MovieChat Forums > Rambo III (1988) Discussion > Underrated and forgotten

Underrated and forgotten

posted 9 years ago by Legendary_Badass
4 replies | jump to latest

Just binged on the Rambo trilogy that Netflix just added to instant streaming. My ranking for first 3 films, (I do think 4 is the worst):

First Blood 9
Rambo: First Blood Part 2 7
Rambo III 8

I think the original plays a very different, drama character driven style. There are good things about II, but it seems to be the most flawed. Suddenly iffy score from Goldsmith, a ludicrous plot twist, odd smeared photography, dated editing, and Co. The movie's saving grace comes in the final act with the best helicopter sequence ever.

Rambo III feels like more than a typical sequel. The action is presented in much better fashion throughout the film, from the stick fight to the finale. The action is on point. Rambo gets bigger sense of humor, sort of playing catch-up with the Schwarzenegger films, much better music than II, Rambo has people to talk to instead of being silent all the action. Doesn't feel overbearing with the Vietnam talk, but in a clever way puts Rambo in the role of the freedom fighters.

To explain the film's rating on IMDB, chalk it up to Americans feeling the movie glorifies the Taliban.

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[–] Hendry_William_French 9 years ago

I'd give them ratings of:

First Blood - 9
Rambo II - 9
Rambo III - 8

There are good things about II, but it seems to be the most flawed. Suddenly iffy score from Goldsmith, a ludicrous plot twist, odd smeared photography, dated editing, and Co.

I think Rambo II wouldn't have been half the movie it is without Goldsmith's score which is one of his best. It really gives the movie so much character and atmosphere. Also, the cinematography has sort of a 'classic' look that I like, which I guess some might not like which in understandable. The editing by Mark Goldblatt is pretty special, every action movie borrowed from Rambo II's editing style after that especially the fact that the movie lasts barely over 90 mins and just flies by.

I think the acting is also a little better in Rambo II, with the characters of Murdock and his goons especially being more memorable as well as Co and Podovsky.

Rambo has people to talk to instead of being silent all the action. Doesn't feel overbearing with the Vietnam talk, but in a clever way puts Rambo in the role of the freedom fighters.

Good points. That's why Rambo III is so damn underrated. It actually did something different with the character which made it unique from the previous instalment, took Rambo to the next level making him bigger and even more invincible and heroic. The movie certainly feels very big in scale and execution especially with the desert photography that lends a classical, sweeping tone to Rambo III.

Rambo III is an incredible action film. Shame it doesn't get much credit. It's way better as an action spectacle than overrated stuff like T2, Predator and Die Hard.

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[–] Legendary_Badass 9 years ago

I don't see why you needed to go there belittling classics, when it's today's movies that are the action fails. Predator is far more watchable than Rambo II. That movie looks and sounds brand new today.

At no time during any of these movies, watching them back to back to back mind you, did I ever question the realness of what I was watching in the way I do absolutely every movie to come from Hollywood in well over a decade. These days hey can't even be bothered to use real helicopters for anything, let alone actual stunts. It's one of my biggest gripes. A CGI dinosaur is one thing, we don't have real dinosaurs so the argument can be made the audience doesn't really know what they look like. But since we have helicopters, and choose not to use them in movies, it's jarring.

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[–] Hendry_William_French 9 years ago

I don't see why you needed to go there belittling classics, when it's today's movies that are the action fails

It wouldn't be fair to compare Rambo III with today's action movies, seeing since they're night and day. It would be better to put it up against what it was in competition with back in the 80s & early 90s, thus why I named those films specifically. I wasn't belittling them.

I like T2, Predator and Die Hard a lot, but they are really overrated movies that are not as good as the Rambo series, which in my opinion is the pinnacle of action cinema.

Predator is far more watchable than Rambo II. That movie looks and sounds brand new today.

I reckon Predator is not really an action movie like Rambo is. Predator is a sci-fi movie with action, thriller & monster movie elements woven into each other. Rambo is far superior to Predator in terms of raw, straight up action-adventure. Predator is a cross-over movie, it's like Jaws with an alien.

In terms of influence in the genre, Rambo was a trailblazer. It was original and lots of franchises like Die Hard etc were inspired by it.

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[–] Benjatron_Gear_Solid 9 years ago

I just watched Rambo lll last night due to playing so much metal gear solid v and absolutely loved it! Yes it's unrealistic and way over the top but it's frickin Rambo! The action is great and I really got caught up in the energy. I feel that it's on part or maybe a little better than the second. It's too bad that it wasn't as successful but admittedly it can be a little awkward due to Rambo helping the same group who eventually became the Taliban.