Rating: 
Summary: What most people call hell, he calls home.
Review: John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is in a prison for the events of the previous movie (see FIRST BLOOD), when his mentor, Col. Sam Trautman (Richard Crenna) comes to see him about a mission back to Vietnam, where he has a pardon coming if he accepts. Rambo accepts and finds out the specifics: It seems that the government's looking for American MIA's in Vietnam that are still being held there. Marshall Murdock (Charles Napier), Rambo's superior on this mission, tells him two things: Take only photographs of the MIAs, and do not engage the enemy. Begrudingly, Rambo begins his mission, and not only takes photographs of the MIAs, but brings one with him. When Murdock hears about this, he orders the chopper supposed to fly Rambo back to pull out. Murdock was hoping for nobody. Rambo, betrayed by his own government, must now help the MIAs, with the help of Co (Julia Nickson), a renegade Vietnamese agent, get out of Vietnam. Of course there is opposition: The Russian army and the Vietnamese army.The sequel had all but one thing. It had the action, dialogue quality, action, drama, and did I mention action? The only thing missing: the thriller quality of its predecessor. Still, a good film before rambo became completely superhuman in the next sequel, Rambo III (1988). The DVD, like all others in the trilogy, has excellent video and audio quality. The features start off with an good commentary by director George Cosmatos. He talks about the making of the movie, among other things. Next up is a documentary called "We Get to Win This Time: The Rambo Phenomenon", which focuses on elemenst of the film, like the Cold War era, why the Russians wre used, shooting in Mexico, and how James Cameron wrote the original screenplay (and Sly tweaked it) when the movie was still called "First Blood II: The Mission". Then you get your production notes, theatrical trailer, and either a video release trailer or TV spot (The quality of the second one makes it either one) All in all, a solid DVD release for any action fan. RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II
(1985, R)
John J. Rambo: Sylvester Stallone
Col. Samuel Trautman: Richard Crenna
Marshall Murdock: Charles Napier
Lt. Col. Podovsky: Steven Berkoff
Co Bao: Julia Nickson
Ericson: Martin Kove Director: George P. Cosmatos
Writers: Kevin Jarre (story), Sylvester Stallone, James Cameron MOVIE: 4
VIDEO: 5
AUDIO: 5
EXTRAS: 4
MENUS: 5
OVERALL: 5
Rating: 
Summary: Rambo returns with a bang!
Review: Yes, he's back and we get to win this time. Well, sort of. After his war against a small town sheriff, John Rambo spends his time as a high-risk prisoner. That is until Col Trautman offers him freedom in exchange for participation in a dangerous mission involving American POWs in Nam. He accepts and heads out with a cutting edge arsenal of massive destruction. And where he travels, destruction is always nearby as John battles Vietcong soldiers, a Soviet commander and even US government bureaucracy. Sylvester Stallone returns to his trend setting role as Rambo with similar results achieved in FIRST BLOOD. The same can be said for Richard Crenna, returning as Col Trautman. Charles Napier and Martin Kove (the Karate Kid) are the government agents so involved in red tape. Steven Berkoff (Beverly Hills Cop) dons a Russian accent to portray the evil Soviet commandant. George P Cosmatos took over directing duties for this film. The result is a snapdragon-paced film with plenty of comic book action and exciting visual pyrotechnics. Although FIRST BLOOD was a very good action film, it was this sequel that thrust Rambo into the world's pop-culture and it was a huge financial success. That is something that could not be duplicated with the next film in the series, RAMBO III. This Special Edition DVD has an amazing audio transfer. The DTS can challenge even the best sound systems! Also, the widescreen video transfer is crisp and beautiful, capturing the "Viet Namese" setting and enough firepower to fill a Rambo flick. There is also a full screen version for those with hatred for black bars. There is a new documentary looking at the Rambo Phenomenon as well as a running commentary by Director Cosmatos. This DVD was also made available in the Rambo Trilogy box set.
Rating: 
Summary: THIS IS IN NO WAY BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL ''FIRST BLOOD''
Review: RAMBO RETURNS TO GO TO VIETNAM TO RESCUE SOME AMERICAN PRISONERS. SURE, RAMBO HAS A MUCH BIGGER CHALLENGE IN THIS MOVIE, BUT IT'S SIMPLY NOWHERE NEAR AS GOOD AS THE ORIGINAL. THE STORY LINE HERE LACKS DEPTH AND THE ACTION AIN'T NO DIFFERENT FROM A ''MISSING IN ACTION'' MOVIE. UNLIKE THE ORIGINAL ''FIRST BLOOD'', THIS IS JUST A SIMPLE MINDED ACTION MOVIE WITHOUT ANY KIND OF REALISM. STALLONE IS STILL GOOD AS RAMBO.
