Rambo (2008)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Sylvester Stallone

Writers (WGA):

Art Monterastelli (written by) and
Sylvester Stallone (written by) ...

Release Date:

25 January 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Tagline:

Heroes never die.... They just reload.

Plot:

In Thailand, John Rambo joins a group of mercenaries to venture into war-torn Burma, and rescue a group of Christian aid workers who were kidnapped by the ruthless local infantry unit.

Plot Keywords:

Rambo | Missionary | Burma | Boat | Mercenary

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Sylvester Stallone	...	John Rambo
Julie Benz	...	Sarah
Matthew Marsden	...	School Boy
Graham McTavish	...	Lewis
Reynaldo Gallegos	...	Diaz (as Rey Gallegos)
Jake La Botz	...	Reese
Tim Kang	...	En-Joo
Maung Maung Khin	...	Tint
Paul Schulze	...	Michael Burnett
Cameron Pearson	...	Missionary #4 (Jeff)
Thomas Peterson	...	Missionary #2 (Dentist)
Tony Skarberg	...	Missionary #3 (Videographer)
James With	...	Missionary #5 (Preacher) (as James Wearing Smith)
Kasikorn Niyompattana	...	Snake Hunter #2
Shaliew 'Lek' Bamrungbun	...	Snake Hunter #1

Also Known As:

John Rambo (Germany) (USA) (working title)
Rambo 4 (India: English title) (Singapore: English title)
Rambo 4: John Rambo (Singapore: English title)
Rambo IV (USA) (working title)
Rambo IV: End of Peace (USA) (working title)
Rambo IV: In the Serpent's Eye (USA) (working title)
Rambo IV: Pearl of the Cobra (USA) (working title)
Rambo: First Blood Part IV (USA) (fake working title)
Rambo: To Hell and Back (USA) (working title)
John Rambo (Belgium: French title) (France) [fr]
John Rambo (Italy) [it]
John Rambo (Norway) [no]
John Rambo (Switzerland: English title) [en]
John Rambo (Greece) [el]
John Rambo (Poland) [pl]
John Rambo (Croatia) [hr]
John Rambo (Denmark) [da]
John Rambo (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
John Rambo (Hungary) [hu]
John Rambo- Regreso al infierno (Spain) [es]
Rambô: Saigo no senjô (Japan) [ja]
Rambo (Finland) [fi]
Rambo (Brazil) [pt]
Rambo (Venezuela) [es]
Rambo - Regreso al Infierno (Mexico) [es]
Rambo - Regreso al infierno (Argentina) [es]
Rambo IV (Brazil) [pt]
Rambo: Do pekla a naspat (Slovakia) [sk]
Rambo: Do pekla a zpet (Czech Republic) [cs]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong graphic bloody violence, sexual assaults, grisly images and language.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English | Burmese | Thai

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Sweden:15 | Norway:18 | Denmark:15 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Malaysia:18SG | India:A (cinema release) | Singapore:M18 (cut) | Brazil:18 | UK:18 | Canada:14A | Ireland:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Germany:18 (cut) (theatrical version) | Australia:R | France:-12 | South Korea:18 | Finland:K-18 | Italy:T | New Zealand:R18 | USA:R (certificate #42649) | Argentina:16 | Israel:16 | Netherlands:16 | Mexico:C | Taiwan:R-18 | Germany:Not Rated (SPIO/JK) | Hong Kong:III | Japan:R-15 | Peru:PT | Austria:16 | South Africa:16LV | Germany:16 (heavily cut) (video version) | Argentina:13 (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Company:

Lionsgate

Trivia:

The first Rambo film to break the pattern of greatly escalating the budget from one film to the next, it cost $50 million, while it's predecessor Rambo III (1988) cost $63 million.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the military camp where the prisoners are held, it rains all night. The next morning, when everyone leaves the camp, the ground is dry - even dusty.

Quotes:

Burnett: [to Rambo] I have to report this. I know you think what you did was right, but taking a life is never right.

Movie Connections:

Features Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

Soundtrack:

Long Mae Ping

Rambo is back and better than ever!

I saw this at an advance screening in Oslo, and going in, I didn't expect it to be any more than a cheesy and somewhat gory tribute to eighties actioners by a star/director/producer/writer who was desperate to relive past glory. That latter may or may not be true, but my former assessment was plain wrong. This movie is authentic, shocking and unlike any other comparable movie.

Given its genre, the movie is a masterpiece. The story is simple but solid, and works on several levels. The action scenes are unparalleled, more intense than "Black Hawk Down", "Saving Private Ryan" and "Stalingrad" put together. The level of brutality and gore will shock and fascinate, and no doubt cause some level of controversy.

Stallone proves himself to be an excellent director, as well as in excellent shape for his age. I had little faith in him going in, and I stand corrected.

This is a Rambo who has come to terms with who and what he is, in a movie that holds up when compared with the original "First Blood". Well done, Sly. Well done indeed.