The title "First Blood Part II" is kind of stupid. So it's a good thing that the second Rambo film is also significantly less challenging than its predecessor. Here, the PTSD-stricken and socially disregarded ex-soldier becomes the one-man army the character is known for today.
At the beginning of the film, John Rambo is still in a prison after the events of the first one. But it just takes a couple of minutes until Richard Crenna's Colonel Trautman gets him out of there. The plot then quickly shifts to Vietnam, where apparently there are still some US prisoners of war trapped years after the end of the conflict. Rambo, who escaped from a POW camp while he was still active, is sent to investigate. Marshall Murdock (Charles Napier), a greasy bureaucrat, is in command of the mission. Martin Kove, known from the Karate Kid series, also appears.
And already in this introduction, it becomes clear that a black and white picture of the world is being drawn. The good guys are the soldiers who actually risk their lives in action. The bad guys, on the other hand, are faceless politicians, as well as bureaucrats and foreigners. In contrast to the first film, Rambo kills numerous opponents who remain nameless. You don't get to know their motivations and backgrounds.
That all sounds quite negative, but of course, there are also very good sides to "Rambo II". The action is great across the board. This is a real blockbuster. One explosion chases the next—and everything looks spectacular. This is accompanied by Jerry Goldsmith's driving score. You definitely won't be bored. When the film comes to its admittedly expected end, you are probably already looking forward to the next one.
Review by ToralfVIP 3BlockedParent2022-10-22T16:19:57Z
The title "First Blood Part II" is kind of stupid. So it's a good thing that the second Rambo film is also significantly less challenging than its predecessor. Here, the PTSD-stricken and socially disregarded ex-soldier becomes the one-man army the character is known for today.
At the beginning of the film, John Rambo is still in a prison after the events of the first one. But it just takes a couple of minutes until Richard Crenna's Colonel Trautman gets him out of there. The plot then quickly shifts to Vietnam, where apparently there are still some US prisoners of war trapped years after the end of the conflict. Rambo, who escaped from a POW camp while he was still active, is sent to investigate. Marshall Murdock (Charles Napier), a greasy bureaucrat, is in command of the mission. Martin Kove, known from the Karate Kid series, also appears.
And already in this introduction, it becomes clear that a black and white picture of the world is being drawn. The good guys are the soldiers who actually risk their lives in action. The bad guys, on the other hand, are faceless politicians, as well as bureaucrats and foreigners. In contrast to the first film, Rambo kills numerous opponents who remain nameless. You don't get to know their motivations and backgrounds.
That all sounds quite negative, but of course, there are also very good sides to "Rambo II". The action is great across the board. This is a real blockbuster. One explosion chases the next—and everything looks spectacular. This is accompanied by Jerry Goldsmith's driving score. You definitely won't be bored. When the film comes to its admittedly expected end, you are probably already looking forward to the next one.