John Rambo (Sylvestor Stallone) returns from Nam (in which he was tortured) to find a colleague, but he has died. The police (led by its sheriff, played by Brian Dennehy) take an interest in him and drives him out of town.

But our hero defies him and returns. He is tortured in a police cell whilst having Vietnam flashbacks but escapes.

The police hunt him down like a rabbit for the rest of the movie, but this rabbit has other ideas.

"Another one of those movies where the whole world is against the good little guy and the good little guy wins after much punching and running like the wind in vests and animal skins."

"A rabbit shoot, but this rabbit has the legendary athletic powers of Rocky to evade and punish his would be captors."

"A movie with tall trees."

"A definitive macho action man movie."

"A good movie to have on the video when you are out with your hunting buddies and the weather conditions have deteriorated and you have gone back to base to wait for the conditions to improve and you are waiting for the sausages and other provisions in cans to cook."

"All I remembered about this movie was the sewing up the arm gash with a needle and thread. I think I passed out after that, or did I vomit, I can't remember now.

John Rambo talking to his superior towards end of movie. He has just been told it's all over:

"Nothing is over, nothing. You just don't turn it off. It wasn't my war..." "...I did what I had to do to win, but somebody wouldn't let us win. Then I come back to the world and I see all those magazines at the airport protesting me. Calling me baby killer and all sorts of vile crap. Who are they to protest me unless they've been me, been there, and know what the hell they are yelling about?"

Has that feel of Deliverance but without the classic 'squeal like a pig' episode, although threatening it throughout. Not a half bad movie if you are in the mood for it.

July 25 , 2002