Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
Rambo: First Blood Part II
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
{{Short description|1985 film by George P. Cosmatos}} {{About|the 1985 film|the video game|Rambo: First Blood Part II (Master System video game){{!}}''Rambo: First Blood Part II'' (Master System video game)}} {{redirect|Rambo II|the similarly named 2018 Indian film|Raambo 2{{!}}''Raambo 2''}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox film | image = Rambo first blood part ii.jpg | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = [[George P. Cosmatos]] | screenplay = {{Plainlist| * [[Sylvester Stallone]] * [[James Cameron]] }} | story = [[Kevin Jarre]] | based_on = {{based on|[[Rambo (franchise)|Characters]]|[[David Morrell]]}} | producer = [[Buzz Feitshans]] | starring = {{Plainlist| * [[Sylvester Stallone]] * [[Richard Crenna]] * [[Charles Napier (actor)|Charles Napier]] * [[Steven Berkoff]] }} | cinematography = [[Jack Cardiff]] | editing = {{Plainlist| * [[Mark Goldblatt]] * [[Mark Helfrich (film editor)|Mark Helfrich]] }} | music = [[Jerry Goldsmith]] | studio = {{Plainlist| * [[Carolco Pictures]] * Anabasis Investments, N.V. * [[Estudios Churubusco]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.excelsior.com.mx/funcion/2015/09/14/1045627 | title=Los estudios Churubusco, un sendero con historia | work=Excelsior | date=September 14, 2015 | access-date=September 14, 2015}}</ref> }} | distributor = [[Tri-Star Pictures]]<ref name="AFI">{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/58323|title=Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)|work=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]]|access-date=October 3, 2018}}</ref> | released = {{Film date|1985|05|22}} | runtime = 96 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 95:53--><ref>{{cite web | url=http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/first-blood-1970-4 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909011347/http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/first-blood-1970-4 | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 9, 2015 | title=''RAMBO – FIRST BLOOD PART II'' (15) | work=[[British Board of Film Classification]] | date=May 28, 1985 | access-date=October 25, 2014}}</ref> | country = United States<ref>{{cite web |title=Film #14948: Rambo: First Blood Part II |work=[[Lumiere (database)|Lumiere]]| url=http://lumiere.obs.coe.int/web/film_info/?id=14948 | access-date=March 21, 2021}}</ref> | language = English | budget = $25.5 million<ref>{{cite news|title=It's Fade-Out for the Cheap Film As Hollywood's Budgets Soar: It's Fade-Out for Films Once Made on the Cheap |author=ALJEAN HARMETZ|date=December 7, 1989|work=[[The New York Times]]|page=C19}}</ref> | gross = $300.4 million<ref name="mojo"/> }} '''''Rambo: First Blood Part II''''' is a 1985 American [[war film|war]] [[action film]] starring [[Sylvester Stallone]] as [[Vietnam War]] veteran [[John Rambo]]. A sequel to ''[[First Blood]]'' (1982), it is the second installment in the [[Rambo (franchise)|''Rambo'' franchise]]. The film was directed by [[George P. Cosmatos]] from a story by [[Kevin Jarre]], with a screenplay by [[James Cameron]] and Stallone. It co-stars [[Richard Crenna]], who reprises his role as [[Colonel Sam Trautman]], along with [[Charles Napier (actor)|Charles Napier]], [[Julia Nickson]], and [[Steven Berkoff]]. The film's plot is inspired by the [[Vietnam War POW/MIA issue]]. In the movie, Rambo is released from prison in a deal with the [[Federal government of the United States|United States government]] to document the possible existence of missing [[prisoners of war]] (POWs) in Vietnam, but is given strict orders not to rescue any. When Rambo defies his orders, he is abandoned and forced once again to rely on his own brutal combat skills to save the POWs. ''Rambo: First Blood Part II'' was released on May 22, 1985, by [[Tri-Star Pictures]], becoming a major global [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]], with an estimated box office gross of $150 million in the United States, becoming the second [[1985 in film|highest grossing film at the domestic box office]] and the third highest grossing film worldwide in 1985. It has become one of the most recognized installments in the series, having inspired countless [[Plagiarism|rip-offs]], [[Parody|parodies]], [[video game]]s, and imitations. In 2009, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' ranked the movie number 23 on its list of "The Best Rock-'em, Sock-'em Movies of the Past 25 Years".