Rambo has become a pop culture standard, but First Blood doesn't really feature the version of Rambo we've all come to know. Here he is an unassuming guy who seems to resist fighting for as long as possible. It is a little unusual that the police are the antagonists from the beginning. While I recognize there are some serious issues with our police in this country, it's far from normal to find a film painting them as the bad guys. The lengths to which these cops go is a little extreme, and makes me wonder how they expected someone to react after being so aggressively abusive to him in ways that are utterly humiliating.
It is interesting that they tie his reaction to all that happens to him back to his experiences in Vietnam. It gives some depth to the character that I didn't expect. I wish Stallone was a little better at portraying some of the emotions involved in that kind of PTSD, but he's not exactly a world-class actor. I did appreciate that the Colonel showed up and filled us in on more of the back-story so we would understand better what these police were facing. The story as a whole is fine, but it isn't one that gave me any major thrills. I was appropriately outraged at the mistreatment of John Rambo, and I was interested enough to keep watching. But strangely, despite how legendary this film and its main character have become, I found First Blood largely forgettable. I doubt I'll recall most details within a few months, but I don't regret watching it.
It is interesting that they tie his reaction to all that happens to him back to his experiences in Vietnam. It gives some depth to the character that I didn't expect. I wish Stallone was a little better at portraying some of the emotions involved in that kind of PTSD, but he's not exactly a world-class actor. I did appreciate that the Colonel showed up and filled us in on more of the back-story so we would understand better what these police were facing. The story as a whole is fine, but it isn't one that gave me any major thrills. I was appropriately outraged at the mistreatment of John Rambo, and I was interested enough to keep watching. But strangely, despite how legendary this film and its main character have become, I found First Blood largely forgettable. I doubt I'll recall most details within a few months, but I don't regret watching it.