Rating:
Summary: An exciting and super-charged sequel
Review: As I said in my review of "First Blood", these movies are so much more than machine guns and explosions. There is so much truth portrayed in them about the Vietnam war, what is really was, and it's affect on men like John Rambo. Rambo is not at all a bad person, but rather a kind one who tries to get his life together after the war. Here he is released from workhouse prison by his friend and mentor, Col. Trautman, to rescue POW's in the jungles of 'nam. I won't put any spoilers in my review here, or anybody who hasn't seen this excellent sequel, but I'll use a quote from Trautman to the scumbag Murdock, "You act as if you're dealing with an ordinary man here." George P. Cosmatos's directing is superb, and stays in the middle of the action. The tension and drama isn't silly or bogus; it's superb in my opinion. Cosmatos would later go on to direct the modern-day classic Western, "Tombstone". Buy this movie today. In my opinion, it offers hope and courage that combats the Vietnam fiasco. It's anti-war piece....showing that war really is hell. It also shows there are many true patriots, men like Rambo and Trautman.
Rating: 
Summary: Transfer disappointing...DTS a waste
Review: I have a Japanese laserdisc pressing of this flick that has better color and sharpness than the DVD. Oddly enough, when I watched the second DVD's "making of" feature, the video quality of the clips seemed considerably better. That's backwards. While the sound mix was somewhat improved, you still think your listening to an old Dolby Pro Logic mix at best. I do have a fairly high end system with HD projection, so the stage is there for a well mastered DVD to perform. Having said that, this movie has one of the best sustained action sequences out there.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the original and here's why......
Review: Not to take away from First Blood, but Rambo was not really challenged in the first flick. Oh, you think that a backwoods sheriff's office and a handful of grocery clerks compare to the Viet Cong and Soviet Armies... while looking over your shoulder for the CIA at the same time? This is one of the best action flicks of all time. It may not have the depth of characters and story as the first installment, but it does have action, and a build to a much anticipated climax. Just great, and it gets better with age. The quality of the transfer is incredible on your choice of Widescreen or Standard discs, 5.1 OR DTS audio (alert the neighbors), and bennies like director commentary make this a great find. 5 Bows
Rating: 
Summary: crap, crap, crap, this is sooooo bad !!!!!!!!
Review: Oh man, I bought the 1st one which is really a good movie with a real scenario.
Moreover, Stallone does not talk too much and there is a real script but here!!!!
The dialogues are so bad, the acting is so ridiculous that I did not know if I would cry or laugh when I saw the movie.
This flick is the worse stuff I have seen since the Chuck Norris serie...
Do not buy it, you would really waste money and if you like Stallone, buy Rocky 1 and 2 instead.
Rating:
Summary: 1/6 of the movie is pretty entertaining.
Review: When people think of Rambo and all that he represents, they're actually thinking of First Blood Part II (and Rambo III), replaced by a more escapist-oriented tone and approach. Virtually absent from this film is the "realism" of the first picture. Through and through, Rambo is nothing more than a full-blooded action film and because it's more forthcoming with its modest aspirations, it makes for better and more consistent entertainment than its predecessor. That still doesn't say much. After the events of the first film, John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is still serving time in a prison, but is given the opportunity for a pardon of all wrongdoings if he participates in a top-secret operation. Informed of the plan briefly after his release, he will parachute into Vietnam to search for evidence of American POWs in a specific prison camp. He's not to engage in combat, only to take photos. Teamed up with Co Bao (Julia Nickson), a Vietnamese freedom fighter, he sets out to free all the prisoners, even against the orders of his superiors. Anyone looking for entertainment value based on plot and characters will be sorely disappointed. Both aspects are where the movie's flaws lie. Generally, the story just isn't that interesting, usually serving to drag the picture down rather than giving it a boost in between the action scenes. Stallone still makes for an effective Rambo, this time elevating his character to genuine action hero status. The human qualities he displayed in the first film are still evident, mixing in nicely with his outlandish heroics. But it's virtually everyone else who's subpar. As the love interest, Julia Nickson was chosen for her appearance (and yes, she's very beautiful), but this isn't a role that does her any favors. Not only is the actress obviously half-caucasian, to give her the flavor of a Vietnamese woman, she speaks broken English, meaning she says lines like "You not expendable," basically leaving a word or two out of each sentence. But her pronunciation of each word is so precise and without a hint of an accent, it's so obvious she's actually fluent in English. Why didn't the filmmakers just let her play her character as such? Aside from Richard Crenna, all the supporting players, whether on the American, Vietnamese, or Russian side, are all one-dimensional caricatures. As service to a mindless action film, that's not necessarily a bad thing, but knowing where all the characters stand from their very first appearance (even the so-called traitors are easy to point out) makes for less interesting viewing. When the action is on-screen, FBII is sometimes a good slice of thrilling escapism. The first hour is completely dull, none of the shootouts or fights are directed with much flair or energy, but the last fifteen minutes are actually a pretty jolly good time, with Rambo taking on both the Russian and Vietnamese armies. Standout action scenes include the fight aboard the Russian chopper, the destruction of the prison camp, and the climactic helicopter chase, one of the series' most exhilarating action setpieces (nice to see the movie end on a very high note). The film is nicely backed by Jerry Goldsmith's rousing score, one of the famed composer's best works. Released the same year as that other one-man army flick, Arnold Scwarzenegger's Commando, FBII is superior in many ways. The action choreography is slicker and arguably on a larger scale, the cinematography and direction is overall crisper, and Goldsmith's score is far more effective than James Horner's. But in the end, Commando is the far more entertaining picture because it maintains a fast pace and a great sense of macho fun from the first minute to the last. That, and a good sense of humor, is what elevates that film to the top of its kind.
