I’ve developed a whole new level of respect for Sylvester Stallone. I grew up in the 80s watching his movies and I enjoyed them to be sure but I never appreciated them. I think because I’m now in my 40s and so much time has passed, rewatching these old movies and specifically Rocky & Rambo, Stallone really was more than just action. He was about the character and story, too. But what truly cements my newly found appreciation is knowing that not only did he star in these movies but in many cases wrote and/or directed, too! And if that weren’t enough, my fucking god, the dedication to working out to achieve the body and physique is on a whole other level as far as commitment to the project! This man is a legend and that means more now than it ever did before.

I remember my Uncle (USMC Veteran) taking me to the Drive-In Theater to watch this movie. It (the movie) was good, but that memory with my Uncle was the BEST!

I love the beginning when Trautman goes to see him in prison, the main title music, the wide shot of the Vietcong charging up the hill to capture Rambo & that fake out where he kills Pedovsky. Also, yeah: I have a soft spot for Frank Stallone's song.

It was crazy how they marketed this brutally violent R-rated war film to kids. Lunchboxes, trading cards, posters and so on. It's an R-rated film! The 80s were wild.

The final speech of this movie will always give me chills.

i must have watched this 100 times. Great movie. The bit when Rambo is on the radio to Murdoch is Gold!!!

Someone finally loves this movie as I do! My Dad was among the many Vietnam Vets cheering; hell, all of us civilians were cheering! And when Murdock said photographs both Dad and I yelled at the screen, "Photographs! Ha!" A moment later Dad said to me, unconcerned with his volume, "That fucking camera ain't comin' back."

composition of great cinematography, the perfect cast, the action sequences and Jerry Goldsmiths classy score always got me since first seeing it in theatres in late 85!!!

Rambo 1 - war is hell Rambo 2 - war is hella awesome!

Arnie is generally considered the greatest action start of all time, but it's hard to deny Sly. You can't make a legitimate argument of the greatest action star without having Sly next to Arnie. The two revolutionised action cinema and are both equally responsible and deserving of the title of the GOAT.

Quick rant: imo, Stallone is an underrated director and screenplay writer.

Great review of a great movie, the 80’s truly were a great time for movies. From big blockbusters to hidden gems it really was a special time to be alive. I’m just glad to have grown up in this period. Sooo many great memories that will probably never be close to equaled. My family’s collection of movies on tapes was spectacularly huge, at the end we had a good 400 tapes with 3 movies each. My dad even made a filing system so you could find the movie you wanted without having to get lost in the mess lol. Thank you so much for doing these reviews, they always make me smile 😊

We can all agree the soundtruck and the action was awesome

That's a great point about the Dirty Harry thing! I reckon it could go: John Wayne as the iconic hardman of the '50s/'60s, Clint Eastwood for the '70s, Stallone for Rambo/Rocky in the '80s, Arnold Schwarzenegger for the late '80s to mid-'90s, Bruce Willis mid-'90s to Die Hard 4.0, Matt Damon for the Bourne series up to the current era represented by Keanu Reeves and John Wick.

When I was a teenager, this was one of my favorite movies. As an adult, I enjoy it as a fun popcorn action movie like a View to a Kill, Invasion USA, or Death Wish 3. It's best to turn your brain off and enjoy the ride.

This movie changed my life in how I wanted to look as an adult. I think I was 10 when I first saw this movie and had my mom buy me a black tank top like Rambos. I still have that old faded tank top in my closet and still grinding. 💪 Next was the theatre poster to Lion Heart seeing Van Damme in the black tank top looking jacked kept me motivated. I don't think I every wrote tank top before and it sounds weird now. Lol

I do tend to give this film more credit than most. It may be more action packed, but I do appreciate the film's heart is in the right place, still about those soldiers on life's soft shoulder. In this case, POW's being withheld because of lack of reparation payments. Hell, it doesn't even end triumphantly. Rambo just destroy some computers at their expense and uses his pardon to straight up leave . Honestly not something I was expecting my first watch, given the way these films tend to go.

