FIRST BLOOD (1982) Discussion Group
Added 2026-01-30 23:11:35 +0000 UTC
Comments
Someone already mentioned it, but it's worth pointing out again, his mistreatment by the cops in the beginning isn't because he was a soldier, it's because they think he's an anti-war hippie drifter. A lot of people have heard that anti-war activists of the time mistreated soldiers, and that may to true to some extend, but that was only among the young anti-war crowd. The older, straight-laced folks, like a small town sheriff would have been very pro-war, pro-soldier, pro-American. During the Vietnam era the political division between young progressives and older conservatives was just as pronounced as it is now. His long hair, dirty clothes, and the fact that he was walking/hitchhiking would have been enough to mark him as a hippie/counter-culture/drifter/bum. The comment about wearing a flag was because someone like that wearing a flag would have been interpreted by people like the sheriff as mocking them. This actually provides a really powerful juxtaposition to his speech at the end when he talks about the anti-war crowd spitting at him. It shows how he was alienated from both the anti-war and pro-war people. The only ones who might understand him are the men he served with who are all dead, so he is completely isolated. He has no place in this world. This was a situation faced by many Vietnam vets who became anti-war. Because they had served they didn't necessarily fit in with the anti-war crowd, but because they served and now were speaking out they were treated as traitors by the pro-war side. As for the rest of the Rambo movies, watch them, they are fun, but they are not like this. They are more typical 80s action movies.
Some Worm Guy
2026-02-01 17:03:29 +0000 UTCRambo Franchise is one my favorite franchise. Watch all of them.
SMPUNK
2026-02-01 07:48:01 +0000 UTCThe small town sheriff wasn’t giving Rambo a hard time because the sheriff was an anti-war hippy. He was giving Rambo a hard time because he assumed Rambo (with his long hair) was some sort of a hippy. Should you watch any other Rambo movies? My personal take is no. While the other films have plenty of fans they tended to be right wing wish fulfillment flicks. Rambo goes back to Viet Nam and single handedly wins the Viet Nam war, etc. First Blood portrays Rambo as a traumatized veteran trying to survive, not a killer. This is a major contrast to the later sequels, where his kill count skyrockets. So you’re the boss; you get to decide if you want to watch them but I’d take a hard pass on watching your reactions to them. CONSPIRACY THEORY with Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts is really good.
Flounder
2026-01-31 07:43:24 +0000 UTCRambo is a type of apple, its where the author got the name, kinda cute
Merrick
2026-01-31 06:13:30 +0000 UTCAgain , I may make it for the premier amazing movie ,and one of Stallone's best performances Hope to be here Coby !!🖤🖤
Harvey Lee
2026-01-31 01:18:03 +0000 UTCWhile some of the side characters are a bit cliché, Rambo 2008 is one of the best entries, and the behind-the-scenes bonus material is kind of devestating when you learn the real-life stories Stallone was retelling.
BullydogBear
2026-01-31 00:19:05 +0000 UTCThere's an alternate ending they decided not to go with… Stallone didn't want it to end that way - he thought it would cause to much trauma to the vets… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn187skbynQ&pp=ygUcZmlyc3QgYmxvb2QgYWx0ZXJuYXRlIGVuZGluZw%3D%3D
BullydogBear
2026-01-31 00:06:10 +0000 UTCIf you ever get the chance, the book is really good. Great reaction Coby
Michael Braton
2026-01-30 23:39:54 +0000 UTCCan’t wait 😝 You should also check out Rambo 2 Coby. The rest you can skip. Except for the Rambo (2008) film. I’d think you’d get a kick out of that one.
Antonio
2026-01-30 23:23:39 +0000 UTCCoby, Zoo update in your inbox!
Dave Beth
2026-01-30 23:17:00 +0000 UTCHey Coby. Wish I could make the premier tonight, but it’s back to work for me. But I’ll watch later tonight.
Mark Knight
2026-01-30 23:14:29 +0000 UTC
