Review:
The ’80s were an interesting time. It was a decade stamped indelibly by both Ronald Reagan and MTV. It was a golden age in film for the ribald comedy and the action movie. What other decade could hold so many genre classics by the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Arnold Schwarzenegger?
Of interest this time is Stallone’s First Blood, directed by Ted Kotcheff and based on the novel by David Morrell. We all know the story by now: John Rambo is haunted by Vietnam and what he was trained to do there during the war. His grasp on the world has been cracking and finally snaps with the treatment he receives from the law enforcement personnel of Hope, Wash.’s, sheriff, Will Teasle (Brian Dennehy).
Teasle sees Rambo walking into town and realizes there might be a problem, so he promptly escorts him out of town. Rambo only wanted a warm meal, though, so he turns around to find one. Teasle arrests him, his men abuse him, and Rambo slips back into Vietnam mode.
While the sequels diminished the series, this first film has a lot going for it. Its subject of the treatment of Vietnam vets is very relevant. It also touches on things now clichéd such as flashbacks of soldiers’ experiences.
Performances are solid among the leads. Dennehy always plays a good villain, and the part of John Rambo plays to Stallone’s strengths as an underdog. Richard Crenna is also quite good as Rambo’s Vietnam-era commander.
Like most good action movies, First Blood doesn’t wear out its welcome with a smartly paced 97 minutes. I viewed the movie on HD DVD from Studio Canal, and while the source material probably could be better, I was pleased with the extra detail afforded in the transfer. First Blood might one day look better, but for now it’s perfectly acceptable.
Even if you only know First Blood by its reputation, you owe it to yourself to see it. With a new movie, John Rambo, in development, you might as well reacquaint yourself with the best film in the series.