I watched this after being interested in Ted Kotcheffs work after seeing the amazing "Wake in Fright". I couldn't believe I'd never heard of it, as I think First Blood is also an awesome movie.
The reviews on here are really positive, which was encouraging.
Sadly, I think its a case of only the fans returning to write about it. It really was a pretty tacky, flimsy, cliched film of its time. It felt like your average rushed script and project for cash.
I'm not going to disagree with you. The acting and dialogue are pretty cheesy, the film is about as realistic as 'The Green Berets', and the whole thing is noticeably dated by today's standards.
But... I still enjoy watching this film, because I think the characters were colorful and memorable (the cast isn't half bad, Gene Hackman, Patrick Swayze, although a lot of TV actors in there too). There's plenty of comedy, action, and the ending gets me a little misty eyed too. I think the film has a lot of heart to it, which makes up for its lack of technical craft or storyline.
It's pretty much a live action cartoon, but I enjoy it all the same.
~ I've been very lonely in my isolated tower of indecipherable speech.
Pretty standard acting for the 70s, early 80s. I saw it in the theatre in '83 and loved it. I was 18 and had been in the army less than a year. :-)
shareConcur, these posts limn the movie well.
shareIt's just supposed to be fun. Not real
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