The law of the Rambo films is thus; with each sequel comes less quality. Now that may sound bad. But since I adore 2008's Rambo (the forth entry in the series) you get an idea of how much I love this movie series. Sure, they're not deep and they're not clever...but then...neither am I.
Before I saw Rambo III in the summer of 1988, I predicted it would be shite. In real life the Russian's were withdrawing from Afghanistan and there was a negative behind the scenes buzz connected to Stallone's $80 million investment (the biggest budget film ever at the time). But when I saw it, it blew my danglies off...and it still does.
It looks epic (the budget's up there on screen) and moves like it has an RPG up it's bottom. Stallone no longer plays a character...but an icon...one who wants to kill people with sharp objects. After a slow but steady build up, the massive action sequences are relentless and pulse-pounding...the initial escape from the fort being a favorite.
As usual, Jerry Goldsmith's opratic score lifts this to a whole new level of kick-ass that other action movies can only dream of. And with images like that of a Russian helicopter gunship pursuing Rambo on horseback (all pre-CGI) it makes the movie even more memorable and impressive.
