John Rambo (2008)

By far the most violent yet ! - JW

Vietnam veteran John Rambo has survived many harrowing ordeals in his lifetime and has since withdrawn into a simple and secluded existence in Thailand, where he spends his time capturing snakes for local entertainers, and chauffeuring locals in his old PT boat. Even though he is looking to avoid trouble, trouble has a way of finding him: a group of Christian human rights missionaries, led by Michael Burnett and Sarah Miller, approach Rambo with the desire to rent his boat to travel up the river to Burma. For over fifty years, Burma has been a war zone. The Karen people of the region, who consist of peasants and farmers, have endured brutally oppressive rule from the murderous Burmese military and have been struggling for survival every single day. After some inner contemplation, Rambo accepts the offer and takes Michael, Sarah, and the rest of the missionaries up the river. When the missionaries finally arrive at the Karen village, they find themselves part of a raid by the sadistic Major Pa Tee Tint and a slew of Burmese army men. A portion of the villagers and missionaries are tortured and viciously murdered, while Tint and his men hold the remainder captive. Concerned by their disappearance, the minister in charge of the mission gathers a group of mercenaries and pleas Rambo transport them with his boat, since he knows their last exact location. But Rambo can't stay behind: he joins the team where he belongs, to liberate the survivors from the clutches of Major Tint in what may be one of his deadliest missions ever

From IMDB:

10/10
A masterpiece of action cinema

As hard-hitting as a sucker punch to the jaw, Sylvester Stallone powerhouses his way back into the modern consciousness with this, the fourth in the successful Rambo series. It's been twenty long years since his hero appeared in the cheesy, tacky RAMBO III and the good news is that Stallone has learned a few things by then. With the star returning in a dual role as both actor and director, it really rests on his rather broad shoulders as to whether this is any cop. The good news is that it is: some have complained that Rambo takes a sideline in this outing, but that's not the case. John Rambo, when we meet him, is an older, wiser, more experienced warrior, but one who remains just as vicious as he was in the past. And viciousness is the key when it comes to RAMBO, because this is one of the most savage films you'll ever witness.

Stallone pulls no punches when depicting the brutal military regime in Burma. Innocents are shot and killed on a routine basis; rape and torture are commonplace occurrences, and even children and babies aren't safe from the soldiers. One particular sequence sees a hideous 'game' in which they Burmese soldiers innocent villagers to run through booby-trapped paddy fields where they inevitably get blown to shreds. Of course, this violence simmers and burns as the film goes on, until the last half sees Rambo hitting back, and boy does he snap. The climax is a visceral ride of revenge and retribution, where the bloodshed really goes overboard. If you thought the opening of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN was gruesome, you ain't seen nothing yet. Aided by a mercenary buddy with a super-power rifle, Stallone tears out throats, knocks off heads, and goes berserk with an anti-aircraft gun in his bid to rid the world of these evil soldiers. What happens is best left a surprise, but I'll guarantee that it doesn't disappoint. I haven't been this pumped at a film's climax since I saw HOSTEL.

Of course, the directing is perfect, and Stallone's acting is the best yet, reaching new levels of subtlety. He's supported by a varied bunch of characters, including an unlikeable Christian, a token female, a stereotyped Cockney, and some fun mercenaries. The director of photography deserves mention for his excellent camera-work, recalling the glory days of the 1980s jungle-set war epics, but with a grittier, more modern edge. Of course, the action is fantastic, but what's equally amazing is that the non-action bits are just as riveting. One of those films you'll want to watch over and over, RAMBO's a masterpiece of a movie, a non-stop thrill ride that never lets up.

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