As popular as this movie is, I would have been interested in seeing an alternate version where James Cameron's original script was used. Stallone rewrote it for the final film, but Cameron said his script had similar beats but differences in between them. Cameron's script opened in a mental hospital instead of prison, the POWs had backstories, and there was a tech sidekick who was supposed to be played by John Travolta, and other things

I remember it was 2007 I was in kindergarten & I faked a cold to not go to school (ikr at such a young age) we had a civic video & dad rented first blood part 2 since then I became obsessed with Stallone... Born in the 2000s but with a love for the 80s oddly enough

When I was 5 i got every Rambo you that was made for Christmas. To this day it is my best Christmas.

I watched Rambo: First Blood Part 2 alongside Rocky IV for the first time as an adult with my older brother in 2013. And I absolutely soaked both films up. The music (especially for Rocky IV) was and is iconic. The action in Rambo: FB P2 was pitch perfect for classic 80s. Stallone to me epitomized what action films were all about back then and I am so happy to know you, JoBlo, also have a soft spot for this truly guilty pleasure of a film, and I hope you enjoyed Rocky IV as much as I did. I’ll soon find out by watching your retrospective review…

"Nighthawks" is my fav Stallone film, it's brilliant.

These reviews are tremendous. Well written, edited and narrated by Bumbray, Mazzola and Fallon. I can tell they all have a lot of passion and understanding of these classic films. Great to watch and lots of info but never boring & never drags.

I definately agree!: 10 Stallone's outta 10 Stallone's!

I remember my Grandmother saying, “I don’t want my grandson watching this!”

This channel as whole is the biggest gift for movie fans all over the world❤️❤️❤️.This channel is i think the only channel that makes videos on every aspect of film industry.Everything from reviewing of different films to popular television series to the careers of actors etc.

Me and my mates used to have a few drinks and watch this while trying to keep count of all the deaths. Always lost track by the end. Red Dawn is another good one for kill counting. Oh and what's with the noise of the explosions in this film? When he blows those trucks up on the bridge it sounds like they're roaring like a wild animal or something....

The Main reason the 80s were awesome, action flicks like first blood part two

My parents have had a kitchen knife ever since i was a kid. Know what i always called, still call and will always call that knife? Rambo's knife. To this day (30+ years later) that knife still exists and still works and every time i'm preparing any kind of meat and need to cut it i ask "Pass me Rambo's knife" and everyone instantly knows exactly what knife i mean. That's how big of an impact this movie had, love it!

My favorite spoof on Rambo is the scene from Weird Al's "UHF".

I couldn’t picture Stallone as axl foley sorry that role was truly meant to be played by Eddie Murphy

Rambo 2 is probably the quintessential 80s action film. The movie is a technical marvel in blockbuster action filmmaking as well as action iconography.

I remember watching this as a kid. I like the action sequences and the noisy arrows. I also noticed that the jungle footage looks glossy and hazy at times. Otherwise, I'm pretty good film

I went to see this movie on opening night as a 14 year old with my buddies Steve and Todd. Two dudes were waiting in line with us in full camoflough with their faces camofloughed as well. This movie was a huge deal for a certain sect of psychopaths (myself included). I had purchased a $20 “survival knife” ordered from an ad I found in an issue of “Soldier of Fortune” magazine because of First Blood fantasies I had of running around in the woods living off the land (true story) lol. I ended up years later a mild mannered, married, father of 2 with a stable job of 25 years…fairing much better than John Rambo in adjusting to the real world. Every once in a while I still fantasize about fighting off an army by myself though.

Great video, shame you missed out Jack Cardiff, the legendary cinematographer. This was his last ever film. Maybe that's why it looks so good.

Great video and my favourite film of all time since I was 10 years old. 30 years later I still love it as much and watch it all the time. You picked the best scenes for this vid. Have you done Commando?

I love this film - saw it multiple times as a kid. I didn't even realize it was critically panned until I got a little older. Oh well - still love this one - rewatched it not that long ago. Probably the Rambo movie I've seen the most.

