MovieChat Forums > Rambo (2008) Discussion > Pretty much a rehash of 'Rambo 3'

Pretty much a rehash of 'Rambo 3'

posted 11 years ago by A-zone
30 replies | jump to latest

I personally found this movie to be the weakest in the series. Sure "Rambo 3" (which is often the most criticized) had a fair amount of cheesiness to it, but I still find it a lot more entertaining than the fourth installment.

I'm not saying that Rambo 4 is bad, it's just that I found it to be nothing more than a rehash of the previous movies, mostly Rambo 3.

I find it rather amusing that people call Rambo 4 the "best" and Rambo 3 the "worst" AND YET, almost 90% of Rambo 4's basic plot is just the same as Rambo 3:

Rambo is living as a commoner in exile
People come to ask Rambo for help
Rambo warns them against going into the warzone
The people get caught
Someone comes and informs Rambo about their capture
Rambo goes into the warzone to rescue them
The military leader in the warzone is exceptionally brutal
He is committing genocide
Even the scene where Rambo starts shooting the jeep-mounted machine gun is almost identical to a similar scene from Rambo 3.

The final rescue of the hostages from the POW camp in the rainy night was also pretty similar to the scene in the POW camp in "Rambo 2", complete with prostitutes and pigs.

The end where Rambo is walking wearing his green jacket is the same as that from the beginning of Rambo 1, although I am guessing that this was more of a homage.
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Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene.'

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] A-zone 11 years ago

Thank you for sharing your views, caneramanmike. Absolutely, we may not share the same opinions but we respect each others views.

In the end, I feel it's all about personal taste. I watch movies purely for entertainment purposes and prefer films which have a "Repeat Viewing Value" more than critical acclaim. I have seen Rambo 2 and 3 hundreds of times, but don't think I can watch Rambo 4 more than twice.

Same thing with the "Rocky" movie series. I have always preferred Rocky 3 and 4 more than any of the other ones. And it seems that I am not alone because even though Rocky 4 has gotten a lot of flak and Razzie Awards, it is still the highest grossing sports movie of all time (adjusted for inflation).

SImilarly, the general consensus on most movie sites is that "Citizen Kane" is the greatest movie ever made. How many people can claim to have watched that movie multiple times? Most haven't even seen it once.

But as you said, we all see things differently.

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Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene.'

[–] Times_Up 11 years ago

I agree with both of you guys. While Rambo 4 is mostly just a rehash of 3 (and to a lesser extent 2) it is done much better than 3 and is more realistically handled than 2 (we've got a cast of characters this time instead of largely just types and the violence has consequences). On the flip side First Blood Part 1 and 2 are the Rambo movies I've seen a billion times since I was a kid. Never enjoyed Rambo 3 as much, not even when I was a kid and even though I really tried to later. Good action, but the story is weak and doesn't fit the Rambo character well after the first scene (which I like). Rambo 2 is just great action from start to stop, over the top and bit too fantastic for most, but works for me. I'll never get tired of it. 4 has the character moments and more tragic feel for Rambo and more realistic violence (like First Blood) that part 2 lacked, but 2 just has that something; it was just so fresh and new at the time and suits the Rambo character like a glove.

[–] croat-hr 7 years ago

Interesting.
For me "First Blood" and Rambo 4 are both very rewatchable, currently I even iike Rambo 4 better, even though I still think that the original one is a much better classic.
Rambo 4 is done really great though, it feels more realistic and tragic, just like the original, 2 and 3 are cartoony and boring, at least for me.

I only saw 2 and 3 once (and even that after I've seen 4, and have seen the original almost right after it came out), and have no need to watch them again. So maybe the nostalgia factor is missing, concidering what I've just said, but I think Rambo 4 is a geniunely great and intense film, and 2 and 3 are average if being very genereus.
I've seen the original probably 10 times already, and it's latest sequel around 5 times, so yes, very entertaining and rewatchable, both of them. Of course I respect other opinnions to.

Sorry for bad spelling, English is not my first language.

[–] Darknessviking 11 years ago

this has to be the most polite thread on imdb

[–] stanleyhetz 11 years ago

this has to be the most polite thread on imdb

Something should be done to change that.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] FirstBlood1982 11 years ago

It's like RAMBO III but better executed.

Better character moments, better setting, better score, bettle battle scenes...

RAMBO III mostly felt like a buddy action comedy along the lines of a Lethal Weapon movie, only with a more militarized setting.

RAMBO III is fun, but RAMBO IV is much better made and much more relevant thematically and socially.

+++by His wounds we are healed. - Isaiah 53:5+++

[–] ravi02 11 years ago

I enjoy Rambo 4, but like the OP, I too consider it my least fave of the series.

My issues being: no supporting character for Rambo to play off of like Col. Trautman in the first three films, the villains are also lacking (we don't even learn the main Burmese badguy's name) and the brutal violence (while proving a real life point) just gets excessive after awhile.

[–] A-zone 11 years ago

Yes, I think in the end it's all about personal choice. Just because a movie is "darker" or more "realistic" does not necessarily make it better. At least that is my view.

Since the success of Nolan's "Batman Begins", there seems to be a trend that every movie has to be more "dark" and "moody" to be considered a critical success. I personally still prefer the Burton "Batman" movies compared to Nolan's. Same thing with James Bond, they've taken the witty, womanizing, charming spy (Connery, Moore) and turned him into an angry, depressed and emotionless killing machine with the introduction of Craig.

That is how I feel about Rambo 4. The excessive violence is just a bit too much for my taste. I saw the first three Rambo movies when I was very young and enjoyed them very much. If they had the same tone as Rambo 4, then I don't think they would have been as successful as they were. Besides the plot for Rambo 4, being so similar to Rambo 3 makes it pretty predictable. You just know that Rambo will give in tot he missionaries requests and you just know that the missionaries are gonna get caught and you just know that Rambo will eventually save the day. They should have tried a different story line.

"If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving is not for you!"

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] dln1700 11 years ago

The MAIN thing that sets this apart from Rambo 3 is the fact that Stallone made Rambo into the trouble Vet he was when first seen in First Blood, someone whom couldn't fit into society because of all his experiences. During the course of the movie he comes to accept who he really is and once he does allows him to move forward and finally return home which is a great bookend to the start of First Blood.

Apart from the action sequences the main underlying theme to the movie is Rambo's psychological struggle with who he is which makes this film as good a First Blood.

[–] coolguyjames_nz 11 years ago

I don't think rambo 3 and 4 are alike at all. I could mention just as many things as you did that are different about the 2 movies in terms of story. I like all the rambos, although 3 probably is the weakest film, its still one of the most entertaining, all the action scenes with real stunts are great, heaps of action and real explosions. Manley movies, they are all awesome in there own way.

[–] EpsilonX 11 years ago

I see where you're coming from, it does seem similar in that regard. I think what sets this film apart from Rambo 3 is the tone. They are both over the top, but where 3 is really cheesy, 4 treats the over the top violence with a gritty seriousness, and that makes all the difference. There are other areas where it is better, but i'd say that was the main one. I also like how it comes full circle at the end, with Rambo returning home.

The only thing Rambo 3 has over 4, in my opinion, is the "blue light" part

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