Rambo [Blu-ray]

Rambo [Blu-ray]

Rambo [Blu-ray]

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DVD Cover Information

Actor: Graham McTavish, Julie Benz, Ken Howard, Paul Schulze, Sylvester Stallone
Brand: STALLONE,SYLVESTER
Blu-ray: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.40:1
Running Time: 92 minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: 2008-05-27
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Product features:

Condition: New
Format: Blu-ray
AC-3; Closed-captioned; Color; Dolby; DTS Surround Sound; Special Edition; Subtitled; Widescreen

Movie Reviews of Rambo [Blu-ray]

Movie Review: Rambo (Blu-ray)
Summary: 5 Stars

Movie - 4.5

Prior to viewing this film, it had been almost 15 years since I'd last seen a Rambo movie. I grew up watching First Blood Part II on VHS and it made an everlasting impression on me of what a badass soldier should be -- John Rambo. A decade and a half later, when my mind and tastes are a little more refined, I saw this; the next Rambo movie where Stallone was now in his 60s (can you believe it?). Thank goodness Sly kept himself in great shape because this is easily his most impressive performance of the franchise thus far. Yes, even better than the original First Blood. I say this because there are 3 particular points this movie makes that I feel are quite true today and are a testament to change in general: 1) there are some very evil people in this world. 2) if you're unprepared to reap the whirlwind, don't stick your nose into other people's business and always expect things to work in your favor, be they altruistic intentions or not. And 3) the power to change lies solely in the our own hands, be they for good (liberation of the Burmese) or bad (the horrendous forms of oppression as represented by the dictatorship). One can interpret that the Burmese in this film are portrayed as Nazis. And in an effort to provide aid for struggling villages, a bunch of Christian missionaries come in claiming no life is worth taking, but eventually are forced to reconsider this concept when the odds are turned against them for the worst. Not to say salvation is totally dismissible. But after seeing this film, it strongly reinforces the notion that all lives are not created equal and not all people are good and worth saving. Yes, as horrific as it may seem, people can be complete savages when pushed to their psychological and social limits. In a way, that's how cultures have survived the last few millennia, and that's how we'll continue to survive whether we want to admit it or not. It's a simple, yet very effect message within the narrative, which ties into Rambo's character perfectly. From the very inception of his being in First Blood, he ultimately finds his place in the world and "comes full circle" with what he is -- not quite a man, not quite a killing machine, but a man who has the power to change by putting his life on the line for something he believes in.

Video - 4.5

Lionsgate did a great job. The landscape shots are especially beautiful with lush colors and a degree of vibrancy befitting of Blu-ray. I'm also pleased with how well the cinematography looks. Stallone admits that he was going for a shaky camera look to better reflect the personality and symbolic traits of the Rambo character, which actually hold up very well in terms of sharpness and consistency throughout the film. Black levels remain excellent through all of the day and most nighttime shots, and contrast never appears overblown, nor does color saturation. Image detail and sharpness are particularly high through a lot of the action sequences. There's also a nice layer of film grain to give the film a more gritty and theatrical presentation as well. The only problem I have is during the scenes at the beginning and around the prison break sequences. Blacks don't feel quite as strong as they could've been and some of the shots had quite a bit of noise in them. But most dark/nighttime scenes are like that in a lot of movies anyway, so depending on your preference the video may or may not be considered reference overall.

Audio - 5.0

One thing I love about Lionsgate is that they really go all-out on the audio encoding for their BDs. The DTS-HD 7.1 track really shines in Rambo. You'll also be happy to know that this movie has a lot of gunshots. A majority of the anarchy comes from the left and right (both front and side) speakers with rears providing support for additional effects and music during the more hectic sequences. The sound design itself is very active, showcasing both a well-composed score by Brian Tyler and an equally impressive barrage of noises to give the film a very war-like feel. There are no problems with dropout or loss in quality during any sequence whatsoever, be it the dialogue, sound effects, or music. High and low ends are handled to perfection from the sound of gunshots to the rustling of leaves and the creaking of wood. Separation and directionality are equally distributed throughout all seven speakers with a good majority of it in the sides and rears. But I'd have to say my favorite aspect is in the subtlety of the LFEs. Brian Tyler's score uses some especially drum-heavy pieces during chase sequences, which really immerse the viewer in the gravity of it all. Not to mention bass levels are also very noticeable in conjunction with explosions and the sound of .50 caliber bullets during those scenes. This is easily some of the most reference-quality sound in existence on BD today.