1984-1987. These 4 years were the best blockbuster years ever. Rambo, Robocop, Ghostbusters, Commando, Back to the Future, Gremlins, Goonies, Three Amigos, Cocoon, Breakfast Club, The Living Daylights, St. Elmo's Fire, Beverly Hills Cop, Police Academy, Terminator 1, Aliens, Top Secret, Neverending Story, Karate Kid, Top Gun, Platoon, Labyrinth, Predator, Spaceballs, The Princess Bride, The Lost Boys, Amadeus, Ferris Buellers Day Off just to name some as this list is incomplete...There is of course some in 1988 too. Die Hard, Red Heat, Beetlejuice, They Live, The Naked Gun, Killer Klowns, Rainman, Young Guns etc.

Jerry Goldsmith's score for R2 is perfect!!

One of the best scenes in this film is the “boat scene”. I also love watching the main POW mow down the Russian’s helicopter gunner..payback time.

I will NEVER get tired of watching Rambo parts 1 and 2. This is hands down the best action movie ever made. Along Terminator 2.

I read the book many years ago. The only thing I remember is what John named his bow. Wanna guess what it was? He called it Rambow. I wish I was making that up.

What a movie! More credit should be given to Jerry Goldsmith's music: it is amazing, epic and it transcend the action so much. I also think it was the first time I have ever heard a soundtrack mixing synth & orchestra in a movie back in 1985... Killer combo!

Good retrospective- thanks!

Yeah 1985 certainly was a great year for Stallone. Love this film and the soundtrack is just pure awesome.

I like how you mention George P. Cosmatos and show a picture of his son Panos Cosmatos.

If we're going over Stallone movies, I hope we do Cop Land at some point.

I love this channel!! This is one reason why!

Much better than Part 1 yes its a Drama but this is here is Awesome

God is miss 80's movies So much fun! I think I'm gonna go back and watch Some of these kick ass action Movies!

Thanks Jo Blow, guess Im busting out that 5 disc Blu-ray again

13:20 what a amazing year for movies!!

Best 80s action movie along with Predator.

Dolph Lundgren did play a bad guy that same year in "A View to a Kill". And I too had one of the figures. I had the dude with a retractable helmet.

"A computer dug your name out of only 3 guys who could complete this task." Who are the other two guys?!?!

Weird Al does a great parody of Rambo II in UHF...perhaps a movie you can revisit...

NATO and Warsaw Pact are in agreement that the chicken arrow is (Charlie Sheen) Rambo's funniest weapon ever.

I’ve got the novelization of the movie, it’s pretty good. Although honestly, a faithful adaptation of the original novel would be totally badass.

Man...They should have put Rambo as the national emblem of USA next to Bald Eagle - that was the level of cultural impact of this movie! Awesome action 🤩

The moment when Rambo blows up that one guy with his exploding arrow is pure movie history! Yes, it's literary overkill & over the top, but it perfectly symbolizes what the character of Rambo & his 5 movie story is all about. Rambo doesn't just shoot an arrow & explodes a person, let's remember WHY he does this! This is not just a random enemy. This is the man that killed Co & Rambo was starting to get fond of her. Like or hate the "romantic" part of this film but the point is, if you are on Rambo's good list & something happens to you he is in full revenge mode! This was a revenge kill, hence why Rambo wastes his final arrow to not just kill this man that killed Co but to totally annihilate him. Further more, when Stallone draws that bow, with that totally focused gaze, the man has never looked sexier!

Stallone was ALL about the scowls, grunts and growls between dashing animations.

Commando still a great flick also

Awesome! Love Sly and Love Rambo First Blood Part II!

1. My dad a Vietnam vet.... loved it 2. Had the Rambo lunch box which ended up being the last kids metal lunchbox made I believe.

