RAMBO / Lionsgate
I’m a huge fan of the action genre. I’m shameless about it. Always have been, and always will be. The RAMBO franchise holds a special place in my action-loving heart. Furthermore, I consider 2008’s RAMBO the perfect swan song for the series and the character. The last shot of that film was simply perfect and the most fitting end I can think of. Not to mention the film itself was balls to the wall intense and insanely gory making you question how far one could stretch an “R” rating.
So you can imagine rumors of yet another installment left a sour feeling in my stomach. Stallone, at 69, has been toying with the idea of a sequel for a while now and I even remember the title LAST BLOOD: RAMBO being thrown around. As much as I love the franchise, a big part of me was hoping a 5th and final film would never come to fruition. It looks like my hopes have come true. In a recent interview with Variety, Stallone reveals he is officially retiring the character saying:
“The heart’s willing, but the body says, ‘Stay home!’ It’s like fighters that go back for one last round and get clobbered. Leave it to someone else.”
Then, and I completely agree with him, he ads:
“There’s nothing left. When they asked me to do another ‘Rambo,’ I said, ‘If I can’t do better than I did last time, and I can’t, then why?'”
I couldn’t have said it better myself and I am so glad that Stallone has the same feeling as I do about how the last installment ended. I can’t stress enough how perfect it was. If you haven’t seen RAMBO yet, get to it already.
But alas, I hear there may be a Fox television series about Rambo’s son in the works, and I’m damn sure there will be a reboot with a new lead any day now. Sigh…
