So I'm going to actually try on this one.
Possible spoilers.
Just finished watching this. I'm an action movie fan, and 80's/90's action fan and a big fan of sly...
That said I'm trying to gather some thoughts on this.
As and action movie:
It's a slow starter with the eventual big release of action at the end. A pretty "typical" setup that segways into the star releasing his vengence on
the baddies. Based on that alone it's a popcorn flick for sure.
As a rambo interpretation of taken:
It doesn't seem to live up to the intro of liams "Man on a hunt" type film to get back a woman(daughter/neice or otherwise) from evil sex trafficers,
it's much slower and way light on the action compared to that....
Now, onto what it is.
As an installment into the rambo franchise:
It is what I expected(for me), a solid 3rd best into a 5 film franchise. It took a concept and wrapped it into the franchise nicely while delivering
what to me is the actual essence of the character, reluctance. Like the first film and the 4th, John seems to be at odds with what he is and his
attempt to avoid his participation in it. It's an OK action flick that's slow to start but is obviously just trying to drive into the eventual
massacre setup to come.
The first really is the best(as usual) but unlike most franchises It's amazing(to me) that the latter films hold so true and hold up(and continue on)
so well what the first film was able to do.
To me, the best ones are the first and the 08 rambo film. This one neither departed from or significantly altered the previous films message.
It had less emotional impact(with regard to character) as the first and fell well short of the carnage of the fourth. Still a worthy entry and given
the actors age(and his characters age) really felt believable. I liked the nod to the tunnels and his "skills" learned in the early years(tunnels,
traps, etc).
In the end actually what really got me was the credits. At the end, seeing a montage of pictures from all the previous films was kind so surreal, not
just for the character, but for the actor. If anything, it made me see that this film wasn't just what it was within itself, but the end of a decades
long actor/character in the action franchise.
Well worth a rental and a watch, definitely worth a buy if you have a film collection of the previous rambo films.
It's the end of a franchise(ignore any reboots). I have them all on film, and I intend to watch through the whole thing now(the 4th is actually my
favorite).
Good job sly....
edit on 30-11-2019 by MisterSpock because: (no reason given)
edit on 30-11-2019 by MisterSpock because: (no
reason given)