Rambo (2008)

In Thailand, John Rambo joins a group of mercenaries to venture into war-torn Burma, and rescue a group of Christian aid workers who were kidnapped by the ruthless local infantry unit.

Director:

Sylvester Stallone

Writers:

Art Monterastelli, Sylvester Stallone

Stars:

Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, Matthew Marsden

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sylvester Stallone	...	John Rambo
Julie Benz	...	Sarah
Matthew Marsden	...	School Boy
Graham McTavish	...	Lewis
Reynaldo Gallegos	...	Diaz (as Rey Gallegos)
Jake La Botz	...	Reese
Tim Kang	...	En-Joo
Maung Maung Khin	...	Tint
Paul Schulze	...	Michael Burnett
Cameron Pearson	...	Missionary #4 (Jeff)
Thomas Peterson	...	Missionary #2 (Dentist)
Tony Skarberg	...	Missionary #3 (Videographer)
James With	...	Missionary #5 (Preacher) (as James Wearing Smith)
Kasikorn Niyompattana	...	Snake Hunter #2
Shaliew 'Lek' Bamrungbun	...	Snake Hunter #1

Storyline

Vietnam veteran John Rambo has survived many harrowing ordeals in his lifetime and has since withdrawn into a simple and secluded existence in Thailand, where he spends his time capturing snakes for local entertainers, and chauffeuring locals in his old PT boat. Even though he is looking to avoid trouble, trouble has a way of finding him: a group of Christian human rights missionaries, led by Michael Burnett and Sarah Miller, approach Rambo with the desire to rent his boat to travel up the river to Burma. For over fifty years, Burma has been a war zone. The Karen people of the region, who consist of peasants and farmers, have endured brutally oppressive rule from the murderous Burmese military and have been struggling for survival every single day. After some inner contemplation, Rambo accepts the offer and takes Michael, Sarah, and the rest of the missionaries up the river. When the missionaries finally arrive at the Karen village, they find themselves part of a raid by the sadistic ...

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Plot Keywords:

rambo | missionary | burma | mercenary | thailand | 

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Taglines:

Live for nothing, or die for something.

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Genres:

Action | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong graphic bloody violence, sexual assaults, grisly images and language

Details

Official Sites:

Instagram Lionsgate

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English Burmese Thai

Release Date:

25 January 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rambo IV: End of Peace

Filming Locations:

Thailand

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,203,876, 27 January 2008

Gross USA:

$42,754,105

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$113,244,290

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lionsgate, The Weinstein Company, Millennium Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 99 min (extended) 80 min (cut) (FSK 16 rated)

Sound Mix:

SDDS DTS Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first Rambo film where Rambo uses a pistol. Also the first Rambo film without a helicopter. Most notably, it is the first Rambo film completely without a scene in which John Rambo is without his t-shirt, showing his muscles. This is due to Sylvester Stallone's, extensive tattoo work on both shoulders, which he started getting in late July 2007.

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Goofs

The machine gun mounted in the front of the Burma Army's Patrol Boat. The first view of the machine gun, there is a double-drum shape magazine mounted on top of the gun; minutes later, the second view of the gun, there's no magazine to the right side of the machine gun; seconds later, the third view of the gun, an ammo box as well as a box-holder shown up to the right side of the machine gun; moments later, the fourth and last view, the ammo box along with its holder go to the left side.

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Quotes

Burnett: What did you do? We came here to help stop the killing! Who are you to...
John Rambo: [grabs Burnett by the throat, and slams him up against a support beam] WHO ARE YOU?
Sarah: Let him go!
John Rambo: They would've raped her fifty times... and cut your fucking heads off! Who are you? Who are any of you?

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Crazy Credits

Sandwich Makers - Permpoon Penjan and Parichat U-Tama

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Alternate Versions

The 2010 'Extended Edition' adds nine minutes of footage, re-orders and re-edits scenes, and changed the film's title to "John Rambo". It is said to be director/star Sylvester Stallone's director's cut. This new version focuses more on the psychology of the character, adding numerous character beats.

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Connections

Referenced in 21 (2008)

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Soundtracks

Chock Muay
Written by Chuck Jonkey (as Charles Jonkey)
Performed by Chuck Jonkey & Lugsil
Published by Jonkey Music (ASCAP)
Courtesy of Jonkey Enterprises Sonic Safari Music

User Reviews

An modern 80s action movie that pulls no punches.

Rambo is an 80s-style action movie with modern sensibilities. Stallone is not a one-man army as in previous movies but rather a dogged old soldier that comes to terms with what he actually is while racking up a body count that would make Tarintino proud. In many ways, this movie parallels Rocky Balboa as a mature ending to a series of sometimes over-the-top but fun action movies. John Rambo in this movie is an aging but potent killing machine that for the first time since First Blood accomplishes his mission in a very believable manner. The action is visceral and downright gory at times surpassing the hard-core scenes of Omaha Beach in Saving Private Ryan. The film pulls no punches when showing exactly what a Barret .50 caliber sniper rifle can do to a human body. Stallone mutters only a very few lines of dialog in this movie... there's no speeches or patriotic flag waving going on here but there is a clear lesson on how well liberal idealism holds up under barbaric realities amid genocide and war.

A must see but not one for the kiddies.