For Rambo, the first part is tough. The second, impossible.

But Rambo does agree to the conditions. He goes to Vietnam only to be abandoned by his only means of getting out of Vietnam, who have left on the orders of the Commanding officer Murdock to leave him there to be killed.

But remember, this is Rambo. A killing machine trained by the best to survive in the worst conditions. He decides that if Murdock will back out of his side of the deal, he's going to do the same. Forget taking pictures of the P.O.W. camps. Rambo's going to become a one-man army once again, and is going in to save them....and then he's going after Murdock for abandoning him.

Rating:
Summary: A systematic explanation of existential thought
Review: This is a book which takes constant re-reading and reading within context: that is, pick one theme, and read the entire book in search of all Morrell has to say about that theme. This book is completely indispensible to anyone wishing to deal in post-modern philosophy and existentialism: it is a secular philosopher's bible. Dealing in systematic brilliance throughout the experience of life, Morrell delves into psychology and theological ideas while remaining true to his own purely atheistic and philosophical roots.

Dense? Sure... but illuminating examples help to describe the deep thought, almost as parables in the Synoptic Gospels. The crag in the rock, the meeting at the cafe, all these verbal illustrations work into the text very well. Personally, I love the sections on the anguish of man when faced with the facticity of his own freedom. The dualism expressed by Morrell is a theme in philosophy which I usually don't enjoy (like any good post-Hegelian, I enjoy synthesizing opposites), he is able to pull it off with ease and magnificence. Though it is not as eloquent as the existentialism expressed by Albert Camus, it is every bit as enlightening and valuable.

Most people object to its density because they are used to the existential wanderings of the modern novel - Camus' The Stranger, or Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment - but this is the philosophical reflection of the situation of man expressed by such work. Morrell states early on that he is not performing an objective analysis of humankind, but rather a biased and understandably nuanced description of ontology from the perspective of the modern man.

Brilliant and exciting, Rambo : First Blood Part II is an essential part of anyone philosopher's bookshelf!