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20219939_2,00.html |title=The Action 25 Films: The Best Rock-'em, Sock-'em Movies of the Past 25 Years |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] at [[Wayback Machine]] |date=January 30, 2009 |access-date=October 1, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203113241/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20219939_2,00.html |archive-date=February 3, 2009 }}</ref> Despite its success and pop-culture status, ''Rambo: First Blood Part II'' earned mixed reviews from critics, with many feeling Rambo's compelling nature was lost from its predecessor in favor of a more typical [[action hero]] portrayal. Additionally, it was nominated in seven categories at the [[6th Golden Raspberry Awards]], winning four, including [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture|Worst Picture]]. However, it was nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Effects Editing]] at the [[58th Academy Awards]]. == Plot == Three years after [[First Blood|the events in Hope, Washington]], former [[U.S. Army]] [[United States Army Special Forces|Green Beret]] [[John Rambo]] is imprisoned at a [[Penal labor in the United States|penal labor]] facility. He is met by Colonel [[Sam Trautman]], his commanding officer during the [[Vietnam War]]. Trautman explains that the U.S. government is under pressure because of reports that [[prisoner of war|POWs]] are still [[Vietnam War POW/MIA issue|being held in Vietnam]]. To placate the public, a solo [[Infiltration tactics|infiltration]] mission has been approved to confirm these reports, and Rambo's name was suggested as he is versed with the POW camp. Rambo agrees to take the mission in exchange for a presidential [[pardon]]. At [[Thailand]], Rambo and Trautman meet helicopter pilot Ericson, his partner Lifer, and Marshall Murdock, the [[bureaucrat]] overseeing the operation. He is instructed to take pictures of a suspected POW camp, but not to engage enemy personnel or attempt a rescue. Trautman is the only person involved in the operation whom Rambo trusts. During his aerial insertion, Rambo's parachute gets caught. He is forced to cut himself free and jettison most of his gear, leaving him only with [[combat knife|knives]] and a [[bow and arrow]]. His assigned contact, Vietnamese intelligence agent Co Bao, arranges for local [[river pirate]]s to take them upriver. Rambo reaches the Vietnamese camp, which is commanded by Captain Vinh and Lieutenant Tay. Rambo confirms the presence of POWs. Against orders, he frees POW Banks. Rambo, Co, and Banks attempt to withdraw, but the river pirates betray them as a Vietnamese [[gunboat]] closes in. Rambo kills the pirates and disables the gunboat with an [[Rocket-propelled grenade|RPG]]. Before reaching an [[Extraction (military)|extraction point]], Rambo and Banks separate from Co. Under mortar attack, they are spotted by Trautman aboard a rescue helicopter with Ericson and Lifer. Trautman informs base, but Murdock responds by ordering Ericson to abort the rescue. Lifer prevents Trautman from interfering as the crew abandons Rambo and Banks, who are captured by the Vietnamese. Confronted by Trautman upon his return to base, Murdock reveals that the mission was a sham. Any evidence of POWs would have been ignored, as the discovery would have forced the United States to expend resources, or possibly even start another war to secure their release. At the POW camp, Rambo learns that the Vietnamese are being assisted by the Soviet military. Soviet liaison Lieutenant Colonel Podovsky and his right-hand man, Sergeant Yushin, abuse and interrogate Rambo. Podovsky demands that he broadcast a message to Murdock as a warning against further rescue missions. Rambo refuses and is tortured with [[Electrical injury#Torture|electric shocks]]. He relents when Banks is brought in and threatened with eye-gouging. Rambo dials in a secret radio frequency to contact his base but threatens Murdock for his treachery, overpowers his captors and escapes the camp with the help of Co, who infiltrated the camp. Both are on the run, and Rambo agrees to take Co to the United States. But later, Co is shot by Lieutenant Tay. Rambo promises a dying Co that he will remember her and buries her, cutting a red headband from her dress and donning her necklace. Rambo begins to kill the Russians and Vietnamese soldiers by guerilla tactics and weaponry, and kills Tay with an explosive-tipped arrow. Yushin attacks him from a helicopter, but Rambo climbs on board and throws him to his death, hijacks the helicopter, and uses it to bombard the POW camp. He frees Banks and other POWs. They board the captured helicopter, but are pursued by Podovsky in a [[Mil Mi-24]] attack helicopter. Rambo fakes a crash to trick Podovsky, then kills him by destroying his helicopter with a rocket launcher. Rambo and the POWs return to base. Rambo hits Ericson for abandoning him, then destroys all computer