RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD 1982 | Maple's First Time Reaction

The whole “Nothing is Over” scene always gets me….

I think this movie really gave people a view on the trauma Vietnam vets faced when they returned home

When he elbowed the deputy while escaping Sylvester Stallone accidentally broke that actor's nose. When you see the bandage on his face later in the movie it is real.

Second I heard Green Beret, I'd turn in my badge and go to barber school.

This was based on the novel "First Blood". It really clarifies Teasle's attitude towards Rambo, and has a different ending. Stallone read the Novel and insisted on putting it on the Big Screen.

"eat things that would make a billy goat puke" lives rent free in my head for years

”Home Alone but in a War.” The whole Vietnam conflict.

If you've never witnessed a flashback in person, this movie showed several very believable episodes. My uncle, a Marine, was a combat veteran of Vietnam. I have witnessed him having flashbacks exactly twice. Both were terrifying for him, and to be honest myself as well. But it was a glimpse of my own future episodes.

I love the details behind Teasle's character. Notice his medals in the background of his office, and his clear grasp of military tactics (just not on Rambo's level). He's a vet too - but fought in the Korean War, the "Forgotten War", so you can see how a guy like that might look down on those coming back from Vietnam. I can't believe I missed this one for so long. Stallone is a legend for his performance in that final scene alone. Terrific film, firing on all cylinders. It always struck me as odd that after this Rambo movies just became shoot 'em ups.

"Keep your eyes on the road! That's how accidents happen..." Love a good auto-safety quip. Stallone can be pretty funny.

The M-60 is absolutely designed to be carried, it was the light machine gun developed to replace the BAR. Every platoon had at least 2, and in Vietnam almost every patrol had at least one with them. It was made to be multi purpose, it could be carried, attached to vehicles (jeep, truck, helicopter, boat...) It was called a pig by the soldiers because of how much ammo it could "eat". In Vietnam most of the soldiers on a patrol would be carrying at least one belt of ammo for it.

A neat detail (especially in comparison to the sequels lol) in First Blood Rambo only kills one person, and it's both indirect and by accident when the cop falls out of the helicopter. He's actively not going for kills even tho he absolutely could merc every single person in the film with ease

Stallone really did crack his ribs on that tree fall.

This was just a few months after Stallone had released Rocky III (1982). It's kind of why his hair is like that; if you look at his hairstyle in that film and compare it to here, you can see it's just a little bit longer. He had suffered an injury when shooting the scene where he jumped off the cliffside. They shot it three times before, and it worked all three times. When they shot it a fourth time, he injured himself and had to be sent to the hospital. The one scene that has been memorable so many years later is the speech given by Rambo towards the end. Be sure to check out other YT reactions to First Blood and see how others view the scene.

Rambo isn't destroying the town... He's creating jobs for the construction industry.

I served "in country", i.e., in Viet. during the Tet Offensive in 1968. When I returned to "the world", i.e., the states, I was instructed to remove my uniform A.S.A.P. & that wearing it was no longer required by the airlines for a discount. I soon discovered that almost every T.V. series did 1 or more shows about a psycho Viet. vet. And the term "baby killer" was often heard. Over the years, I was diagnosed with Type Ii Diabetes & Ischemic heart disease both were attributed to exposure to "Agent Orange" resulting in 2 heart attacks & 2 stints. Every time I watch a movie related to the Viet. War, it strikes close to home. But, I enjoy watching younger peoples' reactions.

it must be a great source of joy / pride to Stallone for having created 2 iconic characters that have made people happy.

Based on a best-selling novel from 1972 by David Morrell. Released in the same year as Rocky III. The beginning of Sly's 2nd iconic film series and he hadn't intended to make it so. This first installment adapts the novel with balances of the emotion, suspense and action. Looking at the realism of soldiers at war with themselves. PTSD is nothing to play with and soldiers of such woes deserve to heal. Through Rambo's eyes we see the mistreatment of vietnam veterans, uncalled for actions by corrupt, ignorant opposition. Someone on the humble being forced to not back down and fight back. Rambo's struggle and presence definitely gave this town something to think about. This is one of Stallone's best as actor, writer and ultimately becoming an action icon in his career. The late Richard Crenna as Col. Trautman was perfect casting. He put a face on what makes him Rambo's mentor and only real friend. The sequels do make Rambo more of an action hero. But to purely understand the mind of such a character is to always remember where it all started. Both endings, original and alternate are incomparable.

Rambo's breakdown at the end gets to me. Not just because of him letting it out, but also because my grandpa would get like that when he'd be really sick. Painfully recalling the horrors he experienced when he fought in World War 2

David Caruso's first big role in this film he was the Redhead cop which later was known for NYPD Blue and CSI Miami