Image via WikipediaFirst Blood (reviewed earlier) was a social commentary about warrior's psychic wounds and how they have a hard time fitting back into society. The sequel, on the other hand, is a pure revenge fantasy, about how Vietnam can be "won". Indeed, one of the bonus features on the DVD was "We get to win it this time!"The Setup: John Rambo, in prison, was rescued by Col. Trautman... a CIA guy, Murdoch, wants Rambo to go into Vietnam to find evidence of American POWs. It'll be a completely clandestine mission, with just help of one Vietnamese agent. It's supposed to be quiet, just in and out. However, when Rambo lost the camera equipment due to mis-jump, he changed the mission to rescue. When he reached the rendezvous point with one POW, Murdoch ordered the choppered turned around, leaving him behind. He was captured by the Vietnamese, now in concert with the Russians, and tortured. Instead of cracking, he escaped with help of the Vietnamese agent. When the agent was killed by ambush, he declared war on the prison camp, the Russians, the Vietnamese, and tries to rescue the POWs...
The setup is pretty atrocious, but there's enough action going through the movie to keep you on the edge. The initial insertion into Vietnam was interesting, and the escape from prison camp also interesting. The point right up to the betrayal was great, and subsequent second escape and big showdown is just awesome for its time. Nowadays, you see all the flaws and problems, but back then, it's like heck, yeah! Go USA! USA! It's cathartic.
You don't watch Rambo movies for characters. You see it to see bad guys killed, and good guys win.
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