Rambo

Sylvester Stallone is a special case. He started as an actor in a pornographic film and the professional critique expresses itself about him in the style of "master of monosyllabic sentences" or "master of one expression," but Stallone doesn't mind at all, and neither do his fans. For his work in front of the camera, which I wouldn't call acting, he has received an incredible amount of Golden Raspberries for worst acting performances. He has won it ten times and has been nominated thirty times. Among other things, I think he won one for Rambo 2. He is an honorable holder of the title of Worst Actor of the Century. Even the first Rambo movie is rough in terms of his acting performance, but it was compensated by a relatively decent screenplay that dealt with the post-war syndrome, and several character actors were involved. This Rambo has none of that; it's unnecessary to talk about the screenplay. The acting performances are practically non-existent, and the whole film can be reduced to an endless series of fight scenes in the most fairy-tale-like spirit of action movies. I didn't enjoy this kind of fairy-tale story for adults even when I was fifteen. It lacks even the slightest satire or realism. It's just a celebration of killing. It has relatively decent camera work and editing, so I'll give it one star for that. Overall impression: 15%. This kind of film is interesting more from a sociological point of view. People go to see it for the same reason that viewers once flocked to gladiator matches or why professional boxing or wrestling matches are so popular. It's not worth pondering why such productions have such high ratings and effortlessly defeat Oscar-winning films; it's more proof that any rankings are purely indicative, and one must continuously engage their brain. (10/03/2008)

The hardest action movie of all time delivers incredible brutality, presenting the legendary hero as we have never seen him before: full of sadness, anger, and resignation, only a woman will put him back on his feet and show what he is made of. Stallone knew exactly what to shoot and how to shoot it. The plot is simple, dynamic, and more than enough. The action is balls to the wall, and the fact that they highlight these killings as a result of the war-torn Burma only helps the cause. A film that is unbeatable for fans and a must-see. A success on all fronts for Stallone and confirmation that he is far from finished. And when he stands in a jeep behind an anti-aircraft machine gun, feeding it with fist-sized bullets and firing a salvo, you realise you have never seen anything like it before. So far, the best film of the year. (22/02/2008)

Rambo has returned to his roots, quite literally. I mean it in the sense that Rambo is no longer just a hero mowing down everyone around him, but once again he is the one being chased by his past. He is also being pursued by people who want to ride the river all the way to Burma. Burma is a war zone, Rambo knows that, but there are still those who don't heed his advice. The crew of those who want to help without weapons doesn't end up very well, and the soldiers who later bring him remind him why he actually lives. By the way, doesn't that one mercenary, Okamura, remind you of someone? Realistic, gritty, excellent. I'm quite curious if there will really be a fifth film where this legend could end. (01/12/2013)

It’s been a very, very long time since I regretted that a film about nothing other than killing isn’t longer. The last Rambo is a B-movie with Russian digital effects shrouded in nostalgia that is more physically intense than any megalomaniacal blockbuster by Michael Bay. Two spectacular scenes (the first ascent with a bow, the bomb), perfect genre purity and the character of John Rambo – that’s what it’s all about and it’s more than enough. “Don’t say anything and just go.” Nothing more needs to be said about the closing musical motif by Jerry Goldsmith. Had Stallone added more minutes and developed the characters more, this could have been the best action film of the year. (25/02/2008)

The renowned humanist John Rambo is back with everything that made him famous in his glory days. There are more wrinkles and Rambo is no longer a handsome and brutal killer, but just a brutal killer, yet at the same time everything is compensated by a huge effort to prove that even at the blessed age of 60 a man can be an untouchable action icon. I don't know about you, but for me the 80 minutes full of brisk action, blood and flying limbs, in which the first ten minutes are spent talking and the rest uncompromisingly destroying "unfortunate" enemies, was proof enough. Sly rulez!! (14/08/2012)