Rambo: Last Blood, the final chapter in Sylvester Stallone’s iconic action franchise that began all the way back in 1982’s First Blood, opened in cinemas this weekend past. And to say that it’s received an unpleasant welcome from US critics is one hell of an understatement. At the time of writing, the film was sitting on a 28% Rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an average score of just 3.9/10. Ouch.
Darryn and I actually watched the film together this weekend past, and while he thought it solid, I was less convinced. While I didn’t quite feel the heavy criticism US critics leveled at the film’s plot – which sees Rambo’s niece kidnapped by a Mexican gang and forced into drug-addled prostitution – as being dangerously pro-Trump in its vilification of people south of the US border, I do agree with some of the other issues pointed out. Threadbare characterization, sloppy pacing, piss poor villains, too self-serious tone. And then there’s the film’s utterly ridiculous final 40 minutes. If you were to throw Looney Toons, Home Alone, and Mortal Kombat into a blender, this is what you would get and I’m still not sure if this is a good or bad thing.
One person who most definitely thinks it’s the latter though, is David Morrell, the author of the 1972 novel of the same name on which First Blood is based. The author took to Twitter over the weekend to give his impressions of the film, and he didn’t mince any words.
First Blood is a relatively bloodless, very introspective, character driven story about a man who still faces the horrors of war long after he’s left the battlefield. It is, in my opinion, a maserful, timeless classic. Last Blood is most definitely not that. In fact, as Morrell continued in an email to Newsweek, the author stated that “I felt degraded and dehumanized after I left the theater”
Instead of being soulful, this new movie lacks one. I felt I was less a human being for having seen it, and today that’s an unfortunate message.
Damn. That’s harsh. But Morrell wasn’ done, responding to anybody who asked, and even comparing Last Blood to infamous bomb Waterworld as well another badly received film with a similar plot.
Did you catch Rambo: Last Blood this weekend past? If so, do you agree with Morrell and the rest of the critics, or are you in the same camp as Darryn who thinks it’s a good enough swan song for Stallone’s Rambo? Sound off below.
Last Updated: September 22, 2019
Yahtzee
September 23, 2019 at 10:31
Just reading that sub plot made my brain cells die a bit.
Have a low IQ cat gif that relates to the reviews.
https://media.tenor.com/images/0e985e97918641432eb60f1d423ada01/tenor.gif
Original Heretic
September 23, 2019 at 10:39
Must be how JK Rowling feels about the new Potter world movies….
Oh wait, she wrote those herself…
Jac7
September 23, 2019 at 10:39
Went to see it yesterday with my brother. Both big Rambo fans. And I can honestly say, if you’re a Rambo fan, it’s not going to disappoint. Rambo kills bad guys, and he’s very creative in doing so. And this time they made it very personal. A symphony of violence. Loved it.
Son of Banana Jim
September 23, 2019 at 13:06
Sometimes you just need 2 hours of mindless violence in a cinema… I came out of John Wick 3 a calmer and happier chap, and I’ll be going into Rambo expecting some good ol’ 80s action violence (sans 2019 faux outrage and nutty politics).
Jac7
September 23, 2019 at 13:46
I couldn’t agree more. And I have so much respect for Sly for still showing us his love for cinema. The man is still a beast. Enjoy the movie. Let me know how you liked it.
Son of Banana Jim
September 23, 2019 at 13:06
Sometimes you just need 2 hours of mindless violence in a cinema… I came out of John Wick 3 a calmer and happier chap, and I’ll be going into Rambo expecting some good ol’ 80s action violence (sans 2019 faux outrage and nutty politics).
BradeLunner
September 23, 2019 at 12:28
Yea first blood was an incredible and even emotional character study, then it evolved into just straight up great action movies. I was hoping by calling this last blood, that it would tie into the theme and style of the original
Son of Banana Jim
September 23, 2019 at 13:06
It’s almost like (yet again) you can safely discard the “manufactured mass outrage” and just go and see an awesome Rambo movie.
Son of Banana Jim
September 23, 2019 at 13:06
It’s almost like (yet again) you can safely discard the “manufactured mass outrage” and just go and see an awesome Rambo movie.
Lourens
September 23, 2019 at 15:34
I might have never heard of Morell, but this seems like attention-seeking. Was he as vocal about the other films?
Matthew Holliday
September 23, 2019 at 16:05
All these reboots, basically just what Stallone sees when he looks in the mirror.
Self glorification at its finiest.
When can we expect to hear “Dammit Dredd, you’re the best we ever had, you gotta come out of retirement and sort these bad guys out for us.”