7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.6 | |
Reviewer | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.6 |
Vietnam War veteran John Rambo leaves his job as a river boatman to accompany a group of mercenaries on a daring rescue mission.
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, Matthew Marsden, Graham McTavish, Reynaldo GallegosAction | 100% |
Thriller | 74% |
War | 24% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
English, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy (on disc)
Bonus View (PiP)
Region free
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
Live for nothing or die for something.
"It's a long road when you're on your own." So begin the lyrics to the theme song from 1982's
First Blood, the movie
that introduced the world to the cinematic representation of John Rambo, played by Sylvester
Stallone (Rocky Balboa), a
legendary character first presented to the fictional world in David Morrell's novel "First Blood,"
originally published in 1972. A long road indeed, the John Rambo character is now in his 26th
year since the first film was released, and 2008's Rambo marks the third sequel to the
now-famed franchise. First Blood is a film near and dear to my heart -- it's a terrific
movie not just because of the action, acting, or direction, but because of the human drama and
the film's representation of a generation of Vietnam veterans and their search for both
acceptance and place to call home after an unpopular war. Stallone's portrayal of Rambo in the
film's final minutes is one of the most gut-wrenching and well-acted scenes in cinematic history,
his breakdown playing in stark contrast to the previous ninety minutes of raw energy, stamina,
and skill displayed by the character, leaving us with a sense that all he wants is to discover who
he is and put his past behind him. That theme was explored in the next two films but never brought full
circle. Thankfully, Rambo does just that, leaving this longtime fan of the
character wholly satisfied and emotionally fulfilled.
Your choice.
Rambo hits Blu-ray with an impressive 1080p high definition transfer, framed in the film's original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The picture looks a bit intentionally saturated which results in an image that appears a bit brighter than normal with black levels that are a bit bright and gray at times. The print is pristine, as is to be expected, free of any blemish. The darker scenes, of which there are many in the first two acts of the film, look good, considering the lighting conditions (say, the dim artificial light and moonlight providing the only lighting on Rambo's boat in chapter four). The colors of the jungle are incredibly lush and vibrant. Detail is excellent, be it on the wood and sticks and hay that make up some of the villager's dwellings, or the material of the clothing worn by the missionaries (look at the stitching in the white hat worn by Sarah), or even the lines on the worn face of John Rambo himself. The gruesome "day after" scenes at the slaughtered village show painstaking and gut-wrenching detail, not only of the violence but also in the mud, murky water, dirt, and debris; we can almost feel the filth and gore depicted in the scene. The image is virtually grain-free; grain is only visible during the darker sequences. Rambo looks fantastic on Blu-ray. Unfortunately, it's not the finest presentation I've seen on the format, but the transfer befits the mood of the film perfectly nevertheless.
Rambo explodes onto Blu-ray with a reference-quality DTS-HD MA 7.1 channel lossless
sound presentation that may very well be the finest I've heard to date. That score that I love so
much sounds fantastic here, easily the best I've heard it (and far surpassing the MP3 version I
have playing in the background as I write). This entire soundtrack provides room-filling sound
that is focused in the front but finds its way into the rears to truly engulf the viewer in the
experience of hearing it again, sounding so good it's like hearing it for the first time. Even the
most subtle of nuances throughout this track sound great. Take, for example, the snake
charming scene at the beginning of the movie in Thailand. The man announcing what's
happening on the microphone is played and placed appropriately in the right channels, and it truly
does sound like a man on a cheap microphone being played through a cheap speaker. A
rainstorm in chapter three envelopes the viewer, perhaps the most natural rainstorm I've ever
heard on a Blu-ray disc. Ambience is always heard in the rears, be it flowing water or the
chirping of insects, all making this a highly realistic soundtrack. Dialogue reproduction is
excellent. Stallone's grisly, reserved voice comes to life on this disc, his performance enhanced by
not only his demeanor and the way he carries himself and his character, but also through the
raw
emotion heard every time he speaks, an emotion effortlessly conveyed by this high-quality
soundtrack.
Of course, this track truly shines the most during the action sequences. A mortar
attack on the village in chapter six is frightening, the chaos of the moment represented to great
and chilling effect by the pounding soundtrack. Every gunshot packs a punch, be it from pistol
shots or the
repeated thumps of AK-47s or the awesome power of the .50 caliber weapons used throughout
the film.
One character carries a Barrett 82A1/M107 semi automatic .50 caliber rifle, and is ordered to fire
a single round by Rambo at one point in the third act of the film that marks the beginning of the
film's climax. The shot hits home, reverberating through my chest and entire body and shaking
my media room. It's not just the initial crack of the gun, but it's so powerful that we can still feel
the reverberations seconds after the bullet is away. On an even larger scale is the subsequent
explosion of an old World War II bomb left behind for some 65 odd years. Once the climactic gun
battle begins, the track is simply too powerful and devastating for words. Needless to say, it's an
adrenaline rush just listening to it, let alone watching it. Every channel is a barrage of gunfire,
representing the zenith of gunfights on home video. Lionsgate has certainly not failed in their
endeavor to recreate this experience for home, and if your viewers can stomach the violence, this
is your new reference disc for lossless audio presentation.
