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Rambo III

Rambo III

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: This time Rambo goes to the Soviet Union's "Vietnam"
Review: Having been betrayed by his government a couple of times too often, John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) needed a better motive to leap back into action for "Rambo III." This is provided when Colonel Samuel Trautman (Richard Crenna) goes off to Afghanistan to help the Mujahedeen rebels fight the Soviet invaders only to be captured by Colonel Zaysen (Marc de Jonge). Rambo, who had refused to go with Trautman because he is in Thailand becoming a Buddhist, now heads for Afghanistan on an unauthorized rescue mission.

"Rambo III" has the formula down, which is a way of saying the plot is totally predictable and an excuse for a whole lot of explosions. Rambo is the most buffed up Buddhist the world has ever seen and I have a minor theory that he has the whole Sampson thing going with his hair getting longer in each movie. This 1988 film was not only the most expensive film ever made when it was released (a whopping $63 million in those pre-"Titanic" days), but made it into the "Guiness Book of World Records" as the most violent film ever made with a grand total of 221 acts of violence and over 108 deaths (it must be the former number that is important because a whole lot of nukes go off at the end of "Dr. Strangelove" and the entire planet exploded at the end of "Beneath the Planet of the Apes").

Once again, the political dimensions of a "Rambo" film came into play, with the series shifting to Afghanistan, which was being called the Soviet Union's Vietnam, a metaphor that actually turned out to be more than wishful thinking. True, the Mujahedeen of yesterday became the Taliban down the road, but I still remember when the American public applauded the idea that the Shah of Iran had been deposed and replaced by the Ayatollah Khomeni. But in 1988 "Rambo III" was considered an exercise in freedom fighting and the Soviet Union was still the Evil Empire.

The obvious analog to "Rambo III" is "Rocky IV," in which Stallone continues to explore American-Soviet relationships. However, today "Rambo III" has been stripped of its politics and reduced to a non-stop action film. If there was some creativity to go along with the violence, as in the forest sequence in the original "First Blood," then this film would be able to rise about the level of cartoon violence, but that is not the case.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wow
Review: I cried so ahrd in this movi, once again stallone's acting is incredible and is greta. I need to hold my mummy when I see this moooovie.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: An Interesting Dedication
Review: I just thought people should know that this film is dedicated to the "dedicated to the gallant people of Afghanistan". Amazing isn't it?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: great action film
Review: I know many hate this film, but i don't understand why?, it delivered what it promised "non-stop action" i don't know what people were expecting? i mean lets face it, it may not have the emotional depth that part II had but it definately plays on the political atmosphere that was occurring at the time (1988) the invasion of Afganistan by the Soviets who pulled out right at the time of this films release, i think to much hype ruined this film's potential to be entertaining pretty much the same way hype ruined "The Phantom Menace" potential to be entertaining, i don't know why hype ever gives people the impression that is might be the second coming or somthing, just enjoy this for what it is "escapist entertainment".

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: misplaced paean to the Taliban
Review: I really do love Rambo, America's archetypal outcast warrior! I've watched "First Blood" 1 and 2 probably a hundred times. But I hated "Rambo lll" right from the start. Its Wahabbist propaganda was merely ignorant back then, but in the wake of 11-September, utterly appalling now. It's impossible to watch the film without gasping in disbelief at the political lunacy of those days. Still, our tormented hero might be forgiven his misplaced zeal. Obviously Troutman never showed him any photos of 19-year-old Soviet conscripts dismembered and skinned alive, or of Afghan civilians murdered by the mostly foreign mujahedin who would eventually comprise the ruling Taliban. There aren't any female characters in the film. Even so, Rambo couldn't have foreseen that Afghan women under Wahabbist oppression would soon come to call themselves the "living dead". Particularly bizarre now is the scene in which Rambo gives a child-guerrilla his Buddha necklace. Ignore the fact that a devout Muslim would neither want nor wear an infidel image. And forget that the casually discarded pendent was Rambo's only memento of the brave Vietnamese girl who had died saving his life in "First Blood ll". Only remember for a moment the Bamiyam Buddhas, priceless ancient treasures blasted to smithereens by Taliban decree. Thanks to real-life Troutmans and the CIA, plentiful US funds, weapons, and training turned Afghanistan into Soviet Vietnam and propelled the rise of a certain young Saudi exile from mujahedin commando to terrorist mastermind. Meanwhile, real-life American Vietnam vets and their Soviet "afgantsi" counterparts have established international support groups. In the final irony, America now seeks Russian advice in combatting Rambo's erstwhile allies. This film's single star is justified only by its exploitation of Stallone's fabulous physique. Rumor has it Sly is considering reprising his famous heroic role. I hope so! Maybe the aging but always awesome Rambo, outraged by his former friends' fiendishness, will return to the caves of Afghanistan to kick some Al-Quaida butt! It could be called "First Blood lV: Rambo's Redemption".

