MovieChat Forums > Rambo III (1988) Discussion > Better than Rambo IV

Better than Rambo IV

posted 8 years ago by mercury4
10 replies | jump to latest

As much as I liked Rambo IV, it wasn't the best. I still consider the first three Rambos to be the best. I wish Sly would make another Rambo that is even better than the last one. For years, I've been hearing there will be a Rambo V. Now I'm hearing it probably won't happen. Keep in mind though that Rambo IV almost didn't happen. Years ago I was reading that Sly thought he was too old to play Rambo. They also had problems getting a good enough script. In the end, it happened.

[–] Hendry_William_French 8 years ago

Rambo IV makes Rambo III look like Citizen Kane.

There's only one man who'd DARE give me the raspberry

[–] mercury4 8 years ago

Fans raved about Rambo IV when it came out, but I didn't exactly think it was the best. I'd rank it fourth in the series. I wish Sly would make Rambo V. I've been hearing for years that he is. If he was ever going to, I wish he had done it a long time ago instead of messing around with all those other stupid movies he did.

[–] Hendry_William_French 8 years ago

Honestly, I thought Rambo IV was terrible. The mercenary characters were annoying, the story was just Rambo III rehashed and the violence was neither intentionally ott like Robocop or comic book styled like the original Rambo trilogy - it was blunt, in your face and just plain mean, nasty and ugly brutal violence.

Stallone said that he made Rambo IV to make up for Rambo III, but I think he just distanced himself from this movie because of 9/11 and how the Taliban were linked to Afghanistan and the Mujahedeen. How was he to know these things in 1988 when the Russians and the cold war was still the main thing to fear and not Islamic terrorists so much? Rambo III was a product of a different time and he shouldn't dislike it because of its link (or lack thereof) to terrorists.

There's only one man who'd DARE give me the raspberry

[–] Loomis79 8 years ago

Great thread! I agree with all your points Lonestarr_Winnebago
I just re-visited the original trilogy recently and I love all of them. Great entertainment.
First Blood - A fantastic action movie that also has a poignant message. And the last bit with the speech by Sly gets me Everytime.
First Blood 2 - yes, it turns into an absurd action film but my God, it is glorious to behold. What an action movie...my type of action movie!! The last 30 minutes is a damn masterpiece of action cinema. And there is still a little heart to it too. Cheesy, yes. But still well meaning.
Rambo 3 - it's pretty hollow but there are some great action set pieces on display. I like how in this one he has to save Trautman.
It's a fun, easy watch. Also, there is still some heart in it too. Sly should not be ashamed of this film. You're right, this film is a product of a different era and it should be judged based on that.
Rambo IV - just a mean and nasty film like you say. I've seen it once and that's enough for me. I have no desire to return to it. I know what Sly was going for..how he really wanted to show how nasty war gets. But I think he went overboard and it's just too off putting. And I don't like the look of the film either. The aesthetic is just plain ugly and unappealing. Oh and Jerry Goldsmith is sorely missed too. He was such an integral part of the series. The only thing I respect about this film is how finally John comes home. His journey is complete. Maybe he can finally have some peace. Nice ending shot.

Anyway great post by you Lonestarr_Winnebago. May I say I've read other comments on iMDb from you and I find you always add interesting points. You know your cinema well sir.

Take care.

[–] Hendry_William_French 8 years ago

First Blood - A fantastic action movie that also has a poignant message. And the last bit with the speech by Sly gets me Everytime.

First Blood's got a great pace to it. It lasts about 90s mins but feels like half of that. It's a classic.

First Blood 2 - yes, it turns into an absurd action film but my God, it is glorious to behold. What an action movie...my type of action movie!! The last 30 minutes is a damn masterpiece of action cinema. And there is still a little heart to it too. Cheesy, yes. But still well meaning.

Rambo II gets a reputation for all violence, but it's one of the most charming action films out there. The interplay between Murdock and Trautman is genius - both of these actors are playing off each other really well, it's electric. The scenes between Co and Rambo are great, too, and Goldsmith's score is one of his best.

Rambo 3 - it's pretty hollow but there are some great action set pieces on display. I like how in this one he has to save Trautman.

Rambo III is when the character becomes a superhero - the opening scenes featuring an almost mythic unveiling of him kinda attest to that. He's like Hercules in this movie.

Rambo IV - just a mean and nasty film like you say. I've seen it once and that's enough for me. I have no desire to return to it

Same here. I can rewatch the 80s trilogy an infinite number of times, but Rambo IV has nothing that makes me want to return to it.

Oh and Jerry Goldsmith is sorely missed too. He was such an integral part of the series

And Richard Crenna. Both so vital to Rambo.

Anyway great post by you Lonestarr_Winnebago. May I say I've read other comments on iMDb from you and I find you always add interesting points. You know your cinema well sir.

Thanks a lot, pal. I appreciate your kind words :)

Buckle up back there, we're going into... hyperactive

[–] Legion_89 8 years ago

I agree. I did enjoy IV, but to me the first three films were the best ones (and the ones I keep revisiting the most).

"Martyr me for Cordis Die."

[–] mercury4 8 years ago

They were showing the trilogy on TV and after I finished Rambo III, I decided to put on Rambo IV. I could watch the original Rambo movies over and over. I have no interest to watch the last Rambo anymore. I really wish he'd made a fifth Rambo like he's been saying. I wish Sly would give us a Rambo that had sort of the feel of the first three. I don't see it happening though.

It's a different series, but I hoped the last Indiana Jones would feel like an Indiana Jones movie and sadly it didn't. I just stick to the original ones. Harrison Ford looks old now and I hope he doesn't play Indiana Jones again. Sly at least looked good in Rambo IV. If he can look good in Rambo V and give us one last good Rambo movie with a Rambo feel, I'm all for it.

[–] ZombieGiles 8 years ago

I know what you mean mercury4. The original three are just soooooooo good. All in their own way also. The fourth one just feels so forced.

[–] contreraschz 8 years ago

The first Rambo is so different and is the best to me. The other 3 are like a different franchise.

[–] A-zone 8 years ago

Totally agree! Part 3 was miles better than 4. 3 was entertaining and has a lot of re-watch value. 4 was just a depressing and gory rehash of 3 (with a little bit of Rambo 2 thrown in).

The funny thing is, while I notice that almost everyone here agrees that 3 is better than 4, a few years ago when I posted this same opinion on the Rambo 4 board, everyone jumped on me saying that 4 was a "masterpiece"! LOL!

"I'm the dude, playing a dude that's disguised as another dude".