I Watch Films: Rambo III

 

Rambo III

John Rambo is in Thailand, working on construction at a monastery, occasionally fighting in Bangkok martial arts tournaments. Colonel Trautman, his former commanding officer, comes to see him, to try and recruit him for a mission to Soviet-occupied Afghanistan. Rambo claims he’s over that, but Troutman claims he’s a warrior and always will be.

Trautman is ambushed and captured by the Soviets. When Rambo learns of this he goes to Peshawar in Pakistan and convinces an arms dealer to smuggle him over the border. Once in Afghanistan he contacts the mujahideen* who are attacked by Soviet helicopters**. Rambo destroys one but the mujahideen won’t join him so he embarks on his trademark one man war, albeit with the aid of one boy and the smuggler. After a lot of sneaking and fighting Rambo and Trautman escape, only to be cornered by the Soviets; fortunately the mujahideen arrive for a final battle sequence.

Time has made some parts of this film wince-inducing, others unintentionally hilarious. Those of us with some knowledge of the geography of Afghanistan are left somewhat puzzled; they have used the names of real places yet have no idea of the distances or where they are. When released it was as much propaganda as action film, and with the meaning stripped and history turned on it’s head something of a curiosity.

Watch This: Eighties action film that might have been prophetic
Don’t Watch This: Violent, stupid, does not take note of what it’s actually saying

* This film is dedicated to the gallant people of Afghanistan

** Trautman’s mission is to try and get Stinger anti-air missiles to this region to supress the helicopters