Let It Die: Rambo - Lebeau's Le Blog
https://lebeauleblog.com/2019/07/05/let-it-die-rambo/
The backbone of Sylvester Stallone’s movie career is undoubtedly the Rocky series. The first Rocky made Stallone a household name way back in 1976 and as recently as last year, the actor was still portraying his most famous alter ego in the sequel to a series spin-off, Creed II. How Stallone managed to milk eight movies out of the story of an underdog boxer is one of life’s great mysteries. But almost as puzzling is how thirty-seven years after First Blood, Stallone is still playing Rambo.share
Which brings us to Rambo: Last Blood. The plot involves a Mexican drug cartel which sounds like a political minefield. But don’t expect Rambo to strap on a MAGA hat and build a wall in this one. Stallone has been pitching this premise since at least 2009.
Given the title, one might expect Rambo V to be the final chapter in the First Blood saga, but Stallone has made it clear, to the surprise of absolutely no one, that if this movie makes enough money he will come back for more. Never mind that the character’s story was told in the first movie. Contrary to what he might say, Stallone has never been above a mercenary gesture.
I probably don’t need to explain to anyone why the Rambo series should end. The character’s story was told in the first movie. By sending the character back to Vietnam, the first sequel explored the only natural extension of Rambo’s story. This character isn’t James Bond. It doesn’t make sense to keep sending him out on a series of adventures. He should be in therapy dealing with his PTSD.
Once you get farther and farther from Rambo’s origins as a Vietnam vet, there’s nothing left to distinguish the character from any of the other action heroes Stallone plays. Last Blood looks like any other generic Sylvester Stallone movie. It’s getting a theatrical release because it has the Rambo brand stamped on it. But it’s not like it’s continuing the narrative of the earlier films. It’s just a way to extend the franchise well beyond its natural lifespan.