Trivia for
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) More at IMDbPro »

• Co-writer James Cameron claims that he only wrote the first draft of the script and that Sylvester Stallone made many changes to it. When the film was released, the "political" content of the movie was considered controversial. Many felt the Vietnam conflict was "altered" to look and sound heroic. Cameron commented that he only wrote the "action" and that Stallone wrote the "politics".
  
  
• The Mi-24 Hind-D helicopters seen in the film are in fact modified Aerospatiale SA 330 Puma transport helicopters with fabricated bolt-on wings similar to the real Hind-Ds used in the former Soviet bloc nations.
  
  
• According to the documentary We Get to Win This Time (2002) (V), the producers considered teaming up Sylvester Stallone with his Staying Alive (1983) protégé John Travolta (who was considered the play Rambo himself in the first film) as Rambo's young partner in rescuing the American POWs. Stallone nixed this idea when he decided it would be better to make the film a solo project.
  
  
• Rambo's stats, as given in the film: "Rambo, John J., born 7/6/47 Bowie, Arizona of Indian-German descent. Joined army 8/6/64. Accepted, Special Forces specialization, light weapons, cross-trained as medic. Helicopter and language qualified, 59 confirmed kills, two Silver Stars, four Bronze, four Purple Hearts, Distinguished Service Cross, Congressional Medal of Honor."
  
  
• The huge Buddha statue that was used in the opening sequence was given to the local Mexican military commander as a souvenir after the shoot, even when he was told it's just a prop made from expanded polystyrene and a lot of gold paint.
  
  
• All of the shots on the military base was in fact done on a Mexican air force airstrip. The logos have been painted over or obscured, and the real crew always have their backs toward the camera or are far enough away from the camera so you hopefully won't notice.
  
  
• First film to appear in 2,000+ US theaters.
  
  
• 57 men are killed by Rambo during the course of the film.
  
  
• Lieutenant Colonol Padovsky is the only villain to have any lines in English
  
  
• Before Artisan bought the rights to Carolco Pictures, Carolco's logo always used the music of Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) to open their movie credits.
  
  
• The total body count of the film is 67.
  
  
• James Cameron wrote a treatment/screenplay not only for this film, but for Aliens (1986) while production was being delayed on The Terminator (1984).
  
  
• Dolph Lundgren auditioned for a part and actually got it but Stallone realized that it was the same man who was going to be in Rocky IV (1985) so he didn't get the part.
  
  
• As Cao Bao (Nickson) died in the arms Rambo (Stallone) after the ambush, there was supposed to be a triple zoom-in while Stallone screams "No!" echoed 3 times. During a test screening, audience actually busted out laughing. It was quickly re-edited to the present form (no scream, just holding her and sobbed, cut to raining jungle).
  
  
• The film is dedicated to Cliff Wenger Jr..
  
  
• James Cameron's original screenplay began with Col. Trautman finding Rambo in a psychiatric hospital instead of a prison.
  
  

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