MovieChat Forums > Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) Discussion > Leniency for convicted veterans?

Leniency for convicted veterans?

posted 13 years ago by stell1837
16 replies | jump to latest

At the start of the movie, we see John Rambo in a hard labor prison camp and the dialogue with Col Trautman indicates that he has been sentenced for at least 10 years. I wonder how the trial went after the first movie. Apparently, there wasn't much leniency for him in that he was still given a stiff sentence.

In real life, is there any leniency for decorated veterans who happened to commit crimes afterward? Veterans must have done many good things for the country as well so should their good sides somewhat mask their bad side? In the case of John Rambo, there's no doubt he was a great hero who served America very well with his awards:

2 - Silver Star
4 - Bronze Stars for Valor
4 - Purple Heart
1 - Distinguished Service Cross
1 - Congressional Medal of Honor

Yet, he was not exonerated after the first movie.

A real live example of veterans not given leniency and clemency would be Timothy McVeigh. He was a Persian Gulf War hero and was awarded several merits including the Bronze Star. But that didn't stop him from being executed.

[–] ck100 13 years ago

I think Trautman says five years instead of ten - "You can't possibly want to stay here for another five years." But of course we don't know how much time in the story passed between the first and second "Rambo" films.

[–] hiphopfanatic 12 years ago

Troutman saying he has five years left on his sentence means there was some leniency in what Rambo was given.

[–] sfeb11 12 years ago

McVeigh killed over 150 innocent people. He didn't deserve any leniency or clemency.

[–] avae001 10 years ago

No way, that means that citizens are second class to veterans. You can't have a society like that and expect people to accept it.

Everyone has to be equal before the law or it doesn't work.

[–] novastar_6 10 years ago

Everyone has to be equal before the law or it doesn't work.

Far be it for me to point out it DOESN'T work, because citizens are already second class, to ball players, actors, heiresses. A guy got 30 years in prison for THREATENING to rape Stephen Spielberg, half a million people ARE raped every year and most of their attackers never even see a single day in jail.

[–] Fanboyz87 10 years ago

I dunno but when it fell to one man to save America and win a war someone else lost, it was Rambo who was chosen.

I am also assuming Rambo chose not to go to a nut house, and plead guilty as to shame the weak liberals who destroyed America.

[–] Catgurl22 10 years ago

Far be it for me to point out it DOESN'T work, because citizens are already second class, to ball players, actors, heiresses. A guy got 30 years in prison for THREATENING to rape Stephen Spielberg, half a million people ARE raped every year and most of their attackers never even see a single day in jail.

Very well said! Don't forget celebs like Lindsay Lohan, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown and other jerks. Any ordinary citizen would have been put behind bars for the acts that these idiots commit and all they get is a slap on the wrist.

I don't know if real life veterans get any leniency when convicted but movie ones sure don't. Take a look at what they did to Nicolas Cage in "Con Air".

Mr McGee, dont make me angry. You wouldnt like me when Im angry!

[–] fxdiamond 10 years ago

yeah its funny how trautman mentions john has been in prison for 5 years, even as a kid i first thought to myself the "first blood incident" must have taken place in 1980 ( first assuming first blood happened in 1981 or '82 ) according to the second movie being placed in 1985.

anyway no big deal.

[–] InherentlyYours 8 years ago

'half a million people ARE raped every year and most of their attackers never even see a single day in jail. '
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oh, it's novastar with more rape crisis. Yeah, they don't see a day in jail because the burden is on WOMEN to prove it. And if so many WOMEN did not lie, it would make it easier to prosecute them. And WOMEN who commit atrocities do not spend a day in jail either.

[–] rascal67 8 years ago

Everyone has to be equal before the law or it doesn't work.
_______________
Nice ideal; but in reality it doesn't play out like this. Also depends on who can afford a decent lawyer. There is no justice or fairness in this system, when money or celebrity can determine the difference in outcome or judgement, especially compared to a poor average Joe.

Exorcist: Christ's power compels you. Cast out, unclean spirit.
Destinata:💩

[–] ldkusa71 9 years ago

It helped Rambo's court case if his defense attorney brought up the police brutality the deputies put him through. Otherwise, Rambo would have gotten a lot more prison time.

[–] The_Ultimate_Hippo 9 years ago

In all fairness, Rambo never actually killed anyone except Galt if you count him.

"I really wish Gia and Claire had became Tanner" - Honeybeefine

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Ohio9 9 years ago

If you watch the first movie again and keep a running tally of all the crimes Rambo committed, you'd realize 10 years is actually a pretty light sentence.

[–] InherentlyYours 8 years ago

No leniency and clemency due to what your life was, and what you accomplished earlier. If anything, a stiffer punishment for betraying one's "hero"-reputation, and broken-allegiance.

[–] rascal67 8 years ago

Most of these guys were committing criminal atrocities under the guise of a soldier anyway, before they were civilians again. They could have turned out bad even if not fighting the war against evil communism. They were dense and ignorant and followed the herd, because the government said so. They were wrapped up in an image and ideal what a macho "man" was supposed to represent.

Exorcist: Christ's power compels you. Cast out, unclean spirit.
Destinata:💩