First Blood

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Brian Dennehy
Directed by: Ted Kotcheff
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Action
1982

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Vietnam War vet John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) finds trouble in a small American town in the form of a violent sheriff (Brian Dennehy), who unknowingly opens a can of worms when he launches a manhunt after the former Green Beret.

Review:

Tim: I figured this would be a good movie, but it was still even better than I expected. This is an action movie that doesn't act like an action movie (thankfully), it strives to be equally as dramatic as action-packed.

Watching this film makes me mourn for Sylvester Stallone's career. He really fizzled out. Here, he is outstanding. I was so impressed with his quiet manner and his battle-weary appearance. Looking at Stallone's eyes, I completely and totally believed him in the part. He thoroughly impressed me, and I really enjoyed him in this role.

First Blood is so appealing because you take a killing machine like John Rambo and you drop him in small town America. Throw in a sheriff picking for a fight, and then watch the fireworks as Rambo fights for his survival. From the woods to the climactic finale in the downtown area, watching ordinary cops trying to arrest a destructive force like Rambo is just good film viewing.

If you're going to see only one Stallone movie, make it Rocky. But, if you can see two, then First Blood is definitely the next on the list. This movie is very, very good and highly entertaining. The subsequent sequels are subpar, but everything came together and this is one solid film from start to finish. First Blood has a good mix of drama and action, and you will enjoy it.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rambo III