equipment in the mission control room. He threatens Murdock and demands that other POWs be rescued. Trautman tries to convince Rambo to return to a peaceful life at home but Rambo refuses, saying that he wants the country to care for its soldiers, just like how they care for the country. Trautman then asks Rambo how he would live, to which Rambo replies 'day by day' as he walks away. == Cast == {{main|List of Rambo characters}} {{cast listing| * [[Sylvester Stallone]] as [[John Rambo|John J. Rambo]] * [[Richard Crenna]] as [[Sam Trautman|Colonel Samuel R. "Sam" Trautman]] * [[Charles Napier (actor)|Charles Napier]] as Major Marshall Roger T. Murdock * [[Steven Berkoff]] as Lieutenant Colonel Sergei T. Podovsky * [[Julia Nickson]] as Agent Co Phuong Bao * [[Martin Kove]] as Michael Reed Ericson * [[George Cheung]] as Lieutenant Tay * Andy Wood as Banks * Steve Williams as Lifer * William Ghent as Captain Vinh * [[Vojislav Govedarica|Voyo Goric]] as Sergeant Yushin * Dana Lee as Captain Trong Kinh }} == Production == === Development and writing === Development of a sequel to ''First Blood'' began when [[Carolco Pictures]] sold foreign [[distribution rights]] to distributors in Europe and Japan in 1983, initially scheduling the film for a December 1984 release. It was later rescheduled for August 1, 1985.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Rambo: First Blood Part II|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/58323-RAMBO-FIRSTBLOODPARTII?sid=250a8fac-48e3-4307-8f84-fb9f5fb87363&sr=16.122898&cp=1&pos=0|access-date=2021-06-11|website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref> Then up-and-coming screenwriter [[Kevin Jarre]] had written a story [[Film treatment|treatment]] that was liked by both the producers and Stallone. Jarre later recalled in an interview in the documentary ''Tinsel – The Lost Movie About Hollywood'':<blockquote>I wrote the first draft of ''Rambo''. And I just did it, I was living on dog food at the time and I, you know, I needed a gig and I wanted to finish a spec script I was writing. And you know, they called, Stallone called me in and they had this idea about what they should do in the sequel to ''[[First Blood]]'' and I said, "Well, how about if maybe he searches for POWs in Southeast Asia and back in Vietnam?" He said, "Great, let’s do it."</blockquote> Despite this, the film has many similarities both in script and in directing style with [[Ted Kotcheff]]'s [[Uncommon Valor]], which was also produced by [[Buzz Feitshans]]. It was one of a series of films about rescuing POWs in Vietnam that were entirely fictional.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|access-date=23 May 2025|date=23 May 2025|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/great-unfilmed-screenplays-the-greatest-raid-of-them-all-by-john-milius-and-john-plaster/|title=Great Unfilmed Screenplays: The Greatest Raid of Them All by John Milius and John Plaster}}</ref> [[James Cameron]] was then hired to pen a first draft of the screenplay, which he was concurrently writing along with ''[[The Terminator]]'' and ''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]'', both of which he would go on to direct. Cameron had been recommended by [[David Giler]], who did some [[uncredited]] script work on the first film. Cameron's first draft was titled ''First Blood II: The Mission''.<ref>{{cite news|author=BROESKE, P. H.|date=October 27, 1985|title=THE CURIOUS EVOLUTION OF JOHN RAMBO|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|154252710}}}}</ref> According to Cameron, his script had the same basic structure of the first film, but was more violent than its predecessor. Cameron was quoted in an October 1986 issue of ''[[Famous Monsters of Filmland|Monsterland]]'' magazine: "It was quite a different film from ''First Blood'', apart from the continuation of the Rambo character. The first one was set in a small town, it had a different social consciousness from the second one, which was a very broad, stylized adventure. It was a little more violent in its execution than I had in mind in the writing."<ref name=Rambo>{{cite web|url=https://www.jamescamerononline.com/Rambo2.htm|title=Rambo First Blood Part II|website=www.jamescamerononline.com|date=|access-date=March 25, 2024}}</ref> Following Cameron’s initial draft, Stallone took over scriptwriting duties, creating a final draft. Jarre received sole [[story credit]], while Stallone and Cameron were credited for the screenplay. Jarre would defensively say that almost nothing of his original treatment ended up in the final script,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iH56DwAAQBAJ&dq=kevin+jarre%C2%A0Rambo%3A+First+Blood+Part+II&pg=PT18|title=The Making of Tombstone Behind the Scenes of the Classic Modern Western|last=Farkis|first=John|date=2018-11-16|publisher=McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers|isbn=9781476635033|language=en|access-date=2024-03-25}}</ref> while Cameron would comment that he only wrote the action and that Stallone wrote the politics.