Rarely has a film hero been so misunderstood by the general public. In the popular image, John Rambo – the main character played by Sylvester Stallone – is the embodiment of an American super soldier, a defender of Uncle Sam’s values against tyranny.
This reductive and even completely false view of the character is a result of the patriotic views expressed by Sly and the caricatures derived from him, especially in Guignols de l’info through his alter ego, Monsieur Sylvestre. Because initially John Rambo is not a symbol of American power, but the opposite.
While Rocky Balboa – another iconic character in Stallone’s career – symbolizes the fulfillment of the American dream, Rambo is somewhat the antithesis of the Italian stallion.
Thus, these two characters represent the two faces of America, the bright side of the boxer who went from underdog to champion, and the dark side of the veteran who embodies America’s spirit of defeat.
As many tend to forget, John Rambo is not a war hero. A Vietnam veteran, his return to civilian life leaves him traumatized by the horrors of the conflict. Rejected by his compatriots, Rambo somehow never returned from Vietnam, where all his comrades were killed except for Colonel Trautman.
Monsieur Silvestri, the emblematic character of Guignols de l’info:
A weapon of war that defies its creator
Pushed to the limit by small-town authorities and accused of a murder he didn’t actually commit, John Rambo will change the relationship between predator and prey, one by one, neutralizing the police that have started on his sets.
In this warlike version of the Frankenstein myth, the weapon of war will be turned against its creator. There is no pro- or anti-American pamphlet here, just the reality of the facts and a symbol of the decade of the 1970s, marked especially by the withdrawal of troops from Vietnam, the Watergate affair and the oil shocks.
Released in 1982, the first film in the future Rambo saga is itself a symbol of the change that the United States began after the election of President Ronald Reagan. The former actor gained a large following among voters by calling for an America that was ready for a comeback. “great again”A renaissance that goes through the promotion of strong and preserved organs.
So it’s no surprise that Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger were among the biggest stars of the 1980s decade. Action hero All the muscle and political intent of these films gave way to a sense of fun and great spectacle in the service of this American revival.
Rambo 2, the sequel with more muscle, action and violence!
From Rambo 2, co-written by James Cameron, the saga is more action oriented. However, it should be remembered that Rambo only reluctantly agrees to cooperate with the US military in this film. Moreover, betraying the staff, the latter turns against them after destroying their base camp when his mission is over.
Rambo’s body-building appearance in this second installment belongs to parodies (namely, Hot Shots 2) that gradually alienates the public from his anti-militaristic message, albeit drowned out by the accumulation of on-screen violence and death (75 in this sequel compared to zero in the first film).
In Rambo 3, the final part of the trilogy (after being expanded with two additional films), a veteran played by Sylvester Stallone travels to Afghanistan to help the Taliban insurgents, confronting a Russian invader who is holding Colonel Troutman hostage.
The stereotypical portrayal of the Soviet army reminds us of many of the clichés already present in Rocky 4, released two years earlier, which pitted Balboa against the Soviet champion Ivan Draco (Dolph Lundgren).
The figure of the lonely and persecuted anti-hero is here replaced by the figure of a defender of justice and freedom, which is the opposite of the character that appeared in the first film.
John Rambo and Colonel Trautman in Rambo 3
As so often in his career, Stallone’s films echo his personal life and, in this case, his political commitment to the Republican Party since the 1980s.
Reviewing the Rambo trilogy means reviewing a monument to action cinema, but also an opportunity to review the post-Watergate swing of the United States toward Reaganism and, in a sense, America today.
The first three parts of the Rambo saga are now available on Paramount+.
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Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
