For each generation of new home video tech, there are a select few films that I have a tendency to pickup to replace the previous version. The Rambo films typically end up being such movies, though often I’ll wait a release or two until the anniversary edition or what have you. For the 4K HDR generation, I won’t have to wait so long thanks to Lionsgate releasing the original Rambo trilogy this week and I was fortunate enough to receive review copies.
While these are films I’ll pick up most generations, I haven’t seen any of these in several years. With Rambo 5 due out next year, and just given that it had been a long time, it was nice to visit these again. I began of course with First Blood, which is now a surprising thirty-six years old. It holds up really well, though. Most everyone knows the story — a decorated special forces vet of the Vietnam War, John Rambo is passing through a small town, not looking for trouble. Unfortunately, trouble comes for him in the form of the local sheriff, played by Brian Dennehy. After being harassed, arrested, and tortured, Rambo takes action. Utilizing his war-proven combat skills, he puts the local police through the hell they pretty much brought upon themselves, but Rambo is able to reign it in, mostly, thanks to his former commander (Richard Crenna), stepping in and negotiating a semi-peaceful ending to this tragedy. The film offers a powerful, thought-provoking message about the Vietnam War, and how our country received our heroes when the returned.
Three years later, 1985, Rambo: First Blood Part II was released and it picks up where the first movie left off. Rambo is in a hard labor prison camp, but the opening minutes of the movie see Crenna, reprising his role as Colonel Trautman, offering Rambo a way out. It’s a clandestine mission that is practically suicide, but it would see Rambo going behind enemy lines to confirm that American POWs are still being held captive. The mission is only recon though, but then again the mission, unbeknownst to Rambo initially, is a total double-cross anyway. Charles Napier stars as Murdock, the unlikable leader of the local base of operations who is sending in Rambo to die. Trautman, always on Rambo’s side, is opposed to this, but is mostly powerless. Fortunately, on the field of battle, Rambo meets Co (Julia Nickson) who helps him once the odds becoming overwhelming. 80s action at it’s finest, Rambo: First Blood Part II is intense and over the top, and yes, still fun to watch every few years.
Another three years later, in 1988, Rambo III was released. Stallone wants to stay out of conflict this time, but is drawn back in when old Colonel Samuel Trautman, again played by Crenna, is kidnapped by Russians moving into Afghanistan. Joining forces with the local rebels, Rambo leads a war against the bad guys and a great deal of damage. It’s really more of the same, but like Rambo 2 and the one from 2008, it’s an enjoyable movie to kick back to every so often.
The movies all hold up well. What’s most impressive about these new releases though, perhaps obviously, is the video quality. It not only does not disappoint, but it flat out impresses. Each film was considerably better than the Blu-ray 1080p versions (also included). I noted a couple of scenes in Part II, just quick outdoor environmental shots at a distance, that had a bit of blurriness to them, but these were the exception. In general, everything across all three films is crisp. Contrast and brightness, defining characteristics of HDR, in this case HDR10, offer a significant improvement to each film without compromising their original atmospheric intent. Aurally, each movie sounds great, and not being an audiophile, I could find nothing to complain about here.
In terms of extras, there are many, with each release having a different part of a featurette called “Rambo Takes the 80s,” with a Part 1 with the first film, etc. These are a pretty typical celebration and commentary on the film from a variety of actors and industry workers. These segments last between about twelve and eighteen minutes each, and they’re worth checking out once over anyway. Otherwise, in addition to the digital copy codes redeemable on Vudu, you get all of the extras included from the previous Blu-ray releases, which are numerous.
With a fifth Rambo film on the docket for next year, and these classics still enjoyed by many, their release on 4K is welcomed. That Blu-ray and Digital versions are also included is a plus, and the new extra features. But what really makes these Rambo releases a strong consideration for your home library is the quality of the 4K HDR remastering — the films look substantial better than their older 1080p counterparts.
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