Rambo: First Blood Part II Review (1985)

Whilst I have a lot of praise for the first part of the Rambo series, I don't feel as though I can say the same thing for Part II. They tried the whole, bigger, faster, stronger approach with this one and I don't think it works all that well.

Rambo really shows off his skill

In this sequel we start with Rambo being requested to go on a search in rescue mission for POW's in Vietnam, the place in which he fought before the first film takes place. Richard Crenna returning as Rambo's commanding officer describes it perfectly, "The place you call hell, he calls home." So Rambo returns to Vietnam in an attempt to rescue the POW's and is also under strict orders not to engage the enemy but we all know how that is going to turn out. That's it. Where as the first film had a rather dense, engaging and strong plot about how Rambo has been rejected by the country he fought so hard for, Part II has a wafer thin plot and that's all there is to it.

Just another action flick

This is not to say that Part II is not without its good points. We get to see a bit more into the life of John Rambo and the things that he has had to go through. I especially like how he describes the war in the US of te people against the soldiers returning from war being much harder than the actual war itself. I also really like the idea of Rambo going back to Vietnam because we really get to see him in his element here, all the things that he was attempting to do in America and all the survival tactics we heard him talk about are put into play here. John really is comfortable at war, even this guerilla warfare that requires a one man army. The way he uses that bow and arrow with such proficiency, and throwing blades to silently take out enemies, its smart and the script knows it.
However whilst "First Blood" tried very hard to steer clear of the usual action movie romp, Part II clearly embodies it, throwing in as many explosions and shoot outs as possible, and it almost feels like a betrayal. I don't feel this film has the same smarts and charm as the original, and I was extremely surprised to find that James Cameron, yes that James Cameron had helped to write this wafer thing plot. That's right guys, the man who wrote and directed some of the best sci-fi films of all time, those being "Aliens" and "Terminator 2" helped to create the sloppy second instalment in the Rambo franchise.

Cruel and unusual punishment

Am I being too harsh to this film? Maybe, but it just feels like such a downturn after the initial masterpiece, its quite saddening to think that they could have gone in so many different directions with this sequel, I get that they maybe didn't want to retread old material with this second part, but its such a departure, I would have loved to have spent more time with Rambo in prison, and then maybe him readjusting to civilian life before snapping and going on a rampage or maybe having him then called to return to the army and active duty, or perhaps the ramifications of his actions in the first film on the rest of his life. This film should have been smarter than it is.
The soundtrack like the film before it is something of note, being really strong and it almost feels like it could get you pumped and route for Rambo being put in the horrible situations that he is in. Instead I feel as though this film falls into the category of being "just another 80's action flick" and that is not a good thing, forget the sequel, its not really worth your time.
Also those torture scenes are rather... shocking.