Rambo Last Blood Review

(Rambo Last Blood, Rated R)

(Video Review)

This was one of the most brutal and hard-edged action films I have seen in quite some time, in fact, to call it an action film, is a little misleading, Action-Hero-Slasher film is probably a more fitting description. Rambo Last Blood picks up right after Stallone's epic John Rambo from 2008, in this possible final entry into the franchise, we find John at home on his father's ranch, where he has finally found a sense of peace and happiness. He, of course, is still the man of war he always was, but now, he has a niece and grandmother to look after, as well as time to build some great Vietnam era tunnels throughout his property, which is a not so subtle way to imply he is still the damaged soldier we all know and love, and of course to set up that grand finale. While we are never informed of how these people became John's adoptive family, it really is unimportant. Gabrielle, John's niece informs him that she needs to go to Mexico in search of her real father, which displeases Maria, Gabby's grandmother, I'm sure she was hoping Gabby would go back to singing in High School Musicals, of course, Gabby has John's spirit and takes off anyway, which leads to her kidnapping at the hand of a Mexican Cartel, who use her as a sex slave for profit.

One thing I would like to clear up from the reviews I have seen on the film, is that this is not a racist Trumpian fantasy, first off, Trump would never become the adoptive father/uncle to a Mexican girl, I mean he barely acknowledges Tiffany, do you think he would become family with some Mexicans that are of no blood relation? Furthermore, the film shows how it is the people of Mexico that are suffering from the Cartels, which to me, is not a sign that we need a wall, but a sign that these people need help. Speaking of walls, one of my favorite scenes in the film, shows how the Cartel uses a tunnel system to go right under the wall. After all, if you have the money and manpower of the Mexican Cartels, a wall is not going to stop you, the only people the wall will hurt, are the victims trying to escape a city ran by people who kill and use the innocent for profit, so it's not that different from America. The villains of the film may be Mexican, but so are the victims of this vicious Cartel, which uses young Mexican women as prostitutes, drugging them, and killing those who try to escape.  

The story is not one of hate for the Mexican people, but one that shows how a man's love can drive him to take care of an issue, that no one on this side of the border seems to even think about. Those attacking this film and making up reasons to call it the worst of the year, seem to ignore the fact that the Cartels are making innocent Mexican's lives hell on earth, and Rambo Last Blood shines a spotlight on those issues. They could have made his family white, he could have been saving kidnapped white girls in Mexico, he could have met a white journalist, but all his allies are of Mexican descent, the people he cares about most are in fact, Mexican, so before you call the film Xenophobic, why don't you go and watch it, instead of judging it based on the trailers. PC Social Justice Warriors want to make an example of this film, but perhaps you should realize you are not helping the people you think you are helping, if you care about the Mexcian people, do not ignore the evil people who are harming them most, who also happen to be Mexican. I get that people are afraid this film will make old white men hate Mexicans even more, but, if anyone can get through to that demographic it's Rambo. Maybe the old white fuckers will come to see Rambo slaughter the Cartel, but they will also see the injustice facing the people of Mexico, which could result in more empathy for their plight. Cartels exist, they are the reason why so many good Mexicans want to find a safe and peaceful home, they are why we need open borders. The Cartels do not care about coming to this country, they run Mexico like kings, so ignoring that cartels exist and that they are some truly evil hombres does no one any good. 

This may not be a subtle and nuanced film, but it is far more of a character piece than one would assume, the action sequences with the exception of the finale, are brief, and more focused on the brutal savagery of John Rambo, which delves into how his time in Nam affected him. Expect fewer gun battles, and more stabby, stabby action, and some truly horrific gore. This film calls back to the outstanding original First Blood, and less to the action-heavy sequels that followed, Rambo is not seeking a fight as always, he has sought peace and found it, with the help of family and of course some strong Xanax. It is when that peace is taken from him by evil men, that he must do what he does best, sharpen his blade and do his best Micheal Myers impersonation, and no not the one from Shrek and Austin Powers. While John is shown to be a vicious, violent and possibly psychopathic killer, he is also shown at his most human, and it is only when the thing he loves most is taken from him, that he awakens the monster he has buried so deep inside of himself.

Much like First Blood, we also see John getting his ass handed to him before he regroups, and uses his old guerrilla warfare tactics to even the odds in some spectacular ways, this needs to be seen in the theater to get the most of the bombastic sound design in the finale. Brian Tyler returns to scoring duties after his superb job on John Rambo, which is also known as simply Rambo, and this score is much closer to the original classic that Jerry Goldsmith and Dan Hill delivered for First Blood. The score is one of the best you will find in any recent action film, it is memorable, poetic and perfectly captures the feel of the film, which is beautifully shot, and that is something I was not expecting, the cinematography really elevates the cinematic nature of what could be seen as a rather simple revenge story.

The history that comes with the franchise adds to the simple story of a man's journey for justice, these stories may not get the best reviews, but there is something cathartic and downright enjoyable about watching a man fight for everything he holds in the heart he never knew he had, by ripping out the heart of the one who has taken everything from him, figuratively, and yea, literally, he rips a dude's fucking heart out, and its just as badass as it sounds. Like I said, this is closer to a Slasher film, than the bombastic action found in the second and third Rambo. Of course, the last fifteen minutes of the film is packed with visceral and satisfying action, but the way John stalks and mercilessly executes his prey is something you rarely see in an action film. But, none of the violence would matter if the film did not have a solid foundation of love, Stallone gives a fantastic performance, as does Yvette Monreal who plays Gabby and she gives the film its heart and soul, Paz Vega does not have a huge role in the film, but it is an important one and she is utterly captivating every time she is on screen.

This is not a film that will appeal to everyone, it is very violent and has a very simple story, it is also not as action-packed as you may expect it to be, for as brutal as the film can be, it takes its time to let its story mean something, simple or not, and it spends time learning who John has become after all he has endured. Fans of the franchise will walk away satisfied, the series has always been about John and the people he feels he must defend with the beast within him, and that is something this film truly nails better than any other in the franchise. Rambo is a beast, maybe even a monster, but he uses that monster to protect the defenseless and to wipe out evil, its simple stuff but that's the kinda story I really dig.