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Vietnam veteran John Rambo has survived many harrowing ordeals in his lifetime and has since withdrawn into a simple and secluded existence in Thailand, where he spends his time capturing snakes for local entertainers, and chauffeuring locals in his old PT boat.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 | rescue mission | one man army | missionary | burma | 

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Taglines:

The Fight Continues.

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

James Brolin was attached to play Colonel Samuel Trautman after Richard Crenna died of pancreatic cancer in 2003, but the role was written out of the script. Sylvester Stallone considers the character to have died on the same day as Crenna, who appears in an archival flashback in Rambo (2008).

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Goofs

The Claymore mine changes from a training Claymore (Blue in color) to an Airsoft Claymore (OD Green but with a pellet loading hole in the front cover). The tripwire firing mechanism also changes between shots, but was not present when Schoolboy tossed it to Rambo.

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Quotes

Sarah: I don't know what to say.
John Rambo: Then you shouldn't say anything, should you?

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Crazy Credits

Sandwich Makers - Permpoon Penjan and Parichat U-Tama

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Alternate Versions

The 100-minute extended cut features the following additions and changes:

• The main title card shows as 'John Rambo' and now appears across the screen.
• At the beginning, Rambo traps the second snake followed by a new scene where the deckhands played with it on the boat.
• While working on the metal for the new propeller, Sara visits him in an another attempt to persuade him to change his mind to take them upriver.
• While upriver, Rambo and Sara's moments are longer, as both get to know one another better.
• The bad guy who laid dying on Rambo's boat only has a bullet shot on the head. In the theatrical cut, there were multiple gunshots all over the body.
• While passing the armor boat on the way back from Burma, Rambo takes out his knife in the hidden compartment.
• After driving the armor boat to the shore, there is an additional scene where he burns it along with his knife.
• During the village massacre by the regime, there were alternate shots of villages in cages and the hazing of the young boys.
• When the pastor seeks Rambo's help, he was actually instructed to pray while Rambo forges his blade. Later, the pastor watches the mercenaries head downriver.
• While escaping the military village, Rambo notices lacerations on Sara's feet and bandages them.

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Connections

Features Rambo III (1988)

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Soundtracks

Rambo: First Blood Theme
Written by Jerry Goldsmith (BMI)
Published by Universal Music Publishing o/b/o El Cajo Music Company (BMI)

User Reviews

About what you'd expect

A 60 year old Stallone as an ex-soldier who can still kick ass is more believable than him as a 60 year old boxer--it's one of the things that worked about this...ahem..film. I felt the same way after watching the last Rocky movie as I did after watching this. It was good, but ultimately pointless; you know that the peace-corp types will be wrong, and violence will be the only solution, and it will result in a major bloodbath (seriously the most violent of the series). Rambo has no surprises. That said, Rambo is enormously entertaining, violent as hell, and you get what you came for. It will definitely satisfy fans of the series, though I had a weird feeling when I left the theater: did I really just pay to see Rambo? Wow...

Details

Official Sites:

Instagram Lionsgate

Country:

Germany USA Thailand

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:

Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos DTS (5.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1