Rambo: First Blood Part II

By: Jack Hunt 12.06.2008

The Movie Itself:
“Rambo, John J. Born 7-6-47 in Bowie, Arizona. Of Indian-German descent. That's a hell of a combination. Joined the army 8-6-64. Accepted special forces, specialization: light weapon, medic, helicopter and language qualified. 59 confirmed kills. Two Silver Stars, four Bronze, four Purple Hearts. Distinguished Service Cross and Medal of Honor. You got around, didn't you? Incredible.”

John Rambo (Stallone) now serving time in a Federal Prison for a crime he almost didn’t commit. When his name is selected for a top-secret mission, to rescue Vietnam POW’s still being held in captivity, Col. Samuel Trautman (Crenna) comes calling. Rambo must return to the same prison camp, now occupied by Vietnamese soldiers and the Russian military, he was held at during the War. Backed only by his friend Trautman and betrayed once again by the Country he gave everything too, Rambo must complete the mission solely on his own.

A very different film than the acclaimed ‘First Blood’; Part II focuses more on the body as a weapon, than the mind as a destructive force. The original developed the character as a troubled, decorated veteran who was searching for his place in a Country that almost wished he never existed. This time around, Rambo is allowed to explore the Vietnam War from a hero’s prospective. Everything is taken to the extreme and that is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say it’s a great thing. Creative ways to exterminate, high body counts and load explosions. Rambo never shows pain or the satisfaction of a reaction, just a look that could cut through steel. And that's what Rambo is all about. He is every man or what every man wants to be. Not simply a hero, but a winner.

“Like you said Colonel, he went home." With this picture, Stallone basically invented the modern Action Hero. Why do you think the 80's were filled with the “blood and guts” routine. Countless spin-offs would try to recapture the glory. All but a few would fail. Stallone teamed up with James Cameron to write the screenplay for Part II and delivered a classic action picture, with smooth direction and most of all character. Part is due to Stallone’s dedication to his well-developed persona. A look at the man himself reveals that Sly is truly ripped for this film. He is lean and cut. At the time, I didn’t think you could fit another muscle on his body. That is until I saw Rambo III.

Being a dedicated Rambo fan for most of my life, I have to say that First Blood is a better and truly great film. With that said, Part II is my favorite of the series and it made Rambo larger than life. Almost 20 years later, I’m still waiting for my ‘Rambo knife’ to come in the mail. Frankly, I don’t think it’s coming. I guess I shouldn’t have tried to pay by sending change?
Rating: 7/10

The Presentation:
‘Rambo: First Blood Part II’ comes to Blu-ray on a jaded, but impressive 1080p~VC-1 transfer. The jungle backdrops have a wonderful high-def feel, while retaining the natural look of the ambience. Colors are relaxed but alive and contrast is consistent. Flesh-tones are the strength in this release. They are natural and consistent; you can feel the tension as clear as the sweat dripping from Stallone’s face. Greens are picture perfect, fire is particularly luminous and hot, water is cool and wet. My only real problem with this transfer is the heaviness feel. The film is very sharp and clean, but a slight haze is evident in most scenes, which clarity suffers from. Most scenes appear lively and fresh, but in several cuts the haze lingers. Check out the ending rampage and you’ll know what I mean. It is particularly vivid and I can’t help but wish the entire film looked that way.

Lionsgate, lossless DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track gets the job done, but is nothing to rave about. Sure, automatic weapons go like pop pop, pop and explosions crash, but it fails to have the room shaking results I desire or so say demand. In all honesty, considering how many times this film has been re-mastered, it hasn’t looked this good in well, ever.
Rating: 6/10

The Extras:
‘Out of the Blu' Trivia Track is an advanced trivia feature of the movie, with informative pop-ups appearing during the flick. Not a bad feature, if you are not accustomed to the series or its actors and has some good inside information. To be honest, it’s not something I would use frequently or ever. The pop-ups themselves are pretty distracting and annoying. They also seem to dull the audio of the BD. Dialogue and action appear slightly muted as the trivia track has priority.

‘We Get To Win This Time’ is a very nice documentary, featuring all the players of the movie. Stallone, Crenna and Cosmatos in particular, deliver details of the development and aftermath of ‘Rambo: First Blood Part II.’ The title plays on one of the most memorable lines of the movie. “Do we get to win this time?”

Also included: Audio Commentary featuring George P. Cosmatos.
Rating: 3/10

Overall:
Rambo: Is it Casablanca? No. Is it Apocalypse Now? No. Is it supposed to be? No. Rambo: Does only one thing. Simply put, kick butt. With a solid transfer at a reasonable price, Rambo: First Blood Part II on Blu-ray remains a fairly nice upgrade over the DVD. Can easily recommend for fans, but for people looking for demo material or a BD packed with extras, you might not get all you hoped for.
Rating: 5.5/10