Rambo: First Blood Part II ** (1985, Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Charles Napier) – Classic Movie Review 7645

Titanic and Avatar director James Cameron helped Sylvester Stallone to write the screenplay for director George Pan Cosmatos’s 1985 Rambo: First Blood Part II, the first sequel to Rambo: First Blood, in which John Rambo (Stallone) is released from prison and sent to the jungles of Vietnam on a top-secret covert mission to rescue US prisoners.

Rambo: First Blood Part II is a catalogue of gung-ho wartime cartoon capers for the Ronald Reagan era, with plenty of chilling violence in a movie that is shrewd and exciting but not very intelligent or plausible.

Stallone looks as though he is enjoying himself, and it is perhaps all far enough away from reality not to offend too much. At least the British veteran director of photography Jack Cardiff brings some style to the Technicolor cinematography, shot in Mexico.

Richard Crenna as Rambo’s old superior officer buddy Colonel Samuel Trautman.

Also in the cast are Richard Crenna as Rambo’s old superior officer buddy Colonel Samuel Trautman, Charles Napier as Murdock, Julia Nickson as Co, Steven Berkoff as Podovsky and Martin Kove as Ericson.

The story is by Kevin Jarre, based on characters created by David Morrell.

Rambo: First Blood Part II is directed by George Pan Cosmatos, runs 95 minutes, is made by Carolco, Estudios Churubusco Azteca SA and Anabasis NV, released by Tri-Star, is written by Sylvester Stallone and James Cameron, based on a story is Kevin Jarre and characters created by David Morrell, is shot in Technicolor by Jack Cardiff, is produced by Buzz Feitshans, is scored by Jerry Goldsmith and is designed by Bill Kenney.

Rambo: First Blood Part II was a big hit, grossing $150,000 in the US (on a $44 million budget) and Rambo III followed in 1988. It is followed by Rambo (2008). Rambo V is planned for 2019, with shooting started on 2 October 2018. Son of Rambow appeared in 2007.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7645

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