Rating:
Summary: They sent him on a mission and set him up to fail...
Review: John Wayne did not make a sequel. Even in the John Ford Calvary Trilogy he plays three different characters. Gary Cooper did not make a sequel and neither did Clark Gable. Of course, they had the advantage of living before the Age of Inevitable Sequels. I bring this up only because while I realize Sylvester Stallone would have a lot less money without all the sequels that he made, but I was simply wondering if he would have had a better reputation? "Rocky II" gave us a happier ending than "Rocky," but did that not miss the point of the original? "Rocky III" was a slick thrill ride compared to "Rocky," but did it have more heart? Those rhetorical queries lead us to today's object lesson, "Rambo: First Blood Part II," the 1985 sequel to Stallone's "First Blood" (Part I). The original had the virtue of exploiting the plight of Vietnam vets in a way that was at least sympathetic in contrast to the onslaught of movies and television shows that insisted on making American troops back from Vietnam the replacement for all those aging Nazis as the bad guys. There were some pretty good action sequences as Rambo took on the local cops (especially the one in the forest), and then Stallone got to break his character's stoic silence and launch into a rant about how badly our troops were treated by the government and their fellow citizens when they returned. Then three years later we got "Rambo: First Blood Part II." The title alone tells you that the emphasis is on the character, which we can acknowledge without going off the deep end on how the name has five letters and begins with a "R." The problem, and where the sequel fails compared to the original, is that the script has to find somebody stupid enough to make the mistakes that the hick sheriff did in the original and his sadistic deputy did the first time around. The set up is that Colonel Samuel Troutman (Richard Crenna) gets John Rambo (Stallone) out of prison for a black op to bring back POW's still being held in Vietnam by a sadistic prison camp commandant (William Ghent) and a Russian officer (Steven Berkoff). Rambo is teamed up with Co Bao (Julia Nickson), a former Vietnames freedom fighter, who manages to touch our hero's heart, every during all the excitement. Of course Rambo wants to get the POWs out of the prison camp, but he ends up being betrayed by the guy running the operation (Charles Napier) and his henchman (Martin Kove) as once again American foreign policy rears its ugly head. This means that Rambo is going to have to accomplish his mission regardless of what real echelons clowns might want. Obviously the situation here is contrived, but it is the rare sequel that does not try to stick to the original proven formula as much as possible. The problems are that it is hard to believe that these people would go out of their way to bring a living killing machine as a loose cannon on a secret mission like this and that the film finds its relevance in keeping alive the idea that the Vietcong have been keeping American prisoners ever since the war ended. "Rambo: First Blood Part II" served as a rallying point for those who believed that to be the case, which I find being tantamount to adding insult to injury. If you accept the premise of the plot then the film has a certain power, but I cannot but consider the whole thing to be just too manipulative and exploitative. Once again on the DVD for this sequel the extras tend to treat the film better than it deserves. Director George P. Cosmatos does the commentary track and despite some extended periods of silence does offer some insights into why things were done the way they were done. But I like the featurette in which "First Blood" author David Morrell discusses the entire Rambo trilogy in terms of Joseph Campbell's structure of myth. As some one who routinely makes students use highbrow theoretical concepts to look at popular culture texts, I love this kind of thing. Even better, Morrell is on track with his analysis. This does not make the film any better, but it does give a sense for some of the levels on which the film worked.
Rating:
Summary: "Rambo Takes On Vietnam"
Review: Now...I like action just as much as any guy. I grew up watching these films with my father, running around the backyard pretending to be Rambo. But as I grow older, I cannot understand why Rambo fans want to defend this film. Whereas the first film had interest, the next two films completely lose it. "First Blood" had an interesting Vietnam vet dealing with issues in the states. Stallone's acting in the final scene of that movie actually is a credit to his ability. But this film...well...they might as well have called it "Rambo Takes On Vietnam" or "Screw the Plot, More Action." While this film tries to recapture a bit of the first film's message, particularly in a few monologues that speak to the hopelessness of the Vietnam situation, it quickly descends into a bloodbath. Rambo starts using rockets and explosives to take out single enemy soldiers-the very definition of overkill. Two scenes do create particular delight for me, however. The scene in which Rambo emerges from a muddy embankment and the scene in which he calmly takes out the Vietnamese captain with a single arrow, despite multiple bullets being hurled his direction. These scenes must be watched over and over again, if only for their hilarious content. All in all, I think it's important for anyone to see the entire trilogy-if only for completion's sake. Just don't expect to find anything remotely close to the first film.
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