VHS Strikes Back E14

Dave and Chris are back reviewing the cult classic First Blood starring Sylvester Stallone. 

Originally a novel written by David Morrel. Morrell stated he was inspired to write the novel by hearing about the experiences of his students at the University of Iowa who had fought in Vietnam. The author also said "When I started First Blood back in 1968, I was deeply influenced by Geoffrey Household's Rogue Male." The character's name was derived in part from a brand of apples, which his wife brought home while he was struggling to think up a name for the character. In the DVD commentary for 'First Blood' Morell comments that one of the inspirations for Rambo was World War II hero Audie Murphy.

Shortly after its publication in 1972, Morrell rights were sold to Columbia pictures, who in turn sold them to Warner Bros. This trend continued for ten years. The story passed through three companies and eighteen screenplays. Finally, it was sold to Andrew G. Vajna and Mario Kassar, who turned the character of Rambo into a more likable underdog who never killed anybody, instead of the angry, psychotic character in the book who goes on a bloody rampage and literally brings the Vietnam War to America. The role was offered to many celebrities like Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino until it reached Sylvester Stallone. The film was well-received by critics and saved Stallone's career.

Plot Summary:

John J. Rambo is a former United States Special Forces soldier who fought in Vietnam and won the Congressional Medal of Honor, but his time in Vietnam still haunts him. As he came to Hope, Washington to visit a friend, he was guided out of town by the Sheriff William Teasel who insults Rambo, but what Teasel does not know that his insult angered Rambo to the point where Rambo became violent and was arrested. As he was at the county jail being cleaned, he escapes and goes on a rampage through the forest to try to escape from the sheriffs who want to kill him. Then, as Rambo's commanding officer, Colonel Samuel Trautman tries to save both the Sheriff's department and Rambo before the situation gets out of hand.

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: 87%

IMDB Score:  7.7/10

Metacritic: 61%

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