First Blood: Special Edition (Widescreen/Full Screen)

 

 

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When your only skill is to kill and you have had enough of that, you tend to wander. This is the circumstance in which we find John J. Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) Vietnam vet. Wandering around in his old field jacket he had the misfortune to bump into, of all people the local macho Sheriff Will Teasle (Brian Dennehy.) It is the sheriff's duty to protect the community from people wondering around in his/her field jacket.

Well push comes to shove when the sheriff verdantly or invariantly draws "First Blood". Now nether one can back down and the whole town and surrounding hills becomes a shooting gallery.

There is only one man who may be able to save the situation if anyone is willing to listen, but will they? Yep its is Rambo's old commander Col. Samuel Trautman well played by Richard Crenna.

I remember seeing this movie for the first time on July 4, 1984. I know back then I was into long hair, and alot of 60's and 70's music. Didn't do acid, or any drugs as I was 16, and grew up in a police officer's house. I always knew police brutality existed, but after this movie I suddenly realized that men in short hair aren't always the good guys. I mean after all there are no pictures of the devil with long hair, or at least from what I've seen. I know watching this movie I've developed a intense prejudice of hick folks, and country bumpkins, and the such as I feel that they are self-righteous, and know it alls, and that they are God. I know that the only other people in movies that rubbed me the wrong way were Sherrif Buford T. Justice from "Smokey and the Bandit", and the corrupt sherrif who smacked around his deputy in the movie "Tank". However, don't get me wrong the same way that Sherrif Teasle, and crew are accountable so is Rambo. Rambo still is accountable for murdering an officer of the law even though it was self-defense. He'd have to go to court, and prove it as such. The Veitnam war no doubt has ruffled alot of feathers, and in my opinion while I understand why some ran away to Canada I also understand why some went there. I can only imagine what the soldiers went through there as I was only a baby when this was all going on. Like all veterans of all the wars the Veitnam Veterans should've been given dignity, and respect all along for fighting to keep our freedom. Mind you I'd have to start digging for the whole 30 year war over there, and why it impacted us so much. The same way I feel that the laws back here are to be respected, and a police officer should be given the same dignity, and respect as that of a soldier who went overseas to fight. I know one phrase was powerful when Teasle said "That if a prisoner is mistreated, by a deputy he brings it to him, and then Teasle(him) goes to the deputy, and that's how the law works", but what happens when the head vigilanty is your Sherrif? Overall this movie should've made America reflect on how we reacted, and treated these brave soldiers when they returned from Veitnam, and come to grips with our actions, and our attitudes. However, America missed the boat by glorifying Rambo for all the wrong reasons, and diffused the character, and the message. They made Rambo a gun toting vigilanty, and that was America's new superhero. Rambo wanted no war. He wanted to visit his friend, and became heartbroken when he found out his friend was dead. All Rambo wanted was a hot meal, and a chance to grieve before moving on; who knows Rambo may had found peace for once in Holidayland, but now it's citizens will never know as Prejudice was standing at the door when Rambo knocked. To me America is still acting that way, and it's time to forgive, and reconcile, and move on.

The first Rambo movie called First Blood was released in the fall of 1982. The movie was arguably Sylvester Stallone's best performance since Rocky II. First Blood is about a Vietnam veteran named John Rambo who comes to a small town in Washington the state(it was actually filmed in the dead of British Columbia, Canada's winter of 1981/82) to meet a fellow comrade/friend from his elite Green Beret unit. When he discovers that he died of cancer, Rambo sadly in disbelief makes his way into town for a bite to eat and instead winds up being harassed and arrested by the hick local Sheriff Will Teasle(Brian Dennehy). While in custody, Rambo is abused by Deputy Galt(Jack Starrett) and fellow sheriffs Ward and others but a flashback to being abused and tortured in a POW prison while being processed causes Rambo to snap and manages to escape jail by taking out five cops and sparking an all out manhunt between 200 people versus one Rambo. This film is a 96 minute action rollercoaster highlighted by the jail escape and subsequent chase and fighting with the national guard. Jack Starrett was great as the hillbilly cop that did all of the abusing while David Caruso was fine as the only deputy that had a conscience and a heart and did not abuse Rambo. Dennehy was superb and made a worthy opponent for Rambo. Richard Crenna gave his best performance as Rambo's former Colonel Sam Trautman and he and Dennehy play off one another quite well(originally Kirk Douglas was to play Trautman but that fell through at the last minute). Despite the fact he had very limited speaking parts, First Blood was one of Stallone's best performances highlighted by the Vietnam speech near the end of the film. (..). This DVD is well worth the money.

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5.0 out of 5 stars First Blood review
A classic film of it's era. Very authentic acting. Compelling movie set in the mountains of Brittish Columbia. Read more

Published 15 months ago by action lover

5.0 out of 5 stars "I Didn't Come to Protect Rambo From You,I Came to Protect You From Rambo"-Colonel Trautman
In 1982 Sylvester Stallone releases yet another fantastic movie with "First Blood",the first in the Rambo series. Read more

Published on Feb 13 2008 by Tommy Morais

4.0 out of 5 stars A tremendous movie....
When Sylvester Stallone is involved....you know youre going to get terrific action. But the movies story and Stallones character of John Rambo are very interesting as well. Read more

Published on July 15 2004 by Joe Clay

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Rambo movie without question
The first Rambo movie called First Blood was released in the fall of 1982. The movie was Sylvester Stallone's best performance since Rocky II. Read more

Published on Jun 2 2004 by Terrence J. Reardon

4.0 out of 5 stars STILL THE BEST OF THE RAMBO MOVIES
MOST PEOPLE REMEMBER ''RAMBO; FIRST BLOOD, PART II'' SO MUCH, THAT THEY ACTUALLY FORGOT THAT THIS MOVIE WAS THE FIRST RAMBO MOVIE. Read more

Published on Mar 19 2004 by MICHAEL TAYLOR

3.0 out of 5 stars First Blood (Special Edition) - DVD Aspect Ratio Issue
The original Theatrical Aspect Ratio for First Blood was anamorphic widescreen - 2.35:1 (cinemascope). Read more

Published on Mar 9 2004 by MW

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm guilty as well....
of denying Stallone's genius, but no more.

If you weren't around during the Vietnam era, then this film wont have the same impact. Read more

Published on Feb 22 2004 by Ghenghis

4.0 out of 5 stars Slyvster Stallone in the revenge of the Vietnam vet
The most important thing to keep in mind when watching "First Blood" is not that this 1982 film was Slyvester Stallone's second most successful series after the Rocky films, but... Read more

Published on Dec 16 2003 by Lawrance M. Bernabo

4.0 out of 5 stars "First Blood": A Praiseworthy Action Film
"First Blood" has to be, without a doubt, one of my favorite action films of all time. I believe that I enjoy it so much because it does a nice job of balancing action scenes... Read more

Published on Dec 12 2003 by Daniel R. Sanderman

5.0 out of 5 stars RAMBO is the man!!!
This is one of my favorite action movies of all time. John Rambo(Sylvester Stallone) is a Vietnam war vet and is looking for one of his fellow soldiers from war. Read more

Published on Nov 30 2003 by Stephen B. Thomas

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