You know you know what is crazy is I saw this movie a million times. I never understood the title I had never seen part 1 or knew that part 1 existed. I imagine it was because I was a kid somehow I didn't put it together that there had to be a first one. And then I watched the first one and I thought it was alright but it just didn't give me what I wanted because I've seen Rambo First Blood Part 2 so many times and that movie is so specific to what it is. Rambo 3 is a movie that I can watch more than Rambo 1 . But really my point is I think it was interesting that as a kid I saw this as the first and only Rambo even though it said part 2 in the title LOL. This movie doesn't quite hold up in Social terms, but it does hold up pretty well in terms of special effects but really this movie has a special place in my heart cuz I love action movies about dude shooting at each other and this movie was the best of the best of the time

Thank to watching this movie I started working out as a kid lol Hell, I still work out and still wear my black tank tops all the time. Honestly....One of my favorite movie characters. I have had many friends question me about that because they think he is crazy and just violent but I always told them that they just don't understand the character. He is so much more. "Murdoch, I'm coming to get you!"

i remember watching this movie every friday on vhs in the early 90's

Oh, victory... I remember! Cool movie, he was the goal keeper, wasn't he?

To be fair Chuck Norris did it a year earlier in missing in action the one army genre but while I personally love both films Rambo 2 is the one everyone knows and remembers.

I didn't know about Beverly Hills Cop but I'm so happy he declined to take that role.

Sly looks fantastic in this!! 💪

i think next to Raiders of the Lost Ark, this movie IS the signature 80's action movie...then come Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, The Terminator, RoboCop & The Road Warrior.

Does Joe Blo have a Rhinestone retrospective? If not, then one must come to fruition

By far the 80's action movie. And thw best Rambo movie. I have seen this movie about a million times

Stallone admitted to not liking this movie, saying it was too much like a cartoon

I love this movie. The only thing tha was kind of disappointed me is that we didn't get a Rambo/Ericson fight at the end. Stallone and Kove could have been good

6:01 oh wow that poster is 80s, a GPMG with and RPG stuck on the end

My only quibble with this video is that it should have given more credit to Charles Napier, previously best known as the "Star Trek" hippie Adam. Napier did a great job as the sleazy CIA guy. RIP.

The Travolta sidekick thing would’ve been awesome

Only Chuck Norris could release a Rambo sequel BEFORE Stallone releases his

0:26 Why do movie people hold knives like that? Michael Myers does that all the time. When you use a reverse grip with a single-edge knife, the sharp edge should face outward and away from you, not inward and toward you. I can't believe people are still getting this wrong! Like leaving folding and collapsible gun stocks in their storage position! 0:53 Screw that noise! That movie rules! 2:33 See also Sam Raimi and company with the trajectory of The Evil Dead, then Crimewave, then Evil Dead 2. 5:45 Lee Marvin is one of the OG badasses of 20th-century American cinema. He just wouldn't fit in the role of a weak-willed conniving bureaucrat. 6:00 M-60E3 with what looks like a PG-7VL HEAT warhead (High-Explosive, Anti-Tank) somehow attached at the muzzle. Pointless. The M-60 (any variant) looks B.A. enough already. They didn't need to phony it up like that. One of the box arts for the third movie shows Rambo with an RPG-7 loaded with a PG-7VL (I might be mistaken on the specific warhead type, but it's definitely some sort of HEAT warhead), but he's holding it wrong. Everyone holds it wrong in movies except Jason Patric in 1987's 'The Beast' (aka 'The Beast of War'). *Note:* In most movies and video games, rockets that appear to have conical HEAT warheads function like HE-frags (High-Explosive Fragmentation). S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is a noteworthy example. But at least you hold the RPG-7 correctly in that game (right hand on front grip, and they're only made in right-handed configuration w/sights offset to the left). One detail that rarely depicted, but is depicted correctly in 'The Beast', is the fact that the RPG-7 has a hammer on its main grip that has to be cocked. It's a safety mechanism to discourage negligent discharges. 7:08 Dry wit and jaded sarcasm fit Trautman's world-weary vibe. 7:23 That's not how you hold an M-60E3. If you wrap the belt around your arm, that's a surefire way to increase the chances of jamming. Ideally, the belt should be contained inside a belt box, but we can't expect movie people to understand the principles of ergonomics. They don't even know what stocks or sights are for! 7:28 Neither Trautman nor Murdock are "right-wing," though. Trautman is sort of an Eisenhower figure, and Eisenhower was critical of both the left and the right. Murdock is a bureaucratic pansy who lacks the spine and the guts to do what needs to be done, a trait right-wing types rightly associate with appeasement and defeatism. The POW/MIA slogan, "You are not forgotten," is a statement of defiance, not defeatism. 8:23 / 8:31 "Dangerous" is a better word than "violent." Rambo would never hurt anyone unprovoked. Those pigs in the first movie got what they deserved. 9:33 Ackchyually, the Adonis of Greek mythology was more of a bishie. 11:42 That scene has always irked me. Notice how it's an M-72 LAW (Light Anti-tank Weapon), a 66mm single-use disposable anti-tank rocket launcher. But watch the cuts closely. 11:43 Now it's an RPG-7 for a brief moment. 11:44 Now it's an M-72 LAW again. Not sure why they did this since the M-72 typically used in movies is the reloadable sub-caliber training variant, often modified for use with theatrical pyrotechnics. They look completely different, so it ruins both continuity and immersion (like using an Ingram as a stunt double for an Uzi, which is more forgivable than using a Vz.61 Skorpion as the stunt double for a MAC-10, and yes, stuff like that actually happens). The RPG-7 has dual grips. The M-72 LAW has no grips. I find it insulting that they just expect us, the audience, their paying customers, to tolerate this sort of oversight. 12:12 Screw that noise! Who cares what a bunch of internationalist pinkos say anyway?! 12:36 Standard M-60. No phony HEAT warhead added to the muzzle. See? Totally B.A. as-is. 13:01 Shoulder that rifle, maggot! 15:05 In the commentary, Sly talks about how pointless it is to fire an M-60 (any variant, that one's an E3) one-handed from the hip.

