First Blood
1982
***½
Director: Ted Kotcheff
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Brian Dennehy, Richard Crenna, Bill McKinney, Jack Starrett, Michael Talbott, Chris Mulkey, David Caruso, John McLiam
A small town sheriff picks a fight with a war veteran who is only passing through, unaware that his opponent is John Rambo, a highly skilled Green Beret. Unlike the sequels, the first Rambo film is a poignant and thought-provoking drama, which deals with the personal and collective trauma caused by the disastrous war in Vietnam. However, it is also a gritty and entertaining action movie. Based on David Morrell's 1972 novel. Followed by Rambo: First Blood Part 2 (1985), Rambo 3 (1988), Rambo (2008), and Rambo: Last Blood (2016).
