Rambo: First Blood Part II Research

The article is from a March 1986 issue of Jump Cut magazine and written by Mike Felker.

It aims to criticise the 1985 action film "Rambo: First Blood Part II" for its glamorisation of war and overly-exaggerated and violent action, appearing patriotic, macho and completely unrealistic.


The article describes the character John Rambo as an "unstoppable killing machine", seeking to "destroy half of Vietnam", sarcastically suggesting that Rambo's mission isn't as ethical or well-meaning as the film indicates.

The film is a "paean to the cult of hardcore machismo" according to Felker, emphasising the ultra-masculine nature of John Rambo, a character who "doesn't even say "ouch!"" to a white-hot knife blade at his neck.

Rambo "eschews" what Felker describes as "sissy pettiness", sarcastically referencing the true nature of the Vietnam war which Felker himself was a part of. This ties into Felker's argument against the film as it is incredibly unrealistic, particularly in regards to Rambo's lack of emotion, fear and even a T-shirt to protect his "excessively muscled torso".

This lack of realism and sense of ultra-masculinity is demonstrated in this trailer:



Felker addresses Stallone's hand in the screenplay of this film, describing Stallone's ability with dialogue as "astonishing" and "powerful", mocking the over-the-top screenplay for its cliched and wooden nature.

For example, a scene in which Rambo explains what the word "expendable" means to a Vietnamese woman:




The writer goes on to describe another "slight problem" of the film, its use of racial stereotypes concerning the Vietnamese and "VERY white" supporting cast of POWs and bureaucrats. Felker likens them to the "Japs" from old John Wayne movies. He also says that they are an "all-but-faceless" enemy. This is an interesting point, because it shows that not many things have changed since the 40s and 50s John Wayne-movie stereotyping.

An example of this faceless enemy convention from spoof comedy Hot Shots Part Deux:

Hot Shots Part Deux body-count scene

Felker takes a shot at Stallone's effort in the real-life Vietnam war, or lack thereof. He was making "pornographic films" such as THE ITALIAN STALLION instead of fighting. He sarcastically jokes that Stallone was "doing his part for the troops in 'Nam."

Again, Felker suggests that this film, just as the John Wayne films of the past, will "prepare yet another generation" to defend the "girl-next door, mom's-apple-pie, and Big Business" from communism. This, again, provides a comparison between action films of the 80s and 40s/50s.

He says that the overwhelming success of Rambo: First Blood Part II is "in the name of patriotism", striking a chord with American audiences through Rambo's policing of third-world countries and communist activity.

Overall, while I agree on the racial stereotyping and hyper-masculinity points, I don't think that First Blood Part II is attempting realism in the first place. It's an over-the-top "dumb" action film starring Sylvester Stallone, attempting fun over seriousness.