First Blood

9.6 Rambo: First Blood is a gritty, emotional, and action-packed film that introduced us to John Rambo, a troubled Vietnam War veteran played brilliantly by Sylvester Stallone. I had watched this with my dad because this is a ‘dad film’ and I’m glad I did because my father is a big fan of the franchise therefore I’m glad I got to experience the first film with him. What makes First Blood stand out is its deeper message. It explores the trauma soldiers face after war, and how society often fails them when they return home. Using flashbacks and references to the Vietnamese War, it really signifies how ruthless and cruel war was to these soldiers, forcing them to act this way. Rambo is not a hero or a villain—he’s a broken man trying to find peace in a world that doesn’t understand him. The cinematography captures the cold, harsh wilderness perfectly, and the action scenes are intense but not over-the-top. Stallone gives a powerful performance, especially in the emotional breakdown at the end, which shows just how human Rambo really is. Personally I enjoyed how much Rambo was outsmarting the group of policemen in the beginning like a cat finding its mice. Overall, Rambo: First Blood is more than just an action movie. It’s a story about pain, survival, and the cost of war. A must-watch classic. What a dad film. (RIP Ted Kotcheff)