Rambo: First Blood Part II

Rambo: First Blood Part II is a 1985 American action film directed by George P. Cosmatos and co-written by Sylvester Stallone, who also reprises his role as Vietnam War veteran John Rambo. A sequel to First Blood, it is the second installment in the Rambo franchise, followed by Rambo III. It co-stars Richard Crenna (who reprises his role as Colonel Sam Trautman), Charles Napier, Julia Nickson, Steven Berkoff and George Cheung.

Despite receiving unfavorable reviews from critics, First Blood Part II was a major worldwide box office hit, with an estimated 42 million tickets sold in the US. It has become one of the most recognized and memorable installments in the series, having inspired countless rip-offs, parodies, video games and imitations.

Plot
Three years after the events in Hope, Washington, former US Army Green Beret John Rambo is visited at a prison labor camp by his old commander, Col. Sam Trautman. With the Vietnam War over, the public has become increasingly concerned over news that a small group of American POWs have been left in enemy custody in Vietnam. Rambo is offered the chance to cut short his prison tenure by going on a secret mission for the US government deep into the jungles of Vietnam and locating the POWs.

Good Qualities

 * 1) This is the film that made Rambo the unstoppable killing machine we all know and love.
 * 2) It retains the charm and charisma from the first film.
 * 3) Sylvester Stallone's performance as Rambo is absolutely badass.
 * 4) Fantasic soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith.
 * 5) Rambo is still likable, and he still has memorable quotes like in the first film.
 * 6) As mentioned below on WIR #8, the story (while cliched and predictable) is even more exciting and more fun than the first film.
 * 7) The cinematography is still top-notch.
 * 8) Tons of action-packed fight scenes, such as the river battle, Rambo's showdown with Lt. Tay, and the climactic raid on the prison camp and subsequent helicopter chase.
 * 9) The idea of a former Green Beret being sent deep into enemy territory on a secret mission and eventually embarking on a one-man killing spree after he's betrayed by the government official in charge is pretty impressive.
 * 10) The practical effects, along with the very few times we actually see blood, are as impressive as the first film's.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) As noted on WIR #6, the story is cliched and fairly predictable.
 * 2) It was heavily criticized by moral guardians for its extreme violence.
 * 3) Lt. Tay and Lt. Col. Podovsky are not very good villains.

Reception
Even though the film received unfavorable reviews from critics, with a 33% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it received favorable reviews from audiences and fans, retrospective audiences and fans of the franchise, and is considered to be one of the best installments of the Rambo franchise.

Trivia

 * Dolph Lundgren was initially signed as Lt. Col. Podovsky when Sylvester Stallone realized that it was the same man who was going to be in Rocky IV, so they paid off the contract.
 * The producers considered teaming up Rambo with John Travolta (who was once considered to play Rambo in First Blood) as his young partner in rescuing the American POWs. Stallone nixed this idea when he decided it would be better to make the film a solo project.
 * Lee Marvin was originally to play Marshall Murdock but changed his mind.

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