With less than a week to go before the final (?) Rambo movie (read my review of First Blood – the film that started it all) is released, here is what we do and don’t know in and around this film:
- This will be the fifth film in the franchise and Stallone has indicated if this film does well, he will play Rambo again. Keep in mind that Stallone is 73 years old and last played Rambo in 2008 at age 62. An 80+ year old Rambo? Not sure many would be interested in that unless it is more a role like he played in Creed, a passing of the torch type role. Then again, sequels can be put together within a year or two, and Stallone is in good physical shape for a man his age.
- John Rambo is now chilling in Arizona, but some sort of Mexican cartel kidnapping story will spring him back into action. Wikipedia will reveal, er, spoil more of the plot, if you want to visit there. I’m imaging a Peppermint-like tale of Rambo vengeance wrath about to unfold. Yes, we’ve seen this type of storyline before, but Rambo is one of the best at enacting revenge.
- Rotten Tomatoes movie info: “Now, Rambo must confront his past and unearth his ruthless combat skills to exact revenge in a final mission. A deadly journey of vengeance, RAMBO: LAST BLOOD marks the last chapter of the legendary series.”
- Colonel Sam Trautman (played by Richard Crenna), who was not in the last Rambo (2008) will almost certainly not be in this one, other than flashbacks or voice reminders (as in the trailer above). Crenna died in 2003. Trautman was the primary focus of Rambo’s call back to action in Rambo III. (Screenrant curious explores how an alternate ending to Rambo III would not have held up today) I liken Crenna’s absence a little bit like having no Mickey or Apollo in the Rocky films.
- Speaking of the cast, nobody is returning from any prior film except for Stallone.
- Stallone goes through the evolution of Rambo’s character saying, “In every film, Rambo never goes home, he goes out to the jungle or Afghanistan. In the new one, he does come home, but in a way, he never arrives. He’s there, but he’s not. That’s what the whole story is built around. As soon as he walks outside his door, he has no more control. The world controls you,”
- Cinemablend is predicting an anemic Tomatometer score of 39%, “it looks like they are going out with a bang. I can’t imagine critics love it, but I don’t suspect that’s really the point.” Agreed. In most cases the combined audience reviews more accurate represent my opinion than the pros.
- If you’re lucky enough to be near an Alamo Drafthouse location (thanks Slashfilm for compiling a complete list of locations), they are running a Rambo marathon leading up to and including Rambo: Last Blood. Me? This week I’ll rewatch the Rambo movies that I own on streaming and/or DVD and Blu-Ray to further whet my appetite.
Want even more Rambo & Stallone? Sure, we both do! Here’s some more websites/blogs/etc posts:
- The official Rambo: Last Blood website: https://www.lionsgate.com/movies/rambo-last-blood
- Stallone on casting for older Hollywood actors via Ashbgame. Still can’t believe he is 73!?! That’s the new 55 or 60, I guess, since human beings are as a whole living healthier and longer.
- Prediction that Rambo will have $24 million opening week in the theater via Anthony D’Alessandro. Some good commentary on this post. Is he right or wrong? Seems maybe high to me, but I know very little about what other people will or won’t want to see. I know this film is something I want to see, it’s #1 on my Fall 2019 list, but I’m a 50-something male. Maybe just my demographic interested. My wife isn’t all that psyched to see this.
- Keith & The Movies offers a compelling first glance on the Rambo franchise.
- 3 Movie Posters via Future of the Force. I like the third one listed in the post best.
- Meet the two female producers, Lati Grobman and Christa Campbell thanks to Bonnie from Hollywood Life
We’ll find out who draws first blood this time in Rambo: Last Blood when it opens in theaters on September 20.
Movies, Movies, Movies 
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