Not only is a fifth "Rambo" film actually happening, it's also got a title and a premise -- "Rambo V: The Savage Hunt," in which Vietnam veteran John Rambo heads to the American Pacific Northwest with a team of Black Ops soldiers to hunt down a forest-dwelling "feral beast," the byproduct of a government experiment gone terribly wrong.
Now, am I really the only one who thinks this sounds like an awesome movie? Just last week, I gushed about the merits of the fourth "Rambo," which boasts a considerably more reality-based plot than the proposed "Rambo V." But unlike MTV Movies Blog editor Adam Rosenberg, who is notably worried about the franchise's new, apparently sci-fi direction, I'm not as concerned by the break from realism. Here's why.
First off, the very fact that there are continued "Rambo" adventures of any kind is nothing short of a miracle. Sylvester Stallone thankfully still sports an action hero's body, but already in his sixties, such a physique is hardly guaranteed. As long as Stallone is still physically capable of carrying an action film, I am absolutely committed to his body of work -- his directorial eye and sense for what makes the action genre tick is matched by very few.
So, if Stallone wants to put Rambo against an outrageous feral beast... well, why the heck not? The man delivered one of the single greatest action movies of the decade in "Rambo," will hopefully achieve similar success with next summer's "The Expendables," and "Rambo V" should really be no different. At this point in his career, it's remarkable that the actor-director is unleashing these pedal-to-the-medal action epics -- realism can be an important ingredient, yes, but I'm equally content to behold the well-executed violence promised by a Rambo-versus-Monster flick.
And make no mistake, there will be violence. The inclusion of the Black Ops squad guarantees such a thing, as anyone who saw "Rambo" can attest to. That film proved Stallone's understanding of how to use an ensemble in an action flick in a way rarely seen since "Aliens" and "Predator."
I suppose that might be my one gripe with the concept -- if Stallone has an interest in shooting a film featuring a feral beast, I'd almost rather he starred in and directed the Robert Rodriguez-produced "Predators." Not only would it create a new iconic Stallone character, it would also be an exciting nod to the action films of yesteryear with Stallone picking up where Arnold Schwarzenegger left off.
But that's not happening. Instead, Rambo himself is going toe-to-toe against a monstrous behemoth. Frankly, in a world where 63-year-old Sly Stallone can still kick butt with the best of them, I'll take "Rambo" in whatever form the actor-director thinks is best, realism be damned.
What say you, readers? Excited about the premise of "Rambo V: The Savage Hunt," or does it sound like a savage mistake? Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section or on Twitter!
Tags Rambo V: The Savage Hunt, Sylvester Stallone
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Rambo Fighting An Unrealistic Feral Beast Isn't The End Of The World, And Here's Why
Posted 9/9/09 2:00 pm EST by Josh Wigler in Commentary
Now, am I really the only one who thinks this sounds like an awesome movie? Just last week, I gushed about the merits of the fourth "Rambo," which boasts a considerably more reality-based plot than the proposed "Rambo V." But unlike MTV Movies Blog editor Adam Rosenberg, who is notably worried about the franchise's new, apparently sci-fi direction, I'm not as concerned by the break from realism. Here's why.
First off, the very fact that there are continued "Rambo" adventures of any kind is nothing short of a miracle. Sylvester Stallone thankfully still sports an action hero's body, but already in his sixties, such a physique is hardly guaranteed. As long as Stallone is still physically capable of carrying an action film, I am absolutely committed to his body of work -- his directorial eye and sense for what makes the action genre tick is matched by very few.
So, if Stallone wants to put Rambo against an outrageous feral beast... well, why the heck not? The man delivered one of the single greatest action movies of the decade in "Rambo," will hopefully achieve similar success with next summer's "The Expendables," and "Rambo V" should really be no different. At this point in his career, it's remarkable that the actor-director is unleashing these pedal-to-the-medal action epics -- realism can be an important ingredient, yes, but I'm equally content to behold the well-executed violence promised by a Rambo-versus-Monster flick.
And make no mistake, there will be violence. The inclusion of the Black Ops squad guarantees such a thing, as anyone who saw "Rambo" can attest to. That film proved Stallone's understanding of how to use an ensemble in an action flick in a way rarely seen since "Aliens" and "Predator."
I suppose that might be my one gripe with the concept -- if Stallone has an interest in shooting a film featuring a feral beast, I'd almost rather he starred in and directed the Robert Rodriguez-produced "Predators." Not only would it create a new iconic Stallone character, it would also be an exciting nod to the action films of yesteryear with Stallone picking up where Arnold Schwarzenegger left off.
But that's not happening. Instead, Rambo himself is going toe-to-toe against a monstrous behemoth. Frankly, in a world where 63-year-old Sly Stallone can still kick butt with the best of them, I'll take "Rambo" in whatever form the actor-director thinks is best, realism be damned.
What say you, readers? Excited about the premise of "Rambo V: The Savage Hunt," or does it sound like a savage mistake? Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section or on Twitter!
Tags Rambo V: The Savage Hunt, Sylvester Stallone
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