<ref name=Rambo/> In a December 2006 Q&A with [[Ain't It Cool News]], Stallone recalled: {{blockquote|I think that James Cameron is a brilliant talent, but I thought the politics were important, such as a [[Conservatism in the United States|right-wing]] stance coming from Trautman and his nemesis, Murdock, contrasted by Rambo's obvious neutrality, which I believe is explained in Rambo's final speech. I realize his speech at the end may have caused millions of viewers to burst veins in their eyeballs by rolling them excessively, but the sentiment stated was conveyed to me by many veterans. ... [Also] in his original draft it took nearly 30–40 pages to have any action initiated and Rambo was partnered with a tech-y sidekick. So it was more than just politics that were put into the script. There was also a simpler story line. If James Cameron says anything more than that, then he realizes he's now doing the backstroke badly in a pool of lies.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/30932|title=Stallone answers December 9th & 10th Questions in a double round – plus Harry's Seen ROCKY BALBOA ...|author=headgeek|date=December 16, 2006|work=Aint It Cool News}}</ref>}} Producers wanted Rambo to have a partner for the POW rescue mission. They wanted [[John Travolta]] to play Rambo's [[sidekick]], but Stallone vetoed the idea.<ref>''We Get to Win This Time'', 2002, Artisan Entertainment</ref> [[Lee Marvin]] (who had been considered for the role of Colonel Trautman in the first film) was offered the role of Marshall Murdock, but declined, and the role was given to [[Charles Napier (actor)|Charles Napier]]. Before filming started, Stallone went through torturous trainings to build the perfect musculature. Writer David J. Moore said in the 2019 documentary film ''In Search of the Last Action Heroes'': "Here's a guy who went against the grain in everything that he ever did. Here's a guy who transformed himself, literally; he chiseled his own body into this statuesque, muscular specimen."<ref name="insearch">''In Search of the Last Action Heroes''. [[ProSiebenSat.1 Media#Red Arrow Studios|Gravitas Ventures]]. 2019.</ref>{{rp|at=42:00}} === Filming === The film was shot between June and August 1984 [[Location shooting|on location]] in the state of [[Guerrero]], Mexico, and [[Thailand]]. While vacationing in Acapulco, Ron South was hired on as assistant editor and his film career began. During filming, [[special effect]]s man Clifford P. Wenger, Jr. was accidentally killed during one of the film's waterfall explosions, when he lost his footing and fell to his death. == Music == {{Infobox album | name = Rambo: First Blood Part II (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | type = Film | artist = [[Jerry Goldsmith]] | cover = | alt = | released = 1985 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = | length = | label = | producer = [[Jerry Goldsmith]] | prev_title = [[Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend#Soundtrack|Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)]] | prev_year = 1985 | next_title = [[Explorers (film)#Soundtrack|Explorers: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]] | next_year = 1985 }} The [[Film score|musical score]] was composed by [[Jerry Goldsmith]], conducting the British [[National Philharmonic Orchestra]], although Goldsmith also made heavy use of electronic [[Synthesizer|synthesized]] elements. The main song is sung by Stallone's brother, singer-songwriter [[Frank Stallone]]. Record label [[Varèse Sarabande]] issued the original soundtrack album. # Main Title (2:12) # Preparations (1:16) # The Jump (3:18) # The Snake (1:48) # Stories (3:26) # The Cage (3:55) # Betrayed (4:22) # Escape from Torture (3:39) # Ambush (2:45) # Revenge (6:14) # Bowed Down (1:04) # Pilot Over (1:52) # Home Flight (3:01) # Day by Day (2:06) # Peace in Our Life – music by Frank Stallone, Peter Schless, and Jerry Goldsmith; lyrics by Frank Stallone; performed by Frank Stallone (3:18) As released in the United Kingdom by That's Entertainment Records (the British [[licensee]] for Varèse Sarabande at the time), the UK version placed "Peace in Our Life" between "Betrayed" and "Escape from Torture", thus making "Day by Day" the final track. In 1999, Silva America released an expanded edition with the cues in film order. # Main Title (2:14) # The Map (1:09) # Preparations (1:18) # The Jump (3:19) # The Snake (1:49) # The Pirates (1:29) # Stories (3:27) # The Camp/Forced Entry (2:24) # The Cage (3:57) # River Crash/The Gunboat (3:37) # Betrayed (4:24) # Bring Him Up/The Eyes (2:06) # Escape from Torture (3:41) # Ambush (2:47) # Revenge (6:16) # Bowed Down (1:06) # Pilot Over (1:54) # Village Raid/Helicopter Flight (4:55) # Home Flight (3:02) # Day By Day (2:08) # Peace in Our Life (3:19) – Frank Stallone == Release == === Marketing === Unusually for the time, a [[Teaser (trailer)|teaser trailer]] for ''Rambo: First Blood Part II''—then titled ''First Blood Part II: The Mission''—was released in 3,000 theaters in the summer of 1984, over a year before the scheduled release date of August 1, 1985, and several months before any footage for the film was completed. Producer [[Mario Kassar]] arranged this to capitalize on the popularity of the first film.<ref>"US News: BRIEFLY – 'First Blood II' Trailers Filmed." ''Screen International'', no. 451, June 23, 1984, pp. 6''.''</ref><ref name=":0" /> The film was also marketed through merchandising, with posters of Rambo selling rapidly. Although the film was [[Motion Picture Association film rating system|rated R]] and directed at adults, tie-in toys were created for it.<ref name=":0" /> === Home media === The [[Videotape|video]] was released in the United States by [[Thorn EMI]]/[[HBO Video]] in early 1986 and sold a record 425,000 units on opening day, a record at the time for a tape with a retail price of $79.95, surpassing the 410,000 sold by ''[[Ghostbusters]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 21, 1986|page=1|title='Future' Cassettes Fail To Approach 500,000-Unit Goal|last=Bierbaum|first=Tom}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Thomas|last=Schnurmacher|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96464698/the-gazette/|title=Students put their heads together for new driving service|newspaper=[[Montreal Gazette]]|page=35|date=March 29, 1986|accessdate=February 26, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Daily Variety]]|date=May 21, 1986|page=1|title='Rambo 2' storms into HV market|last=Bierbaum|first=Tom}}</ref> ''Rambo: First Blood Part II'' was released on DVD on November 23, 2004. A [[Blu-ray]] release followed on May 23, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/1866/Rambo:-First-Blood-Part-II-(1985).html|title=Rambo: First Blood Part II DVD Release Date|website=DVDs Release Dates|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-11}}</ref> ''Rambo: First Blood Part II'' was released on 4K UHD Blu-ray on November 13, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ultrahd.highdefdigest.com/64219/firstblood4kultrahdbluray2.html|title=Rambo: First Blood Part II – 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Ultra HD Review {{!}} High Def Digest|website=ultrahd.highdefdigest.com|language=en|access-date=2018-11-11}}</ref> == Reception == === Box office === ''Rambo: First Blood Part II'' opened in the United States on May 22, 1985, in a then-record 2,074 theaters, becoming the first film to be released to over 2,000 theaters in the United States, and was the number one film that weekend, grossing $20.2 million. Overall, the film grossed $150.4 million in the US and Canada, and $150 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $300.4 million.<ref name="mojo">[https://web.archive.org/web/20200215070326/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3697968641/ Box Office Information for Rambo: First Blood Part II] [[Box Office Mojo]] via [[Internet Archive]]. Retrieved February 8, 2023.</ref> The film broke various international box office records.<ref>{{cite book|title=Spectacular Bodies: Gender, Genre and the Action Cinema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QnftZTghGU0C&q=rambo+international+box+office&pg=PA7|isbn = 9781134873005|author-link1=Yvonne Tasker|last1 = Tasker|first1 = Yvonne|date = October 2, 2012| publisher=Routledge }}</ref> It set an opening weekend record in the United Kingdom with a gross of £1.1 million from 322 screens, surpassing the record set by ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]'' (1982).<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Screen International]]|date=September 3, 1988|page=24|title=No shellshock as Rambo III bursts in at the top}}</ref> In France, the film had a record opening day with 269,564 admissions and a record week with 2,075,238 admissions.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=November 1, 1993|page=14|last=Groves|first=Don|title=French B.O. warms up to 'Jurassic'}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Daily Variety]]|page=30|title='Jurassic' passes $450 mil o'seas|last=Groves|first=Don|date=October 28, 1993}}</ref> === Critical response === On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of {{Rotten Tomatoes data|score}} based on {{Rotten Tomatoes data|count}} reviews. The site's consensus is "''Rambo: First Blood Part II'' offers enough mayhem to satisfy genre fans, but remains a regressive sequel that turns its once-compelling protagonist into just another muscled action berserker."