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Dom Robinson reviews
Momentum Pictures
- Cert:
- Cat.no: MP003D
- Running time: 89 minutes
- Year: 1982
- Pressing: 2000
- Region(s): 2, PAL
- Chapters: 20 plus extras
- Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 (Dolby ProLogic)
- Languages: English, Italian, German, Spanish
- Subtitles: 6 languages available
- Widescreen: 2.35:1 (Panavision)
- 16:9-Enhanced: Yes
- Macrovision: Yes
- Disc Format: DVD 9
- Price: £19.99 (or £49.99 for the trilogy boxset)
- Extras: Theatrical Trailer, Teaser Trailer
Director:
- Ted Kotcheff
(The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, First Blood, Folks!, Red Shoe Diaries, The Shooter, A Strange Affair, Weekend at Bernie’s)
Producer:
- Buzz Feitshans
Screenplay:
- Michael Kozoll, William Sackheim and Sylvester Stallone
(based on a novel by David Morrell)
Music:
- Jerry Goldsmith
Cast:
- John Rambo: Sylvester Stallone
Colonel Samuel Trautman: Richard Crenna
Sheriff Will Teasle: Brian Dennehy
Capt. Dave Kern State Police: Bill McKinney
Deputy Arthur Galt: Jack Starrett
Balford: Michael Talbott
Ward: Chris Mulkey
Orval: John McLiam
Lester: Alf Humphreys
Mitch: David Caruso
Merry Christmassays the banner in the local police station, but there’s no festive welcome forVietnam soldier John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) when he wonders into asmall town looking for a now-deceased fellow veteran and his face certainlydoesn’t fit.
His diabolical prison treatment though reminds him of his bad experiencesin ‘Nam, which sends him crazy-ape bonkers and off he goes into the woodsto escape, the survival instincts of this war hero and congressional medalof honour winner being no match for any officer of the law. He’s been taughtnot to feel pain, even when he dives 50ft off a cliff-face into thick treesand later when he sews up a deep gash in his arm! Bleah! 🙂
Out in the forest as they chase after him, but it results in one death -albeit not his fault – and wounding six other, but there’s only one manwho can possibly tame him, Colonel Samuel Trautman (Richard Crenna),who trained Rambo in the field. The film also features NYPD Blue‘sDavid Caruso as one of the policemen.
One thing of note. Rambo never said, “Don’t push me”, just“Why are you pushing me?”, when geting hassled by Sheriff Brian Dennehyand “Don’t push it” later on.
The picture looks superb for a film nearly 20 years old and is presented inanamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen. There’s no encoding problems, but are a fewprint flecks and at times it looks a little soft.The average bitrate is 6.8Mb/s, occasionally peaking close to 8Mb/s.
The sound is Dolby Surround only which is very well-used, particular in thefighting and chasing scenes and the use of a rocket launcher. A remasteredDolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack would have been a nice idea, but the Americanshave missed out on that one too.
Extras :
Just a one-minute Theatrical trailer and almost the same againin a Teaser Trailer, both in anamorphic 16:9 widescreen.
Surround sound is in English, Italian, German and Spanish.The English subtitles are often slightly different from what is said, even ifit does have the same meaning. They’re also available in German, Italian,Spanish, Portuguese and Turkish.
The main menu has both music from the film mixed in with clips. There’s plentyof explosive sounds to be heard!
The Rambo Trilogy on DVD.This is the first of three excellent action flicks and if you’re not fussedabout extras, then it’s worth a look. However, note that the Region 1 DVDdoes have a director’s commentary whereas we lose out.
PICTURE QUALITY
SOUND QUALITY
EXTRAS
OVERALL
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.