First Blood

Today's rewatch wasn't my first, of course, but I felt it was time to jot down my thoughts on the movie. Well, I have to admit that the film still resonates with me after all these years. It's got well-executed action, suspense, and that gloomy atmosphere. However, now that I'm not twelve anymore, I couldn't overlook what was, and I think still is, its main message. When a country sends its soldiers into a war conflict that ends in defeat, these soldiers become, in a way, unwanted upon their return, serving as a reminder of that loss. The United States essentially cast aside the Vietnamese veterans, and I'm not just talking about the politicians. Many of these guys were sent to a place they didn't want to be, to do things they didn't want to do, and upon their return (if they returned), they often believed that human life, including their own, had little value. Instead of help, they found everyone turning their backs on them. This movie highlighted that stark reality. / Lesson learned: When someone points "the pig" at you, it may not be as funny as it sounds. (13/11/2022)

Rambo is not about nostalgia! Even after more than 20 years, it's still an alarming reflection of the times and one that makes the absolute most of the Vietnam syndrome. Although Rambo is one of the model pillars of 1980s action movies, the film stands out for its surprisingly intelligent plot and believable action sequences that are a joy to watch. Stallone earns points for his acting and his minimalist facial expressions fit the role of a war-torn veteran. And when he laments the losses of the war at the end, the audience’s emotions are at full attention. "They drew first blood, not me!" (04/09/2007)

A great show throughout, except for the ending when Sly flexes his musculature, machine gun in hand, giving a hint of what's to come in the following episodes. Otherwise, Stallone is very believable, and in the moments when he wages his uneven guerrilla war hidden somewhere in the woods, it’s impossible not to root for him. (28/09/2003)

Today this film is an action classic, but it failed to dazzle me enough to draw me into the plot. And that's despite the well crafted and brisk screenplay and the great Sylvester Stallone, whose role as a retired war hero fighting against a handful of lawmen deserves nothing but thumbs up and admiration for his successful traps. But when the film leaves the dark and suspenseful environment of the woods and Rambo isn't hiding behind a tree with his hunting knife, it's not that good and the ending didn't feel very spectacular or original. In any case, there is almost no boredom and the action is more than satisfying, so 80%. (15/06/2011)

Where the John Rambo sequels degenerated into crystalized totally uninventive B-movies where the fearless American hero takes out dozens, if not hundreds of enemies of the good American people, First Blood puts its money on low-key, inventive and raw presentation of his fight for survival. Where the sequels are ridiculous, part one is full of suspense. The biggest mistake of First Blood is that the writers eventually abandoned their idea for an ending where the central character died, thereby opening the way for unworthy sequels... (07/08/2007)