RAMBO (2008)

Director: Sylvester Stallone

After watching the first trailer I got high hopes for this film. Finally, it seemed, that Sly made a real RAMBO-film.

And he did! This is by far the best Sylvester Stallone movie I have ever seen. It is brutal, it is powerful, it had depth. And very much so.

If you are not familiar with Burma and the situation there, you should spend a few minutes reading up on the subject. The fact that they try to educate you with a few seconds of real (and painful) news footage (some as recent as fall 2007) is good, but not enough. With some insight in the Burmese situation, you will enjoy this film much more.

It is vital to stand alert, watch every minor detail, closely see the actions Rambo is taking here – and everybody else for that matter. When the bullets start flying (and they do fly so very often in this flick), it’s tough to keep up, but necessary still.

Where movies like SAVING PRIVATE RYAN and HOSTEL tries to justify their violence with plot, RAMBO’s violence IS the plot. Nowhere have we seen such an honest film with such a tough Central Question: is it ever justified to kill someone? The movie is short, it has four characters we learn the names of and only a few minor characters we care about. It is minimalistic in every sense – but it is so very well done that we are watching a pure masterpiece here.

This is definitely not a film for everyone. But everyone should watch it. It is an important film, and it brings up an important subject. It is pure theater, pure excitement.

When I go to a movie I want to FEEL something. And this film makes you feel so much.

Pure excellence.

Score: 10