No this is not a rant about Iraq. This is a review of 1982 classic Sly vehicle First Blood. Some might question how in good conscience I could watch in the same night Butch Cassidy and First Blood. Well it was late, and I wanted something short and mindless with lots of action. Some might question how I can in good conscience be so critical of a film like Live Free or Die Hard and yet openly praise a film like First Blood.
But First Blood doesn't get complex. Its setup is barely longer than the opening credits. Stallone plays John Rambo, Vietnam vet passing through a small town in the Pacific Northwest. Brian Dennehy plays Will Teasle, local sheriff who doesn't like Rambo's look and helps him pass quickly through town. Rambo doesn't like being pushed or told what he can't do, he's quickly arrested and abused by one of the deputies. Rambo cracks, escapes the police and a manhunt begins. That's it. There isn't much more to it than that. You can empathize with Rambo but you understand the police response. It isn't complicated, it might not be believable but it isn't complicated.
Once they action starts it keeps a good pace throughout the film. And amazingly its an action film that only has one death which is only partly Rambo's fault. It falters a bit in the end and is really strained by Stallone's monologue but overall I find it is a sound action film. Overshadowed by the more ostentatious and less satisfying sequels (and another one on the way), First Blood is admirable. Anytime I want a short fun action film, I'm glad this one is in my collection.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment