FIRST BLOOD: Sylvester Stallone Revisited 

First Blood is a great movie. It is my favourite of all the Rambo movies. Sylvester Stallone should had got a Oscar nomination for his amazing performance as John Rambo. His acting at the end of the movie which Rambo suffers a breakdown was really good acting. A realistic portrayal of a Vietnam veteran suffering from PTSD. The movie is not just about PTSD. But also bullying going too far. I felt really sorry for Rambo. It was sick when the way those cops abused and mistreated Rambo. It was Sheriff Teasle's fault that it happened. Good story. Good action. Some breath taking stunts. Good acting. Good performances. Good cinematography. First Blood is on of the greatest action movies ever made. RIP Richard Crenna and Brian Dennehy.

"I don't think you understand. I didn't come here to rescue Rambo from you. I came here to rescue you from him." Crenna was A+ in this!

I still think this movie is extremely underrated compared to the sequels, its actually an excellent movie, with great music, action scenes, set pieces, performances and plot

It was so good because Rambo wasnt 'RAMBO' yet... He was still a human being, and not some superman...the character was believable.

What I always found interesting about this is the role reversal. The Vietnam War comes home symbolically, except with vet Rambo adopting the guerilla tactics of the VC, and the police playing the role of the army. He ultimately recreates what he experienced, but from the other side. That also gives it a bit of an anti-war vibe that the later sequels definitely didn't have.

That last monologue by Stallone is Oscar worthy. I remember seeing this in a Theater. Great film

Still a great action thriller, and one of Stallone's genuinely best performances. And most noteworthy that for what was considered a "violent" movie, only one person actually dies, and that's by the fault of his own actions. A real thinking man's action movie.

Best part of the movie, is seeing in the final scene that this badass is a emotional wreck... It's gripping and makes you think about how damaging war can be to a man. To me this movie isn't just a great action movie, it's an even greater drama... Something the rest of the movies never came close to

Reason why it's underrated is because they always play Part 2 on TV more than anything else...especially in the 90s. I was like 11 when I finally saw first blood and I didn't believe my dad when he said it was the first Rambo because it looked so different. Rambo II and III are good because of nostalgia but this movie is a timeless masterpiece.

The best of the Franchise and one of Stallone best performances

Rambo and Rocky are Sly's best work (1st movie of both Franchises). Showed his dramatic acting chops. And both still remain two of the greatest movies of their times. Talk about lightening in a bottle twice.

Rewatched this the other night, still brilliant.

First Blood is a masterpiece. Stallone is brilliant in it. It's much more nuanced than a simple action film.

In the book Teagle is a US Marine Korean War vet. You can see his medals on his desk in the film. in the book Teagle was upset over Korean war vets pretty much being forgotten and ignored while many us civilians started to see Vietnam vets as broken men due to PTSD, somwthing Korean vets never got. This fed his hatred twords Rambo.

Rambo: First Blood Part II was the first Rambo movie I saw. The action was nuts. I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. I didn't know that First Blood was any different. Then, I had a chance to watch it. I couldn't believe that this largely quiet, understated movie was the same character. I was absolutely blown away. Stallone's acting was award worthy, to say the least. The whole cast was top notch. And, even though the action was dialed back from what it would be a couple of years later, it kept you on the edge of your seat. First Blood is easily my favorite film of the franchise.

The first Rambo film served as a trenchant cautionary tale about military service. The sequels were straight up action films, with a thin veneer of social commentary.

Stallone should have won an award for this movie. The final scene is stunning.

A great movie that does fall in the underrated category, as the storyline, acting and script was far more than just your typical action movie. In hindsight, First Blood should have picked up a few Oscar nominations and awards - if snobbery didn't get in the way. Probably Sly's best performance as an actor.

Growing up in Washington State, I always loved the scenery of this film. Didn't realize it was in Canada, always thought it was filmed in Jerkwater USA 😉

In my opinion, first blood is the greatest action movie ever made

I like the way the cop says to the others, "Can't you see this guy's crazy?" as they're beating Rambo up, when EVERYONE would've reacted the same way against the brutal treatment he was receiving. If anything it was the cops, especially the thug holding onto him, who were the crazy ones!

Where can I see the 3 hour long cut of first blood? I'd love to see that.

I can't believe you didn't mention Rambo's knife/ EVERYONE wanted one after that movie hit cable.

Such a great movie. Pure classic. This & the second are such a great double feature. Completely different movies, but work so well together.

Stallone did an excellent job capturing the left out, alone, feelings of having belonged to something a brotherhood and then having nothing. The isolation and the worthless feelings of having once been important and now no one cares. Thank you for mentioning the music in First Blood. It’s an excellent piece of work in its own right without the movie.

the best rambo film. its a masterpiece of cinema, and balances action with drama. its amazing

I recently purchased Rambo Last Blood. He will always have it!! As I am 62 and grew up with horses now all I want to do before I die is go riding with Sly. He should be given more credit for his performances, love Stallone!!!❤️

Good flick makes me wanna grab the 4K now!

What's also neat is that it illustrates the conflict between older veterans and the younger Vietnam veterans (also seen in a King of the Hill episode, too). The sheriff has his service medals framed and I recall, in the commentary that there's also a Combat Infantryman Badge there, too. David Morrell in the same commentary had the sheriff as a Korean War veteran, a conventional war where the enemy was clear and distinct.

When it comes to action movies, there's First Blood, then there's everything else.

I love this movie because it builds up nice. You get a chance to see him be human and when the cops push him too far you really get to see him go off.

"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING" best line in the movie...

When you talk about the soundtrack perfectly complimenting the film, it’s all about when he drives the truck through the barricade and THAT THEME blasts out!

Sly's best role imho.

Wow so Troutman could have literally killed the franchise 😲

Stallone has had some great roles in incredible films (some of my alltime favourites) I love First Blood, Tango And Cash (a very funny film that has him bouncing off Kurt Russell both great in their roles) Demolition Man (one of the best sci fi action films ever) and Copland (which really showed us a different side to Stallone) Stallone deserved his position as one of the most successful action stars ever.

I watched this last week with a friend that didn't know anything about the movie past the name and it's in pop culture. She remarked how engrossing the film was despite having so little dialogue. I've seen it countless times and I was surprised how fast the film flew by.

Crenna as Troutman always came across to me as a live action Principal Seymour Skinner, albeit competent.

At this time, nobody knew that Rambo would end up becoming such an iconic symbol for America. In this film, he's just a tortured Vietnam vet, completely homeless & struggling to deal with life, after Vietnam. Obviously, he was inspired by the real life cases of Vietnam vets who were treated poorly, upon returning home. This is definitely my fave film of the franchise.

I have to admit I didn't appreciate this movie when I was a kid...I always dug the sequels more cause of the heavy action etc..but after watching this as am adult I was kinda surprised how well it holds up and how the cast simply nailed every scene... such an underrated masterpiece of a movie..the wide angle shots in the forest and so well done and in 4k it's just incredible..

Rambo First Blood: Veterans with PTSD are ignored and mistreated by society and unable to fit back in despite the fact they were trained and asked to commit violence on our behalf. Rambo Last Blood: Human traffickers are like bad you guys...

Sheriff William “Will” Teasle acting made the movie perfect.

I remember that Stallone said in the DVD commentary that he was at first hesitant about doing First Blood because for many years it had been passed by so many studios, actors and directors he thought it was kinda cursed. He was at the home of Burt Reynolds and told him about his concerns, he said Burt told him, If you don't do it and someone else does it and it becomes successful you'll regret it forever, so he decided to stick with it. Stallone said that he thought about putting Burt in it as Trautman but Burt told him no cause he didn't want to overshadow Sylvester in the film

The one line i have always wondered was true in Rambo 11 was the line Trotman stated "the U.S. was supposed to give the Vietcong billions in Reparations but the U.S. reneged so the Vietcong kept the POW'S." Supposedly this is true.

Perfect timing I'm just finishing writing my dissertation on napalm use in Vietnam. Of course had to mention rambo in the section about the media legacy of it. Tbis movie never gets old

First Blood is one of my favourites!☺️😁😎....I never get tired of seeing it!

10/10 Stallones! God I love this film.

Ted Kotcheff also directed “Wake In Fright,” a 1971 Australian film co-starring a young Donald Pleasance. It’s one of the most unsettling movies I’ve ever seen.

An intelligent film.... Funny I never considered First blood and action film in the traditional sense. I saw it as a commentary on what war did to the American Soldier in Vietnam. And how so many soldiers came home and were discarded by the country that they fought for. And I agree the monologue he gives at the end of the movie is on point and I won't lie the first time I saw the movie it was tough to listen to that.

I remember seeing this movie when I was 6 and for the next 3 Halloweens I was fucken Rambo. On a sad note did he say " I gave you 7 years" that is a long time to devote to living like a goaul.

I celebrated my 40th birthday exactly 1 month ago in Hope Bc , just when the 40th annyversary of the movie was being celebrated there. Pure magic and timeless classic

Besides Stallone's acting, that final breakdown scene have a great symbolic feature. In Rambo's final discourse when Trautman is actionless listening, in the entire scene there's a shadow over Trautman's eyes, like a blindfold, it is like he was aware of the problem but didn't do nothing to prevent it, and this problem don't just refers to Rambo's situation, but for the war itself, it is the high end bureaucracy closing it's eyes for the problems created by itself.

FIRST BLOOD is a great film. Though it is sort of funny to see so many comments denigrating the sequels because they "contradict" the original film... which contradicts the original book. People don't seem to account for a couple of factors, like the fact that 1982 (when the film was released) was not 1972 (when the novel was published). The book was about the violent internal culture clash going at the time within America, a conflict that had cooled down even if not fully resolved. Having a violent psychopath as the "hero" made sense in the early 70's, the era of Sam Peckinpah & A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, it did not make sense in the 80's. Quite simply, the country had moved on. There was now the possibility of redemption & reconciliation that did not exist in the original novel. I think Stallone said it best, talking about what he thought would be the reaction of veterans to the original ending: "I mean every Vietnam who see's this is going to go, 'Oh the only solution is that death is the only thing that awaits us at the end of the tunnel' and I don't think that's the right way to do it." No, I agree with Mr. Stallone on this one. And that simple shift, to change the mentally broken mass murderer from the novel into a wronged hero, that was the character that the culture, grown men, young boys & even girls all embraced, not the one from the book. Then once that Rambo had been embraced as a hero, the culture did what it does with heroes, it added to the hero's legend, gave him more labors to perform like Hercules. That's how these modern myths are woven together, through the conversation of Creative Artists and the Audience. If there was only FIRST BLOOD, just like if there was only the first ROCKY (which this entire theory equally applies to), it would be a fondly remembered art film but the sequels are what made Rambo & Rocky cultural Icons. Thank You for Reading.

The only Rambo film with real substance.

I saw it at the theater when I was 11. Shaped my life

The first 3 Rambo movies are brilliant. First Blood is one of my fav ever

You are absolutely correct. Watching this in widescreen, it's a completely different picture! A million times better than on a pan & scan videotape.

I love Rocky and Rambo. I don't need any other movies

I can’t sleep with a gun under my pillow either.

Audie Murphy was from Texas. Don't you ever forget it.

Rented this and raiders of the lost ark when my parents bought a VCR in the 80s, nothing since has come close to that first day of watching videos.

I was getting worried that you weren’t going to be doing anymore Sly Videos. Thanks. Can’t Wait for the next one!!!

I watched it for the first time with one of my best friends at the Fox theater in Tucson where one of the assistant directors held a Q&A, one of the best film experiences of my life.

The best Rambo movie ever....me and my brother loved watching this movie..the backdrop of the lush green forest of British Columbia is truly beautiful and the cold grey skies make it so surreal as to I kinda wish I were actually there. The action scenes were wonderful and the acting was supremely good. Yes, I'd give it a 10 out of 10 Stallones to.

Stuntman Bennie E Dobbins, actually broke his back in the rail track jump scene, when the Sheriff's cruiser jumped, it landed with such force, that he broke his back.

I finally have the 4k edition of this movie and it's glorious! This is my favorite Stallone movie ever. And I love his movies.

'' they drew first blood, not me '' -- john rambo. '' you might say this town is boring '' -- sheriff Teasel. '' company leader to Vega team. Talk to me johnny '' -- colonel trautman. ...In the UK this film is shown 4 times a year i reckon. Yehhhh.

Not seen this in over 5 years now. This triggered me. Gotta hear Richard Crenna do the "body bags" line again!

My heart ached when he found out his friend Delmore had died due to Agent Orange. This was the same thing that took my Father’s life a year ago.

The part where he breaks down about wanting to go home is heartbreaking. Great movie.

The best subtle moment in the movie (that I think the book touches more on) is that Teasle has a Distinguished Service Cross (the second highest valor award for the Army behind the Medal of Honor) in his office, which implies he's a Korean War (the "Forgotten War") veteran. So, the Korean War versus Vietnam War and Distinguished Service Cross versus Medal of Honor dynamics, I always found very intriguing!

I just remember growing up in the 80s as a huge fan of Rocky and Stallone. I loved all of the movies he did after Rocky and before First Blood. Paradise Alley, Night Hawks, Victory are all very underrated movies. I just remember as a 12 year old kid being genuinely happy for Sly that he finally had a hit movie outside the Rocky franchise.

You wanna talk about a jarring viewing experience? I showed my friend the Rambo movies in reverse. Imagine going from PART 4 in all its bloody glory, to part 3 and 2 that are straight up action movies, and finishing off with the original. Thankfully my buddy knows smart movies and agreed that the first is the best.

As far as I'm concerned it's up there with all the movies that I have watched at least 20 times

I always wanted to see Rambo in action in actual Vietnam, perhaps in the future 🎬

Deputy Lester: Holy F !!!

For me, First Blood is Stallone's best movie..and one of my favourites of all time

Brian Ds character was actually a veteran of the Korean war, so was his friend Art. At that time a lot of Vietnam vets were getting a ton of attention and most people didn't even know Korea was a thing which made them inadvertently jealous of the Vietnam vets. This information was revealed if you listen to the commentary by the writer of the book he talks it.(most fans only listen to Stallone's commentary)

I've always found it odd that Stallone could put up the kind of performance he did in Rocky, and then in that last scene of Rambo, which was SO good, and then completely forget how to act for the rest of his career.

This might have been the first one where they chose the "leave the hero alive" just in case there is a sequel. Seems to have been a good precedent. Also, best actor noms in 1982: Newman - Absence of Malice Lancaster- Atlantic City Beatty- Reds Fonda- On Golden Pond Dudley Moore - Arthur I don't see the academy passing up Newman, Lancaster, Beatty or Fonda all of whom are Hollywood royalty. But, Stallone could definitely have gotten Moore's spot in that list. I think he just didn't have enough lines and wasn't pushed by the studio as an "actor"

This video came out as I was watching first blood without knowing it.

1982 was such a great year for movies.

I always have to point out to people. With all his skills to kill. Rambo never killed one person in the movie. And the only person that was killed died by an accident.

"They drew first blood." Rooooll credits!

i must say, before first blood, he did a commendable job in F.I.S.T and night hawkes as well, very underrated movies. similar goes with cliffhanger, over the top and demolition man

I wish they would release the three hour cut. That would be interesting to see.

I loved Part 2 when I was a kid. But as an adult, First Blood is one of the best movies ever to me. Without a doubt Stallone’s greatest performance

I wouldn't of minded If Rambo First Blood was the only film of the series. Same with Predator.

I watch this movie every year. It's one of my Summer movies.

I particularly appreciate this movie because it shows the reality of every soldier that arrived to the United States after the war of Vietnam , the damage that the hippie culture caused was huge.

I cannot say enough good about Ted Kotcheff !!!

If I ever win the lottery I’m buying all the film shot on this movie.

What a lot of people don't realize is that the book that it was based on was a lot more violent than the movie. Rambo is more of a psychopath in the book, and kills a lot of people.

The franchise is good,but this first version is the Best raw and sad.

And the sequels pretty much went against everything that the first movie established. First Blood was about the toll taken in time of war. The sequels were about how blowing up everything in sight was SO MUCH FUN!! Amazing how different the style becomes once Stallone gained more control over the writing process..... "Rambo ... [lived] out the fantasies of the helpless with all the power of American technology sticking out of his trousers... proving over and over that one man on his own could still stand up to the bad guys as long as he had the right gun, grenades, attack helicopter, and personalized rocket launcher." -- Clive James, Fame in the 20th Century (1993) Which perfectly describes the sequels, but NOT the first movie.

Jerry Goldsmith,s best score ever

Love this movie!!! This is Stallones best movie, overall one of the best Action Movies ever!!!! Love the inside-stuff, never new this movie was so long in development.

By far the best film in the Rambo series

You feel Rambo's pain in this film.

Such An Overlooked Masterpiece!! Character And Setting Are Timeless...