Rambo joins the fight on Blu-ray with an impressive selection of bonus materials.
Leading
things off is a feature-length commentary track by writer/actor/director Sylvester Stallone.
Stallone
begins the track by discussing the problems in Burma and why the public isn't more aware of the
situation. Sly offers up yet another great track (have a listen to his thoughts on First
Blood). He proves himself to be a highly intelligent and eloquent man, far from the
stereotype
that surounds his persona. He reaches in-depth to every facet of the movie and rarely permits
dead
air to interfere with the track. Sly discusses the plausibility of all the action scenes, going so far
as
to actually shoot dummies with a bow and arrow at the distances depicted in the movie to ensure
that such a shot could be made, albeit by a great marksman only (which Rambo is). He also
discusses the brutality which occurs at the end of the film, justifying the damage the weapons
do, defending the chaos during the scene, and pointing out some character arcs that are
completed during this sequence. The
comments are fascinating, the track one of the best I've heard, and is a must-listen.
Next is a bonus view (Blu-ray profile 1.1) picture-in-picture commentary track that runs over the
length of the film (although it's not always on-screen). The commentary track itself is the same
one heard and described above, but
this time with behind-the-scenes footage (sometimes the movie breaks for some full-screen
featurettes) as well as showing Sylvester Stallone as he provides the
track. It's a bit disconnecting watching him look at the camera and deliver his comments, but it's
a nice addition to the disc. The entire track runs for just over two hours and the full-screen
segments are presented in 1080p high definition.
Seven featurettes are next. It's a Long Road: Resurrection of an Icon (1080i, 19:44)
looks at the origins of the story, the skepticism of brining the character back after such a long
layoff, and other ideas for the story. This feature also focuses on the difficulties inherent in
filming in Thailand, and the hardships of shooting a movie in general. A Score to Settle: The
Music of 'Rambo' (1080i, 6:31) looks at Brian Tyler's score and Jerry Goldsmith's influence on
it, as well as the input from Sly Stallone. The Art of War: Part 1: Editing (1080i, 6:47)
examines the editing process and the fine work of editor Sean Albertson and second editor Paul
Harb. Much of this piece has a
comedic twist to it scattered amongst the finer details. The Art of War: Part 2: Sound
(1080i, 3:15) is a brief behind-the-scenes look at the importance of making sure the sound was
on par with the excellence of the rest of the movie and what realistic sound can add to a good
movie. The Weaponry of 'Rambo' (1080i, 14:23) is a firearms enthusiast's dream
featurette. Armorer/property master Kent Johnson takes us through the weapons seen
throughout the film (including the .50 caliber sniper rifle and the rough knife made by Rambo in
the film) and the firearms training the actors endured for their roles. A Hero's Welcome:
Release and Reaction (1080i, 9:31) looks at the film's premiere, an appearance there by
Arnold
Schwarzenegger, and the reaction of the fans to the film and its return to its roots, and the
reactions of real soldiers to the film. Finally, Legacy of Despair: The Real Struggle in
Burma (1080i, 10:42) looks at the history of the conflict in Burma.
Four deleted scenes (1080p, 13:44) are available on this disc. Rambo is a BD-Live (Blu-
ray profile 2.0) compatible disc and it features "MoLog," which allows users to chat via text while
the
movie is playing. 1080p trailers for First Blood, Rambo: First Blood Part
II, Rambo III,
Rambo, the Rambo Ultimate Edition DVDs, War, Crank, and The Punisher. Finally,
Rambo comes with a separate DVD disc that contains a digital copy that can be
transfered to a personal computer for playback on said computer or various portable video
devices.
John Rambo is a character I care deeply about. His ordeal as a man in First Blood, not knowing his place in life, wondering what it is he's become (or has always been), is resolved in this film, and the ending was absolutely better than I could have hoped for, one of the finest conclusions to not only a movie, but to a man and a franchise in film history. It's simple yet powerful, Rambo's final choice hearkening back to the "long road" theme that runs through the films. The Blu-ray edition of Rambo is spectacular. From an incredible video transfer, to what could be classified as a historically great lossless soundtrack, to a wonderful supplemental section that is as entertaining as it is informative, this Blu-ray is as good as the movie itself. Well done, Mr. Stallone. Your latest film, the entire Rambo franchise, and the Blu-ray discs on which they now proudly reside receive my highest recommendation.
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