Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Movie Appraisal: First Blood

By Jessica J. Janeson

We all love a good story about an underdog, who is wronged, and fights back in a way that makes the little guy sit up and cheer. Especially if the underdog is an out of his luck character whose only redeeming quality is his resourcefulness and his adherence to his principles, principles we all wish we had. "First Blood" is such a movie.

Our allegory kicks off with a vagrant, a veteran of the Vietnam challenge traveling into a little municipality. On the outside of town, he is met with some police force who tell him that his variety is not acceptable in this municipality. Drifters are not permissible, as they are perceived as parasites who will undermine the cities possessions without giving anything back. After giving him the word of warning, the law leave him, and think that is that.

Nevertheless, our character, John Rambo, shows up yet again in town, and is arrested. He gets booked, and thrown into the county lockup. But he doesn't imply any harm, and he hasn't yet broken any laws. He just sought after something to munch, and a warm place to sleep. He may appear a little slow, but we feel for him, as the police appear to be mistreating him.

Then there is a fight, and the police chief steps over the line. And vaguely injures this ostensibly big brute. Drawing first blood, the sheriff has opened a can of worms he will shortly regret, likely for the rest of his life. Because John Rambo is a exceedingly skilled eradicator, and well outfitted to cope with any kind of struggle, and come out on top.

This begins the middle of the movie. One lone man, John Rambo, is pressed into a trap, and he responds with the only way he knows how. He retreats into the nearby hills, and quickly finds himself in his element. Skilled to outlive, to hunt, and to slaughter. The police promptly realize that they have their hands full, and bring in as many officers as they can.

Then an army Colonel shows up, and claims that he was Rambo's commanding officer during the Vietnam conflict. The police wrongly think he is there to protect his charge from the police. But they have it the other way around. Rambo's CO is there to bring him back before he does unalterable harm to the entire police force. He is there to save the police from Rambo, not the other way around. We pursue John Rambo through the wilderness, and watch him battle his own psychological demons in one unusual movie that has created one of he most well known action heroes of our time. If you haven't witnessed this movie, you must, as it is an instance of unbelievable filmmaking, acting, and directing. - 40726

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