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rambo_first_blood_part_ii |title=Rambo: First Blood Part II |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=August 24, 2022 }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]] the film has a weighted average score of 47 out of 100 based on reviews from 15 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web |title=Rambo: First Blood Part II |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/rambo-first-blood-part-ii |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=August 1, 2020 }}</ref> [[Vincent Canby]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' called the film "almost as opportunistic as the [[Member of Congress|Congressman]] it pretends to abhor. In spite of everything it says, it's much less interested in the M.I.A. question than it is in finding a topical frame for the kind of action-adventure film in which Mr. Stallone — his torso and his vacant stare — can do what his fans like best. That is, fight, outwit and kill, usually all by himself, dozens of far-better armed but lesser mortals."<ref>Canby, Vincent (May 26, 1985). [https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/26/movies/film-view-rambo-delivers-a-revenge-fantasy.html "'Rambo' Delivers A Revenge Fantasy".] ''[[The New York Times]]''. H11.</ref> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote, "The charade on the screen, which is not pulled off, is to accept that the underdog Rambo character, albeit with the machine-gun wielding help of an attractive Vietnamese girl, can waste hordes of [[Viet Cong]] and [[Soviet Army|Red Army]] contingents en route to hauling POWs to a Thai air base in a smoking Russian chopper with only a facial scar (from a branding iron-knifepoint) marring his tough figure. You never even see him eating in this fantasy, as if his body feeds on itself."<ref>"Film Reviews: Rambo: First Blood Part II". ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''. May 22, 1985. 14.</ref> [[Gene Siskel]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' gave the film three stars out of four and called it "very good at what it does, but what it does isn't always that good", referring to the depiction of the enemy as going "back to the image of the [[Yellow Peril]], to the notion that white is right and other colors are wrong."<ref>Siskel, Gene (May 22, 1985). "'Rambo': Cinematic soldiering whitewashes Vietnam". ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. Section 5, p. 1, 3.</ref> Michael Wilmington of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' wrote, "If a character can seemingly do anything, it's hard to feel tension or concern about his fate. (At least [[Superman]] had [[kryptonite]].) We are left with nothing but detached aesthetic appreciation: watching Rambo race through several million dollars worth of explosions and aerial attacks, coruscant fireballs billowing everywhere and bodies flying hither and yon. Except for anyone irretrievably into violent power fantasies, this will probably soon pall."<ref>Wilmington, Michael (May 22, 1985). [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-22-ca-16965-story.html "Why a 'Rambo II'? For Muddiest of Reasons".] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. Part VI, p. 1, 6.</ref> [[Pauline Kael]] commented in ''[[The New Yorker]]'', "The director, George P. Costmatos, gives this near-psychotic material—a mixture of [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] iconography and ''[[Soldier of Fortune (magazine)|Soldier of Fortune]]'' pulp—a veneer of professionalism, but the looniness is always there."<ref>Kael, Pauline (June 17, 1985). "The Current Cinema". ''[[The New Yorker]]''. 117.</ref> [[Paul Attanasio]] of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' wrote, "At best, ''Rambo: First Blood Part II'' is a crudely effective right-wing rabble-rouser, the artistic equivalent of carpet bombing—you don't know whether to cheer or run for cover. At worst, it's a tribute to Sylvester Stallone, by Sylvester Stallone, starring Sylvester Stallone."<ref>Attansasio, Paul (May 22, 1985). "'Rambo': New Blood, Old Moves". ''[[The Washington Post]]''. F1.</ref> The film is listed in [[Golden Raspberry Award]] founder [[John J. B. Wilson|John Wilson]]'s book ''[[The Official Razzie Movie Guide]]'' as one of The 100 Most Enjoyably Bad Movies Ever Made.