First Blood (1982)

A couple of my fellow Clinic Managers are on a mission to help me watch more manly movies.  Since their first attempt was an epic failure, I was not to optimistic about watching "Rambo"; I do have to admit that this movie has more of a manly culture than Days of Thunder.  I was not sure what to expect when I sat down to watch this film, I knew Iwasn't going to like it, but I had committed to watch it so that I could expand my manly exposure in movies.

John Rambo is a Medal of Honor recipient from the Vietnam War, and a Special Forces Green Beret.  Wandering around the country he is trying to catch up with his old buddies, but learns that they have all died and he is the lone survivor.  As he is walking through a small community as a vagrant, he is escorted out of town and eventually arrested.  The small town cops take it upon themselves to teach him, with an iron fist, how he should comply with societal rules.  During this abuse he has horrific flashbacks on torture sessions during the war, and snaps.  He makes easy business of the cops and escapes to the mountains.

While he is on the run he takes on the cops and the national guard in a one man war.  Needless to say he wins, but in the end his old Colnel convinces him to turn himself in.  This movie is fast paced, it does have a few laughs, but mostly it is a sad movie because of the way society treated him.  He obviously has PTSD, but during that time no one appreciated that, or even knew how to help him.  I thought this movie would help me feel manly or pumped full of adrenaline, but it did the exact opposite for me...it depressed me.  I got the same feeling after watching the Deer Hunter (Do not watch that movie, it is a downer of a show).  Overall 2 stars for me.  Up next Rambo II