Rambo III

Though the film is ultimately just as effective (and violent) as its immediate predecessor, Rambo III has clearly not aged all that well in the years since its 1988 release – as the film’s portrayal of Afghan rebels as noble heroes is, within a contemporary context, awfully tough to take (the film is even dedicated to them!) The story – which finds Sylvester Stallone’s John Rambo reluctantly forced to head into battle once again after his mentor (Richard Crenna’s Sam Trautman) is captured by evil Russians during a mission in Afghanistan – is probably as interesting and fleshed-out as anything within the series, yet there’s little doubt that the overtly deliberate build-up ultimately puts a damper on the movie’s overall effect. And while the final half hour is devoted almost entirely to action sequences, one can’t help but lament the absence of hand-to-hand brawls between Rambo and his plethora of enemies (the emphasis is instead placed primarily on big explosions and over-the-top stunts). Stallone’s expectedly stirring performance certainly goes a long way towards smoothing over the film’s rough edges, and it’s clear that – despite its flaws – Rambo III remains an entertaining, sporadically electrifying piece of work that makes up in thrills what it lacks in relevance.

*** out of ****