Six hours of monosyllabic John Rambo high jinks, best savored in surround sound (for the bone-rattling explosions) and with your brain on pause (for everything else). Sylvester Stallone's second signature character, after ... more »Rocky, a seething ex-Green Beret killing machine, went from Viet-vet victim in the original picture, First Blood, flipping out over the ingratitude of his beloved homeland, to a muscle-bound terminator in Rambo III, mowing down Commies in the deserts of Afghanistan. You should consider bypassing the boxed set in favor of just the middle chapter, Rambo: First Blood Part 2, written by James Cameron and directed by George Pan Cosmotos. It's the most balanced and satisfying of the three films: Rambo is dropped back into 'Nam to rescue some POWs, and the action builds steadily in scale and ferocity. Each fireball seems to be bigger than the last. Of all the recent headbanger action movies, only the first Die Hard offers more bang for the buck. The underrated character actor Richard Crenna (a standout sleazebag in Body Heat), as Rambo's military mentor and staunch defender, is the series' secret weapon, providing some welcome human ballast. --David Chute« less
The first two rambos were really good but the third one, not so good.
Movie Reviews
Rambo + Action = Good times had by all!
06/20/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm going right for the meat and potatoes on this one.Ok, you've got the Rambo movies all in one case, and I'm not saying they stuck three movies in one box, they have all the movies cased in a book format.Then, for you pickers and choosers, they have all the Rambos in widescreen and full screen editions (I prefer widescreen though). But don't be fooled at the beginning of the full screen version, it just starts out in widescreen until the credits are finished and then it becomes full screen.And, the box set contains a fourth disk that you CANNOT get anywhere but in this set. It contains more facts and featurettes about Rambo and what made it so great (and it has a play all feature for the people that don't want to go back and fourth through all of the featurettes). It also contains a neat little trvia game and sneak peeks at other DVDs.In closing, people that love Rambo need this, and for the people that just love things blowing up...you need this as well. This is the essential Rambo collection, and it can also be called inexpensive action, because you have all of the Rambos and a special fourth DVD just for this set all packaged in a book format and a very sleek tin. Get this set you action freeks and Rambo-maniacs before Rambo hunts you down and makes you buy it!"
WOW! A RAMBO Special Edition boxed set!
Lincoln 6 Echo | Harrisburg, IL USA | 04/05/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Well, when the Rambo movies were re-released on VHS a few years ago in all new packaging and in widescreen for the first time, I jumped on that set when I found it. But now that I got a DVD player I have been wanting to get these movies on DVD. Now there's been a Collector's set available for some time using the same prints that were released on VHS. They were also, I noticed, only in Dolby 2.0 and from what I have read the picture quality wasn't very good. I was even going to buy that set because it had a great price, but ironically I waited. I then went back to check out the Amazon link and found that it was no longer available directly from Amazon and I was like, "What?" Well now I know. This new Special Edition is going to rock! Hopefully. :)Remastered in both Dolby 5.1 and DTS, the Rambo movies should sound the best ever. With an additional disc to the 3 movie set that is loaded with mucho extras that it will keep you busy for quite a while featuring many new documentaries that tie in the events of the movies with today's post-9/11 world with a documentary on Afghanistan. This should be the Ultimate Rambo DVD collection. And with rumors that Stallone is working on a new script for a Rambo IV that takes him back to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban, it should be interesting and nostalgic to watch these movies again.And if the Rambo movies come across as patriotic propaganda now, so what? Get over it. Why one would feel shame for having strong feelings for one's country is beyond me. Besides, I'm anxiously awaiting to hear that Rambo theme in 5.1 Surround."
Althogh there is some problems,I cant rate lass than 5 stars
Wolf | Usa | 06/15/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Let me confess that in the whole period of DVD production, I've never seen such a brilliant, Spectacular & really Collector's edition (not only special edition) DVD set! It's beautiful and very well designed and produced with high quality material!
It consists of a Collectable real metal outer case, Spectacular metallic and glassy inner case, booklet, and 4 DVDs. but there are two complain, movies are double sided. Widescreen sides are Dual layer with DTS soundtrack. Full screen sides are single layers without DTS soundtrack. it means that if you deceide to watch a movie in full screen, you'll unable to use DTS which is soppose to be one of the most important features of this DVD set.
second complain is about the sound remasteration. in two of them, all of the sounds and speeches go through only one of five speakers! it's a real problem and it really botters when it shows 5.1 DD or DTS in audio menu but the real soundtrack is mono. it'll be good if the studio schedule a program to replace the defective DVDs!
I heart of a new release of RAMBO TRILOGY, I've not seen it yet but descriptions indicate that's an ordinary DVD collection. the sound quality will be difinately better than this one but about other features, I can't Discuss yet. better of this one or not, I can say it with courage, no DVD collection will be complete whitout the RAMBO TRILOGY SPECIAL EDITION!"
Quality action films!
ptralmn@aol.com | Southport, England | 01/05/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The first of these three is a classic. Stallone as the vagrant Vietnam veteran falsely arrested and escaping to rage a one man war on the officers who are after him. With a great atmosphere and a small death count, you see that action films don't necessarily have to have lots of people being killed to succeed.First Blood part 2 is not as good but is still enjoyable and takes the format of a normal action film with Rambo rescuing P.O.W's from Nam.Rambo 3 is again similar to 2 with Rambo mounting a rescue mission to save his friend Colonel Trautman. Overall, many hours of entertainment that you will enjoy, and despite a slightly dodgy third installment, still worth the money."
All time classic film, one man's fight for justice
ptralmn@aol.com | 08/26/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Arguably the 3 best movies of all time. The 1st one is the best though, all set in a forest. Rambo picked on by the law. Greatest lines all time all the way through especially by Trautman: "Get the body bags ready" "Rambo's been trained to eat things that'd make a billygoat puke" The faced on the deputies in the forest as they're taken out one by one is terrific. Stallone plays the part very well, having that Bronson style stare. The 2nd one is more gory and has more action. Yet again, Trautman always dressed perfectly, not a bead of sweat steals the show. Great scene when Rambo threatens Murdock! The 3rd finishes off a great series of 1980s movies. Its a trilogy i'll want my kids to see."