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=John|title=The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywood's Worst |year=2005|publisher=Grand Central Publishing|isbn=0-446-69334-0}}</ref> === Accolades === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Award ! Category ! Subject ! Result |- |[[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] |[[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Editing]] |[[Frederick Brown (sound editor)|Frederick Brown]] |{{nom}} |- |rowspan=8|[[Golden Raspberry Award|Razzie Award]] |[[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture|Worst Picture]] |Buzz Feitshans |{{won}} |- |[[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor|Worst Actor]] |rowspan=2|[[Sylvester Stallone]] |{{won}} |- |rowspan=2|[[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay|Worst Screenplay]] |{{won}} |- |[[James Cameron]] |{{won}} |- |[[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song|Worst Original Song]] |[[Frank Stallone]] <small>("Peace in Our Life")</small> |{{won}} |- |[[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress|Worst Supporting Actress]] |rowspan=2|[[Julia Nickson-Soul|Julia Nickson]] |{{nom}} |- |[[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst New Star|Worst New Star]] |{{nom}} |- |[[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director|Worst Director]] |[[George Cosmatos]] |{{nom}} |- |} The film is referenced in the 1985 ''[[The Golden Girls]]'' episode "[[On Golden Girls]]". Female characters seem to be aroused by John Rambo's muscular physique, and [[Sophia Petrillo]] says: "I sat through it twice. You'll love it! He sweats like a pig and he doesn't put his shirt on!"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.quotes.net/mquote/899929|title=The Golden Girls quotes|publisher=Quotes.net|access-date=July 21, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohshutuprose.com/2017/02/on-golden-girls-s1e6.html|title=On Golden Girls S1E6|publisher=Oh Shut Up Rose!|access-date=July 21, 2021}}</ref> == Other media == === Sequel === {{Main|Rambo III}} A sequel titled ''Rambo III,'' was released in 1988. === Novelization === [[David Morrell]], author of ''[[First Blood (novel)|First Blood]]'', the novel the first ''Rambo'' film is based on, wrote a [[novelization]], also titled ''Rambo: First Blood Part II''. === Video games === A tie-in video game called ''[[Rambo (1985 video game)|Rambo]]'' was produced for [[ZX Spectrum]], [[Amstrad CPC]] and [[Commodore 64]]. There was also ''[[Rambo (1987 video game)|Rambo]]'' for [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], as well as ''[[Rambo: First Blood Part II (Master System video game)|Rambo: First Blood Part II]]'' for [[Master System]]. [[MSX]] and [[DOS]] games were based on the film. [[Sega]] adapted some of the battle scenes in the film for the 2008 [[arcade game]] ''[[Rambo (2008 video game)|Rambo]]''. In 2014 ''[[Rambo: The Video Game]]'', based on the first three ''Rambo'' films, was released. The 1986 arcade [[run and gun video game]] ''[[Ikari Warriors]]'' was intended by its developer [[SNK]] to be an official licensed adaptation of ''Rambo''. However, they were initially unable to acquire the rights to the film. This resulted in the game's title being changed to ''Ikari'', referencing part of the film's Japanese title, ''Rambo: Ikari no Dasshutsu'' ("Rambo: The Furious Escape"). After the game made its North American debut at an arcade game expo, they managed to get in touch with Sylvester Stallone about acquiring the rights to the film. However, it was too late by that point, as the game had already become popularly known by its Japanese ''Ikari'' title among arcade players in Japan and North America, which led to the game's official release as ''Ikari Warriors'' in North America. Stallone was friends with SNK's president at the time, and owned an ''Ikari Warriors'' [[arcade cabinet]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=「怒」を作った男 |trans-title=The Man Who Made "Ikari" |journal=[[:ja:CONTINUE (雑誌)|Continue]] |date=March 2001 |url=http://shmuplations.com/snkgoldenage/}}</ref> === In popular culture === * ''[[Strike Commando]]'', an Italian film described as an imitation of ''Rambo: First Blood Part II''<ref>{{cite book|title=Variety's Film Reviews 1987–1988|volume=20|publisher=[[R. R. Bowker]]|isbn=0-8352-2667-0|year=1991|at=There are no page numbers in this book. This entry is found under the header "November 25, 1987"|author=Lor.