SEASON 2, EPISODE 37, FIRST BLOOD: The Only Rambo Film That Artistically Matters!

When it comes to reviewing underrated great movies…NOTHING IS OVER! NOTHING!

Because this week’s episode is an academic deep dive in the 1982 action classic FIRST BLOOD!

Joining us this week is Wayne of the excellent film review podcast In Film We Trust. Together, Wayne and our host, Professor Cesare Augusto tackle just what makes FIRST BLOOD so unique and memorable. We all know John Rambo the man, the myth, and the legend. But what many folks might not be aware of is just how artistically well-done FIRST BLOOD is compared to its countless imitators and rip-offs, and even the rest of its own franchise. FIRST BLOOD introduces us to John Rambo, and just what made the man tick. Here, he’s fresh back stateside, out of the Vietnam War, only to be confronted by a crooked local lawman (played with brilliance by Brian Dennehy). What follows is a suspenseful private war between our hero, a highly decorated Green Beret suffering from severe PTSD, against scores of local police officers and military men out for his hide.

Wayne and Cesare explore FIRST BLOOD’s excellent characters (including Stallone’s profound portrayal of his second notable franchise character after Rocky Balboa), great use of British Columbia’s rugged natural terrain, and sharp writing, elements that its sequels sorely lacked. This episode’s analysts formally declare that FIRST BLOOD, just like ROCKY, is the only film of its franchise to be vastly superior in its artistic quality compared to its sequels. Hear our analysis and judge for yourselves!