The only clip from a film I have watched as many times as Rambo 2 or slightly less is the scene from Commando when Arnie arrives on the beach in Val Verde in the dingy and gets kitted up. The music to that scene was simply out of this world. I knew they rushed Commando after that scene. They could have done that last part so much better after he gets kitted up.

I think it's unfair when they call him a sell-out. He really tried to do different things, even go (kind of) against type many times, but those projects usually bombed and he ended up succeeding as you well say in what he did best. Same thing again with his Rocky 6 and Rambo 4 movies, coming back to his franchises.

Everytime you mention Frank Stallone all I can think of is You guessed it, Frank Stallone

My favourite movie of all time

Rambo First Blood Part 2 became adopted by Reagan as Conservatives were Hungry for War. You forgot Martin Kove was also in the Cagney & Lacey TV show in the 70's. This is where Sly started sculpting his body into heavy duty shape which he took to next levels in Rambo 3… It is still is the highest grossing Rambo movie 🎥 in the franchise. It has great action and Stallone kicking all sorts of ass and created the one man army.

I picked up a 4 movie Rambo set the other day.

The premise - a mercenary going to Vietnam to find POWs - is based 0n real events. Ross Perot - former presidential candidate - paid a large amount of his money to fund such a project.

i love the theme that plays through out the entire movie

9:46 - I think that's cosmatos' son, who is also a director

Of course this one can only be 10/10 Stallones 👍 Loved it as a Teen 😊

RIP Cliff Wenger, Jr

Living in the "never could never will be able to stand Sylvester Stallone" club is sometimes lonely. ....but then Arnold Schwarzenegger calls a meeting and it turns into a party!

Rambo, to quote another great 80's movie,, ''Deeds not words''.

I want you eat french toast sticks, as many as you can. >_< The early Rambo movies set the course to display the level of badassery that’s found in the later films.

We had to watch this movie in secret behind the iron curtain in mid 80's Poland. Western movies were not allowed especially this one. We had to smuggle it in through the black market and keep it quiet!! You didn't want "men in black" knocking on your door!!

I hate to be the person to do this but at 9.46 that isn't George P Cosmatos, that's his Son, Panos.

No way Lee Marvin would have let Stallone kick his ass at the end of the movie.

Do we get to win this time? This time, it's up to you.

It is my favourite Stallone Movie!! Someone else actually gets it!!! Arnie didn’t parody it, but copied it. But Rambo won , so Arnie made Sly his mortal enemy. Read Arnie’s book!!!