}} </ref> * ''[[Hot Shots! Part Deux]]'', an American parody film of ''Rambo: First Blood Part II'' and ''Rambo III'' with the colonel role reprised by [[Richard Crenna]]<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/hot-shots-part-deux-1993 |last= Ebert |first= Roger |date= May 21, 1993 |title= Hot Shots, Part Deux |work=[[Rogerebert.com]]|access-date= January 13, 2014}}</ref> * ''[[Second Blood]]'', a Kuwaiti action film inspired by ''Rambo: First Blood Part II''<ref>[http://kulturistika.ronnie.cz/c-23651-kuvajtsky-profesional-abdulhadi-al-khayat-fotografovani-v-posilovne.html "Kuvajtský profesionál Abdulhadi Al-Khayat: fotografování v posilovně"]</ref><ref>[http://moviesroom.pl/z-ostatniej-chwili/filmy/2229-kuwejcki-film-inspirowany-seria-rambo-zyskuje-date-premiery "Kuwejcki film inspirowany serią 'Rambo' zyskuje datę premiery"]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://primemovies.pl/2022/07/28/aktorzy-ktorzy-mieli-zagrac-rambo/|title=Ten actors that almost portrayed John Rambo on screen|work=Prime Movies|date=July 28, 2022|access-date=July 29, 2022}}</ref> * In ''[[UHF (film)|UHF]]'', a 1989 comedy-parody film, low-budget television station manager George Newman has a fantasy in which he envisions himself as a Rambo-type soldier on mission to rescue Stanley Spadowski from a rival station owner's goons. The fantasy sequence is a parody of action sequences in ''Rambo: First Blood Part II''. Stallone had initially agreed to make a cameo appearance in the sequence, but ultimately declined to do so.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/uhf-movie-sylvester-stallone-rambo-cameo-rejection/|publisher=[[Screen Rant]]|author=Cotter, Padraig|title=Why Stallone Backed Out Of A Cameo In UHF's Rambo Parody Sequence|language=en-US|url-status=live |date=February 19, 2022|accessdate=March 26, 2022|archivedate=February 19, 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219194622/https://screenrant.com/uhf-movie-sylvester-stallone-rambo-cameo-rejection/}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Wikiquote}} {{Portal|1980s|Film|United States}} * {{IMDb title|0089880}} * {{Mojo title|rambo2}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|rambo-first-blood-part-ii}} {{Navboxes |title = ''Rambo: First Blood Part II'' |list = {{Rambo}} {{George P. Cosmatos}} {{Sylvester Stallone}} {{James Cameron}} {{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor}} {{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture}} {{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay}}}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Rambo First Blood Part II}} [[Category:1985 films]] [[Category:1980s English-language films]] [[Category:Vietnamese-language films]] [[Category:1985 action films]] [[Category:1980s adventure films]] [[Category:American action films]] [[Category:American anti-communist propaganda films]] [[Category:American sequel films]] [[Category:Cold War films]] [[Category:Films about missing people]] [[Category:Films set in 1985]] [[Category:Films set in prison]] [[Category:Films set in Thailand]] [[Category:Films set in the United States]] [[Category:Films set in Vietnam]] [[Category:Films shot in Mexico]] [[Category:Golden Raspberry Award–winning films]] [[Category:Rambo (franchise)]] [[Category:Films about United States Army Special Forces]] [[Category:TriStar Pictures films]] [[Category:Carolco Pictures films]] [[Category:Films scored by Jerry Goldsmith]] [[Category:Films directed by George P. Cosmatos]] [[Category:Films with screenplays by James Cameron]] [[Category:Films with screenplays by Sylvester Stallone]] [[Category:Vietnam War films]] [[Category:Vietnam War prisoner of war films]] [[Category:Films produced by Buzz Feitshans]] [[Category:1980s American films]] [[Category:English-language action films]] [[Category:English-language adventure films]]
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)
Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page
(
help
)
:
Template:About
(
edit
)
Template:Authority control
(
edit
)
Template:Blockquote
(
edit
)
Template:Cast listing
(
edit
)
Template:Category handler
(
edit
)
Template:Cite book
(
edit
)
Template:Cite journal
(
edit
)
Template:Cite magazine
(
edit
)
Template:Cite news
(
edit
)
Template:Cite web
(
edit
)
Template:Comma separated entries
(
edit
)
Template:EditAtWikidata
(
edit
)
Template:First word
(
edit
)
Template:Has short description
(
edit
)
Template:IMDb title
(
edit
)
Template:Infobox
(
edit
)
Template:Infobox album
(
edit
)
Template:Infobox film
(
edit
)
Template:Main
(
edit
)
Template:Main other
(
edit
)
Template:Mojo title
(
edit
)
Template:Navboxes
(
edit
)
Template:Nom
(
edit
)
Template:PAGENAMEBASE
(
edit
)
Template:Portal
(
edit
)
Template:Preview warning
(
edit
)
Template:Redirect
(
edit
)
Template:Reflist
(
edit
)
Template:Rotten Tomatoes
(
edit
)
Template:Rotten Tomatoes data
(
edit
)
Template:Rp
(
edit
)
Template:Short description
(
edit
)
Template:Sister project
(
edit
)
Template:Template other
(
edit
)
Template:Trim
(
edit
)
Template:Use American English
(
edit
)
Template:Use mdy dates
(
edit
)
Template:Wikidata
(
edit
)
Template:WikidataCheck
(
edit
)
Template:Wikiquote
(
edit
)
Template:Won
(
edit
)