Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Movie Appraisal: First Blood - Disquieting Movie

By Jessica J. Janeson

If you love action movies that have the good guy overcoming seemingly impossible odds to beat the bad guys, then "First Blood," starring Sylvester Stallone is the movie for you. In his first blockbuster since "Rocky," he delivers a powerful performance as a Vietnam vet pushed into a corner, so far that he must rely on the only skills that he knows. How to survive, and how to kill.

Our fable starts out with a vagabond, a veteran of the Vietnam opposition wandering into a unimportant municipality. On the exterior of town, he is met with some law enforcement who tell him that his sort is not welcome in this municipality. Drifters are not allowed, as they are perceived as parasites who will sap the cities resources without giving anything back. After giving him the warning, the law leave him, and think that is that.

But, our protagonist, John Rambo, shows up yet again in town, and is arrested. He gets booked, and thrown into the county lockup. But he doesn't imply any harm, and he hasn't yet shattered any laws. He just sought after something to gobble, and a temperate place to sleep. He may appear a little slow, but we feel for him, as the police seem to be mistreating him.

Then there is a fight, and the police chief steps over the line. And slightly injures this outwardly big brute. Drawing first blood, the sheriff has opened a can of worms he will before long regret, likely for the rest of his life. Because John Rambo is a exceedingly trained destroyer, and well prepared to cope with any kind of defiance, and come out on top.

This begins the heart of the picture. One lone man, John Rambo, is pushed into a trap, and he responds with the only way he knows how. He retreats into the adjoining hills, and quickly finds himself in his element. Trained to continue to exist, to pursue, and to murder. The police speedily appreciate that they have their hands full, and bring in as many officers as they can.

Then an army Colonel shows up, and claims that he was Rambo's commanding officer during the Vietnam hostilities. The police erroneously consider he is there to defend his charge from the police. But they have it the other way around. Rambo's CO is there to bring him back before he does irreparable harm to the entire police force. He is there to save the police from Rambo, not the other way around. We pursue John Rambo through the wasteland, and watch him fight his own psychological demons in one unusual show that has created one of he most well known action heroes of our time. If you haven't seen this movie, you must, as it is an instance of tremendous filmmaking, acting, and directing. - 40732

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