"First Blood" is the only "Rambo" film that warrants genuine attention. The Vietnam War was hardly a distant memory when this film was made. Its message of social isolation and alienation from mainstream society, combined with conflict trauma that makes moving on difficult to impossible, no doubt resonates with veterans of that unpopular war. This is a surprisingly sophisticated action film when viewed from this p…

It makes me wonder if the intention was for Rambo to be of Native American heritage, or at least have some connection to that background. Regardless, this film is quite different from the later installments. The premise centers on a community attempting to intimidate a Vietnam veteran, only to find themselves facing unexpected consequences. It felt more substantial, with richer characters and a stronger narrative…

The film follows Sylvester Stallone as "John Rambo," a Vietnam War veteran who discovers that his last surviving comrade from their special forces unit has passed away due to cancer. He’s drifting around, seemingly looking for something simple like a cheeseburger, when the sheriff, "Will Teasle" (Brian Dennehy), runs him out of town, misinterpreting him as someone without a place to belong. An attempt to return resul…

A truly exceptional action/adventure film centers on John Rambo (played by Sylvester Stallone), a Vietnam veteran searching for an old friend in a Rocky Mountain town. He discovers his friend passed away the previous summer because of Agent Orange exposure. The local sheriff (Brian Dennehy) attempts to convince Rambo to leave, which leads to his arrest—a decision that proves to be ill-advised, as Rambo is a former Gr…

It’s unfortunate for everyone involved, Rambo. That period is behind us now. First Blood features direction by Ted Kotcheff and a screenplay adapted by Michael Kozoll, William Sackheim, and Sylvester Stallone from the novel by David Morrell. The cast includes Stallone, Brian Dennehy, Richard Crenna, Bill McKinney, and Jack Starrett. Andrew Laszlo handled the cinematography, with Jerry Goldsmith composing the music…