FIRST BLOOD
The only Rambo film I had seen prior to this was the fourth (confusingly entitled 'Rambo') which is nothing to write home about, but I felt I should give this first film in the franchise a go since it was a huge commercial hit and the critics didn't hate it. Assuming this film is accurate it was a shock to me how badly Vietnam veterans were treated at this time (early 1980s). John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) trudges weary and hungry into a Pacific Northwest town (ironically named Hope) somewhat downhearted because he’s just learned that an ex-comrade he was hoping to reconnect with has died of cancer. You might think the locals would be friendly, but no, no t a bit of it - straightaway the sheriff makes it clear that ‘his sort’ is not welcome by driving him to the town limits and telling him that there’s a diner 30 miles up the highway. When Rambo then starts back into town he’s arrested on a made-up charge, and then abused at the local station. This triggers his PTSD, ...