RAMBO

Wednesday June 18,2008

LAST year's surprisingly good Rocky Balboa proved that the twenty first century still has a place for writer, director and star Sylvester Stallone.

So on the back of reviving one hugely successful franchise, he attempts to bring back a character arguably more iconic than the Italian Stallion: John J Rambo.

Rambo is living peacefully in Thailand when a group of missionaries ask to be transported into war-torn Burma. Rambo reluctantly accepts and takes the group up river to their requested location.

Once there, the camp is viciously attacked and the aid workers kidnapped and our hero is ordered to carry out the rescue mission.

*** READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH RAMBO ACTRESS JULIE BENZ! ***

Julie Benz works alongside Sylvester Stallone

As with the three previous Rambo installments the plot is wafer thin and character development is minimal, but this is Rambo and the thing that really delivers is the action.

A Hollywood action movie set in the midst of Burma’s 60-year-old civil war was never going to be anything more than exploitative.

This could easily be mistaken for a Grindhouse feature and is much closer to the spirit than anything Tarantino and Rodriguez had to offer in their much heralded double header.

The debate on movie violence will continue to rage on and - make no mistake about it - this movie is exceedingly violent, to the point where some scenes are genuinely stomach churning.

And rumours of a fifth Rambo means the carnage may not stop here.

Rambo is out on DVD, June 23rd

OUR VERDICT: 3/5

*** BUY RAMBO ON DVD NOW! ***