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Awesome!
Review: I thought this one was great. To all who say "well this is dedicated to Afghanistan!" This was before the Taliban. Afghanistan was in trouble, and of course the US helped. This movie is filled with suspence, action, sadness, happieness, and everything else the others had jsut as much. It is an excenllent movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: mr rambo himself
Review: I was watching this movie with my girlfriend she is a model for Bloomingdales store - well what i wanna say is r rated, but here it goes,we were watching Rambo and she's got very excited I don't wanna use h word and you know... Thank you Rambo and Trautman you really save the day, because of Rambo I had an amazing 20 minutes... This movie must have by every young couple if you know what I mean. One thumb up, well I'm not sure if it will be up at least for a couple of days.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: RAMBO RIDES WITH THE TALIBAN!!! SEND HIM TO CUBA!
Review: IMAGINE REAGAN GIVING ALL THOSE TALIBAN NUT CASES ROCKETS TO SHOOT AT US 20 YEARS+ LATER...

EMBARRASSING!

IT'S ALMOST COMICAL TO SEE THE TALIBAN DISPLAYED AS HERO'S RIDING ALONG WITH RAMBO, WHEN NOW WE GET NON STOP EVIL DOER TALK ABOUT THEM.

OOOOPS, TODAY RAMBO WOULD BE SENT TO CUBA FOR BEING A TRAITOR.

THE MOVIE IS GOOD THOUGH, CHECK IT OUT LOTS OF GOOD ACTION, CEPT RAMBO IS NOW A TRAITOR...

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The Action Continues.
Review: In FIRST BLOOD, Rambo was fighting for his personal freedom against a ruthless cop. In RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD II, Rambo redeemed himself and his country by returning to Vietnam to rescue imprisoned American POW's. The Vietcong in the film were backed and financed by Communist Russia, foreshadowing events to come in RAMBO III. In this movie, Rambo's mentor Colonel Trautman (Richard Crenna) is taken prisoner in Afganistan while assisting the Afganian rebels against the invading Soviet forces. Rambo comes "out of retirement" from working in a Buddahist commune to rescue his old friend and teacher. In the process he becomes friends with the Afganian people and ends up kicking the tar out of the Soviet military.

There are a lot of inaccurate depictions in RAMBO III. However, the Rambo films aren't about staying true to truth and reality (well, FIRST BLOOD is an exception). They are about a new modern American superhero; a guy who is invincible, a one-man army who gets to blow lots of things up, kill lots of bad guys, all for the sake of truth, justice, and the American way.

I admit the film seems totally different since September 11, 2001. However, that makes the movie a little more interesting to watch. The past, including dated movies, can teach us a great deal.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: 80's Action Classic with Current Times Twist
Review: It seems America needs the help of John Rambo one more time as he treks out to the rugged mountains of Afghanistan to save his friend. This movie is packed with action straight from the beginning until the end!

Starting off in the Orient where Rambo seeks to find inner peace by living with Buddhist monks and making some extra money by stick fighting locals. All is well until old pal, Col. Trautman and his CIA friend show up to persuade John to help them funnel arms to the Afghan freedom fighters, (who at the time were fighting the Red army). Rambo quickly declines the offer (Even after seeing some persuading pictures of maimed Afghan children) claiming his war is over.

Dissapointed, Col. Trautman leaves on a solo mission with a convoy of Afghan and American fighters to end up being caught by a ruthless Russian commander who tortures him, and Afghan men and women prisoners day and night.

Rambo learns of the news and now is forced to back to the war he didn't want to fight to save his friend. Along the way, he makes Afghan friends and saves the day by almost single handedly taking out a whole Russian battalion including Spetnaz commandos.

The story is straight out of a comic book, but this movie was made to please one market. Die-Hard Action fans like me who just love to see a one man army take on overwhelming odds, kick enormous butt, and live to tell about it.

On a Sidenote:

In the end of the movie, a message gives thanks to: "The Gallant People of Afghanistan." Which is the least the makers of this film could do since during the whole movie, Rambo is depicted as the man who turned the tide. Anyone who doesn't know yet, the Afghan/Russian war was solely fought with Afghan blood, but with our gold.

In ways Afghans and Rambo are alike. Both were given covert help by the CIA, both were lied to, and both were left to die. Now again USA is helping Afghan freedom fighters to topple the evil Taleban and Al Qaeda, but this time they want in the action.

Rumours of Rambo IV are everywhere and there are claims that Stallone is writing a screenplay as we speak. If it's true, let's hope this trilogy wraps up with a bang!


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