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How a movie that sucked was saved by deleting all the main character's lines

CinemaStix

2,915,734 views

#Rambo #firstblood #videoessay

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First Blood (i.e. the first Rambo movie) is a Sylvester Stallone classic. It's also way over-generalized as just another violent 80s action flick. But to be honest, I just have way too much to say about First Blood and the character of Rambo. So, here's half my thoughts on First Blood, with even more coming in a couple weeks. Please enjoy responsibly.

Written & Edited by Danny Boyd

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First Blood (1982)

20 Comments

@CinemaStix Creator 1 year ago Pinned

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@paulyguitary7651 11 months ago

For a movie series known for its body count, it’s wild to think that John Rambo didn’t kill anyone in the original.

@theowinters6314 8 months ago

It's interesting to see just how happy he is in the first scene of the movie. He's there to see his friend, he's excited, outgoing, eager, and then it all comes crashing down.

@SpecCrun 10 months ago

Imagine the Rock asking them to cut his screen time

@2pairOfAces 1 year ago

Fun fact: The author of the book First Blood was based on famously hired an attorney to look over the contract before signing. The lawyer suggested only 1 change, to secure payment rights for any sequel. The author responded "Why? How? John dies at the end!". But since he paid for the lawyer, and didn't want to feel totally robbed by his decision, he had the change made. Best money he ever spent.

@IMelkor42 1 year ago

When you're young, you think First Blood is the boring one. Then you grow up and realise it's the best one.

@Exnem 10 months ago (edited)

First Blood is what I like to call "The last 70s movie", even though it came out in 1982. It perfectly straddles the border between the excessive 80s action and the moody 70s dark realistic films. The sequels all embraced the 80s of course and became more well known but as with a lot of 70s movies they are often revisited more later on.

@final02.mp4 1 year ago

Fun fact: First Blood Director Ted Kotcheff is the son of Bulgarian immigrants to Canada. After the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, the Bulgarian film industry completely declined, but Stallone organized a large Hollywood investment in Bulgarian film studios and shot a number of films there. This was so significant and successful that he even received Bulgarian citizenship as a token of gratitude from the government.

@philroodart 1 year ago

Rambo is my go-to example of a franchise that 100% misses the point of the movie that started it. It’s kind of sad, actually

@plaguedvenice 8 months ago

“Sometimes I wake up; I don’t know where I am.” Hurts so bad man

@sinjinreed2091 1 year ago (edited)

An interesting bit of subtext about why Teasle becomes obsessed with harassing Rambo: John was a Vietnam vet, but Teasle was a Korean War vet, and the Vietnam War virtually erased the existence of Korean War vets in the public eye. So the film basically boils down to American vs American, using old-fashioned Korean War tactics versus more modern Vietnam War guerrilla warfare.

In a sense, both men become an outlet for each other's resentment for the world's mistreatment of them.

@goldfinger0000 1 year ago

Such a smart decision to delete almost all his dialog. Reminiscent of Clint Eastwood's style. It makes his plea for help in the end all the more powerful.

@ChadBremer 10 months ago

The tonal shift from First Blood to all the other Rambo movies is so jarring. When I was a kid back in the 90's watching them I did not really notice. I was just like "hell yeah Rambo is kicking ass." Later in my adult years it stuck me as very odd that Rambo went from this broken soldier begging for help fighting his demons to a one man killing machine.

@SethMarcell 1 year ago

First Blood is what I suggest to people when they don't understand what PTSD feels like. It's an incredible piece of art

@PhazerSC 1 year ago

All subsequent Rambo movies completely forgot Act 1 and the last 10 minutes of First Blood and somehow morphed and twisted the character and his story into that emotionless killing machine. Such a waste of a great character.

@MoffeewithCilk 10 months ago

Imagine if Teadle simply gave him a ride to a restaurant and shared that he was also a vet from Korea. Think of how that conversation would have went.

@Melo7849 1 year ago

PTSD, they used to call it shell shock. Rambo had a serious case of PTSD.

@JakeHole 1 year ago

The more I learn about Stallone the more I realize what a passionate producer and actor he is

@RichestPoorRedneck 8 months ago

Sylvester Stallone and Russel Crowe are two examples of actors who understood their craft better than most the people around them.

@HoboHunterRik 1 year ago

When Rambo throws the bullet loops off himself, like they're the intestines of his fallen brother, always felt like amazing acting. The surprised, tortured mind really shines with Sylvesters acting. Even his natural slurry/mumbly speaking voice fits well with someone not fully in their own mind.