Extras - 4.5

Like a lot of people here in the U.S., I'm very ignorant when it comes to world affairs. I knew Burma was politically and socially messed up, but I had no idea it was still this bad. The little documentary in the special features is very informative, and in fact, detrimental to my overall opinion of the film as a whole. Some people argue this movie as being pro-war, but I think it's just indicative to the philosophy "live for nothing, or die for something." The film commentary and documentary within the specials are very astute in their content, and I highly recommend any fans of the movie give them a try. Oh, and as a film the behind-the-scenes and making of features are also worth a watch. Narrative brevity aside, it's interesting to realize this is still a Hollywood movie and that a lot of physical work was put into its production.

Overall - 5.0

Rambo is a very entertaining and provoking, if not grotesquely accurate war movie. It conveys a message that violence is, in fact a necessary evil at times, and that not all people should be given the benefit of the doubt. No, it's not cruel to think that way, it's a fact of life, and I applaud Stallone for telling it like it is. Lionsgate did a splendid job with the video and audio presentation, and the poignant extra features are very enlightening. This is a must own for any Rambo fan.

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Summary of Rambo [Blu-ray]

The next chapter finds Rambo recruited by missionaries to protect them during a humanitarian aid effort on behalf of the persecuted Karen people of Burma. After the missionaries are taken prisoner by Burmese soldiers, Rambo gets a second impossible job: rescue the missionaries in the midst of a civil war.

If you've been wondering what ever happened to ex?Green Beret superwarrior John Rambo since he singlehandedly shot up a Pacific Northwest town (First Blood, 1982), returned to the jungles of 'Nam to free U.S. POWs held long after war's end (Rambo: First Blood Part II, 1985), and interrupted the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan long enough to blow lots of stuff up and rescue his old commandant from the Reds (Rambo III, 1988), then Rambo (2008) is for you. Without so much as a IV to dilute the brand name, Rambo--which is what most of us called the second, most iconic film in the series--may aspire to open a new era for a pop legend. But it's a thoroughly mechanical attempt to reanimate a franchise that, absent the anger, frustration, and self-loathing of the post-Vietnam years, has no meaning or purpose. For some time now Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) has been putt-putting along the Thai-Burmese border in a longboat, catching exotic snakes to sell. As for the 60-year civil war in Burma between the brutal government and the Karen independence movement, he ignores it. Enter a party of American missionaries whose dewy blond spokeswoman (Dexter's Julie Benz) asks Rambo to haul them upriver so that they can bring medical aid to the insurgents. After the requisite number of monosyllabic refusals, he does. Soon afterward the do-gooders are in a world of hurt, and he's summoned to lead a squad of mercenaries on a rescue mission.

As storytelling, the latest Rambo is the most bare-bones of the bunch. Rambo has little to say, so it's especially galling that Stallone, as director and co-writer, obliges him to have essentially the same conversation at three different points (the final distillation: "Live for nothing or die for something"). The Burmese army goons seem in competition to commit the most hideous atrocity (e.g., child skull-crushing underfoot), the better to justify the eventual, lovingly protracted spectacle of them being eviscerated by high-powered weaponry. Although shot in Thailand, the movie has mostly been photographed in brown, reducing any particular sense of place but, perhaps, perversely increasing our gratitude for the splashes of purple whenever hot metal tatters flesh. --Richard T. Jameson

Beyond Rambo

Complete list of Rambo movies on DVD and Blu-ray
Soundtrack
Rambo: The Complete Collector's Set

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