Reviewed by Johnny McNair

NOTE: Rambo: First Blood Part II is available on Blu-ray from Lionsgate Home Entertainment individually, or as a part of a box set three-pack that includes First Blood and Rambo III.

Lionsgate Home Entertainment – 95 minutes – 1985 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 2.20:1 – DTS HD 5.1 surround audio

First Blood was a big hit when it was released in 1982 with both audiences and critics, so obviously a sequel was given the green light. The only difference is that whereas First Blood was a drama dealing with the mistreatment of Vietnam vets who are trying to fit back in society, the second Rambo film will be an all out action bonanza. In 1985 Rambo: First Blood Part II was released and commanded the summer, making Sylvester Stallone a bigger star, especially since it made three times more cash at the box office than it’s predecessor. Rambo: First Blood Part II is available on Blu-ray from Lionsgate Home Entertainment, and you can bet that a lot of things will be blown up real good.

THE MOVIE

When we last saw John Rambo in First Blood he was taken into police custody for nearly destroying a small town single-handedly. Rambo: First Blood Part II opens with Rambo (Stallone), in jail banging rocks on a chain gang. His former commanding officer Col. Trautman, (Richard Crenna), pays him a visit to make him an offer he can’t refuse. He is asked to go on a recon mission back to Vietnam to check out a camp where American MIA’s may still be held captive, and if he does it there is the possibility of a Presidential pardon to get him out of jail. Rambo only asks one question, “Do we get to win this time?”

Rambo and Trautman are sent work with a rag-tag military team led by Marshall Murdock (Charles Napier), and before he can even figure things out Rambo is hanging from a plane and parachuting down into the jungles of Vietnam to meet up with his contact Co Bao (Julia Nickson-Soul), a female soldier who will act as his guide to the camp. Rambo makes it to the camp and actually finds a group of POW’s, but when he helps them to escape the camp and makes it to the retraction point, Murdock orders the helicopter to leave them there. The camp was supposed to be empty to prove to special interest groups on Capital Hill that there were no POW’s still in captive. If Rambo had returned with the truth, political heads would roll.

Abandoned, Rambo is held captive and tortured by both Vietnam soldiers, as well as the Russians who work with them. With the help of Co, Rambo escapes the camp and is out for revenge, not only against his captors, but also Murdock for betraying him and leaving him to die. With a crossbow, knife, and a bunch of exploding arrows, Rambo goes ballistic, destroying the enemy and returning the POW’s to American soil.

Keep in mind that this film came out in the mid 80’s when Ronald Reagan was President and the cold war was still intact, so these elements enhanced the success of the Rambo sequel turning it into the Batman of it’s day. Rambo II is a good action film, just as long as you don’t take it too seriously, and avoid connecting it with the superior First Blood. This film was copied and parodied so much in the 80’s, making the character of Rambo known worldwide.

Now it’s odd to look at this film and see Rambo doing superhero feats like leaping twenty feet out of the water to grab a helicopter, burying himself in a wall of mud, and blowing a man up so that only his smoking boots remain. Rambo is Captain America with a crossbow instead of a shield, and a wearing bandana instead of the American flag. Over twenty years later we are still infatuated by John Rambo, because deep inside of us there’s a one-man war waiting to happen. If you’re a fan to the films, Rambo II is a must for your collection.

VIDEO

Rambo: First Blood Part II comes to Blu-ray in full 1080p with a 2.20:1 aspect ratio and it looks good. Whereas the first film was mainly devoid of colors, Rambo II is filled with many colorful scenes, looking very bright. Skin tones do appear to be more on the red side, but it’s nothing that will bother you. For a twenty-three year old film, Rambo II’s transfer has actually stood the test of time.

AUDIO

With a 5.1 DTS HD Master audio mix, Rambo II sounds good, but it’s not as fine tuned as it could have been. There’s a ton of action in the film with explosions, gunshots, battle cries, and soaring helicopters, but at times it sounds as if all the sounds have been piled together instead of separated to enhance each one. Dialogue, what little there is, seems muffled, but Jerry Goldsmith’s score is the high point, making you cheer for Rambo every time his theme pumps out of your speakers.

EXTRAS

The selection of bonus features is small, with the only highlight being the We Get To Win This Time documentary.

Director George P. Cosmatos provides an audio commentary track, but it’s not very interesting. He just rambles on about things that occurred during filming, and dealing with a small budget while trying to make a big action film.

‘We Get to Win This Time’ is short, barely twenty minutes, but is a solid look at the making of Rambo II, featuring interviews with the cast and crew. It’s nothing monumental, but gives you a quick fix.

An ‘Out of the Blu’ trivia track allows you to get behind the scenes facts about the second Rambo film, with information such as James Cameron, the man behind the Terminator and Titanic, co-wrote the screenplay for the movie.

BOTTOM LINE

Rambo: First Blood Part II is a piece of 80’s nostalgia like Miami Vice and Rubick’s cube. If you’re a fan of the Rambo films you’re going to own this Blu-ray, and if you have never seen any of the movies and wondered why they are so popular, it is recommended that you give this a look.

SCORES (out of 5):

The Movie: 3.0

Video: 3.5

Sound: 3.0

Extras: 2.5

Bottom Line: 3.0