First Blood / Rambo: First Blood Part II / Rambo III 4K UHDs (1982-1988)

[Akijama]

http://thedigitalbits.com/columns/my...ts/032018-1500

What’s more, we’ve heard from our sources that it’s likely the Rambo films – First Blood (1982), Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Rambo III (1988), and Rambo (2008) – will all be coming to the format from Lionsgate before the end of the year. Of course, we’ve updated our 4K Ultra HD Release List here at The Bits accordingly.

[gregmtl92]

Originally Posted by Akijama

http://thedigitalbits.com/columns/my...ts/032018-1500

Sweet!

[LoSouL]

Ah hell yeah. First Blood is one of the GOATs. I like the 2008 one too.

[ROSS.T.G.]

Wow if this is true I’m gonna be very happy. The Canadian Mongrel
Collection remastered is so much better than LG.hope they use them.

[OutOfBoose]

Good stuff, if true.

[DJR662]

I haven't seen the first three in ages, not sure if these would still appeal to me now. Fourth movie is the only one I own on Blu-ray, but would love to double dip for that alone. I hope it will be the theatrical version and not the extended cut.

[Fendergopher]

First Blood on UHD would be a no-brainer to me. It does so much with its deliberate pacing and tension, not to mention great performances. Last version I have is on DVD so it would be a good opportunity to upgrade.

[KcMsterpce]

Originally Posted by DJR662

I haven't seen the first three in ages, not sure if these would still appeal to me now. Fourth movie is the only one I own on Blu-ray, but would love to double dip for that alone. I hope it will be the theatrical version and not the extended cut.

I'm personally looking forward to a 4k release of all three movies.
As for how well they've aged, my list is:

First Blood - Outstanding classic, with one of Stallone's best performances during his final monologue. Col Trautman is a little silly and over the top, as well as some "comic relief" guys looking for Rambo in the forest, but... it's still an excellent movie.
Rating: 8.5/10

Rambo: First Blood Part II - A guilty pleasure. It is one of the quintessential 80s action movie cliches now, but still worth my time watching it. It shirks the grittier, more depressing elements of Rambo's broken psyche for brainless entertainment (and a scene where Rambo tries to show that he's human by crying, which usually makes me want to laugh).
Still a fun movie, even today!
Rating: 7/10

Rambo III - There are rumors that this movie was made, but... uhhh... yeah. Nope. Not in my eyes!
Rating: 3/10

Rambo (2008) - I love this movie. The biggest fault is the stupid missionaries, and how bad their dialog/characterization is. However, Rambo's internal struggle/conflict is handled well. So, too, is his hardcore capabilities as a fighter, particularly with a .45 and his bow and arrow. The action scenes are brutal, gripping, and unsettling.
The raid/kidnapping sequence with the missionaries is more disturbing than what many war movies think they're accomplishing: A woman has her toddler torn from her arms, and is immediately tossed into the flames. This is only about 4 seconds of the entire sequence, but there is no part before that where the mother is looking around, hiding behind buildings, looking scared. We don't see her as she enters a room, and a soldier bangs down the door, then stares at her with an evil grin, slowly walking in. Nope. The woman is there, the kid is taken away, and we never see her again. We don't see her saying "My baby! Ohh, my baby!" It is just a brutal, intense moment amongst a chaotic frenzy of unsettling imagery, encased within a cacophony of sound.
I like Rambo's overall character arc from beginning to end, with a wonderful bookmark finish to the series.
One of the best sounding movies I have ever heard, too!
Rating: 9/10

[JoTjena]

Looking forward alot to First Blood, remembering this movie as my first movie Ii entered the cinema with 15 years for clearance and a few weekends later ”Raiders of the lost arc”, man I was completeley stoked of these movies and thought if everything is of this quality in action/ adventure films i was in for a treat. Well found out that these were exceptionell films and have loved them since. Raiders were given a decent blu ray but first blood medioker at best. I hope first blood gets a proper 4K Scan and no one messes with any dnr crap etc. !

[DJR662]

Lol. When you said "all three movies" I somehow automatically assumed you meant the first three while ignoring the fourth. But it's actually the third one you don't like.

Do you consider Rambo III to be that bad? I seem to recall it was one of those typical dumb and cheesy yet fun 80s action flicks?

[Vertizontal]

Ah, fingers crossed! First Blood is a classic must own title, one of Sly's best. Period. And I believe he wrote it too. Then you have Brian Dennehy nearly stealing the show as a GREAT d-bag officer. Count me in for day one!

[mikesncc1701]

Sweet! I've only ever seen FIRST BLOOD and RAMBO and don't own any of them so this will be an easy buy!

[KcMsterpce]

Originally Posted by DJR662

Lol. When you said "all three movies" I somehow automatically assumed you meant the first three while ignoring the fourth. But it's actually the third one you don't like.

Do you consider Rambo III to be that bad? I seem to recall it was one of those typical dumb and cheesy yet fun 80s action flicks?

Honestly, RAMBO III falls into the category of 80s action movies that try to emulate/seize the glory that came from RAMBO II's success.
It is quite funny in that respect. It's one of the first sequels I can recall where it falls victim to making a movie "that wants to be [RAMBO II], but doesn't understand why it worked".
These days, reboots and sequels are in abundance, and they fail to understand why the original was so successful. Not so common back then.
Horror movie sequels from the 80s were very common... the Nightmare on Elm Street or Friday the 13th series had a prolific sequel trend during the 80s, of course. With Elm Street, though, it did some creative transformations from one movie to the next.
Rambo II was a trend setter. Scores of movies up until the mid-90s were made - especially straight to video titles by Canon Pictures and other low budget companies - filled with greased up muscle men that killed bad guys with virtually no effort, or emotion. These copycat movies were inspired by Rambo II, Terminator, and Chuck Norris. That is Pure Awesome.

Do I really "hate" RAMBO III? I don't know. I usually skip it when I do my 3-5 year rewatch cycle of the RAMBO films. I always watch First Blood and Rambo (2008), and I might skip Rambo II. Last time I watched Rambo III was in 2007 (?). It is just a subpar experience, and if they are released on 4k, I will watch it again. Maybe I will like it more this time around? You never know.
As long as you take it at face value, I understand how people can enjoy Rambo III. It's easier for me to see the charm in it compared to numerous other "silly fun movies".

[Geoff D]

Hot diggetty dawg! One wonders if the fourth movie will be the extended edition though, probably not judging by Lionsgate's UHD release pattern thus far, and that's a damned shame as I love that cut of the movie.

[DJR662]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Hot diggetty dawg! One wonders if the fourth movie will be the extended edition though, probably not judging by Lionsgate's UHD release pattern thus far, and that's a damned shame as I love that cut of the movie.

IIRC it cuts some of the violence and that is never a good thing with me.

[brainofj72]

Yesssss! I was just thinking about how much I want to rewatch this series. Looks like I'll wait a while.

And yeah, I definitely hope it's the theatrical cut of Rambo.

[cynatnite]

I hope I don't get in trouble, but this is too funny to not share. Plus I want this sooooooo bad!

[OutOfBoose]

The last time I watched them all was when 4 came out, and I remember II and especially III were awful. First is a classic and IV was surprisingly decent.

[Opips3]

I can't remember played this

https://www.destructoid.com/why-ramb...r-141790.phtml

[bluescholar]

Originally Posted by cynatnite

[Show spoiler]

I hope I don't get in trouble, but this is too funny to not share. Plus I want this sooooooo bad!

You want Rambo 4k or the ability to spew spare change from your nethers?