MovieChat Forums > Rambo III (1988) Discussion > This movie is disliked/underrated due to...

This movie is disliked/underrated due to recent political developments.

posted 14 years ago by simplyfsl
3 replies | jump to latest

I remember the time this movie came out, at that time Russia was still USSR and U.S. Intelligence was supporting Afghans for their fight in collaboration with General Zia's Government of Pakistan, this movie became very popular and loved at that time.

Now who would know that the fight again Russians would create monsters like Taliban and Afghanistan would become base of Al-Qaeda, USA and Pakistan both are facing severe hatred and aggressiveness of these terrorists. So when you recommend this movie to present generation, they have seen Afghanistan as something different and they just can't grasp the heroism of resistance shown in the movie when the resistance is acting against same USA where this movie was made..

Also there is a huge issue in the movie about bombing innocents, USA did the same in Afghanistan, 9/11 changed a lot of things, this movie becomes so much painfully relating to people of Afghanistan when you know that bombings continue.

First Blood 1 and 2 don't face such dilemma as they show emotional response to a war which has ended leaving no future traces of USA against the Far-east countries, anyone agree with me ?

Why so Serious ?

[–] devilside 14 years ago

Of course, what you say is true, but lots of people today have no idea how culturally and politically relevant film this actually was around the world. Also, this film was very much dealing with foreign issues and even Rambo here doesn't represent Americans as much as outsiders who go there to help, it's a metaphor. One can only wish Rambo 4 was as important and popular on a worldwide scale. Rambo III is also representing a cinema in the purest sense, it doesn't try to be a documentary, quite on contrary, it uses all the tricks that only the most popular motion pictures can offer (Star Wars, Lord Of The Rings, Pirates Of The Carribean, etc..) - a visual allegory and metaphor hidden behind the mask of fantasy, which also is the reason this film had such a wide appeal in contrast to the first and last Rambo films that really carried that traditional stigma of films trying to achieve realism by restraining the power of imagination for the average audience that really just wants to escape from day-by-day harsh reality by going to cinema. This is also one of those films that one has to see as a historical document morethan just a timeless cinema, by watching this film I learn a lot about a certain socil climate and period in time.

[–] rabksaj 14 years ago

I agree with you so much.

[–] patton98 14 years ago

well said.