Directed by Edward Zwick for Warner Bros. Pictures

Written by Art Monterastelli and Sylvester Stallone

Running time: 1hr 33 minutes.

Go see “Rambo”.

This is the best Rambo since “First Blood.” Hollywood has become rather annoying by trying to make a political statement with every film. First Blood actually accomplished that task before it was obligatory and did it more effectively. Part of the success of the first movie, which I feel was lost in parts 2 and 3, is that the actions were reasonable to the character. This film recaptures that quality.

Viet Nam was a huge hot button issue for the US. Like most sore spots you can't quit touching it though it hurts every time. With time we've begun to be OK with Viet Nam. As long as we support our troops this time we can have more political, unpopular “conflicts.” The scary, ugly side of war; the non-surgical kind of fighting that makes us feel helpless as Americans dropped off our radar. In reality this has been going on somewhere in southwest Asia for hundreds of years, and we should be aware of it.

What about the “R” Rating? Extremely violent. This is on a par with many of the Viet Nam flicks or the more recent “Saving Private Ryan.” I think it's appropriate.

What if I hate Sylvester Stallone? Some people do. I can't figure it out. Most of the time it's pretty obvious why, but of the many stars in Hollywood who are clearly obnoxious in real life he seems like a regular Joe. Either way it's not a good category for this review since its Rambo and he's Sly.

Larger Story? This movie makes a statement we might remember from the Godfather series. “I try to get out but they keep pulling me back in.” It's a fascinating parallel. Is war to a hardened soldier like being in a mafia? Can a life of violence keep someone trapped?

At the surface they are similar. Don Corleon is trapped into running a criminal empire because it will be mishandled by someone else. Rambo is “forced” back into killing because he finds inaction impossible to reconcile with his self identity. The difference is that Corleon is trying to leave crime and become an honest man. Rambo is struggling to go straight in a way also, but the life he leaves is one we value. He strived to be a hero but he was told he was a murderer and he's been living under that banner ever since. In First Blood it didn't seem like he had much talent for a straight life because of the contrast between his killing prowess and his earning potential. By the fourth movie Rambo has learned to eek out an existence, but he can't hide from his calling.

The question here is identity. Is he a hero for defending the weak or is he just a killer with better ideology? Only he can answer that question.

“Y'know what you are, what you're made of. War is in your blood. When you're pushed, killing's as easy as breathing.”

“Live for nothing, or die for something.”