Character Study | John Rambo

August 26, 2021

Character Study | John Rambo

It was in 1990, the third installment of Rambo series was released at Madurai Thanga Regal theatre. Since I was very much fascinated after watching 'First Blood', the very first installment of Rambo in VHS (first viewing), back in mid 80s, I needed to watch Rambo 3, the very opening show. Now, I need to give some context. The people of Madurai (Southern India), especially cinephiles belonging to mine and my father's generation believed in both realism and larger than life influences, not the current generation of Madurai, which has lost the essence of the city to the influence of Madras or mainstream regional cinema (Tamil). Therefore, when this particular sequence came on the screen, where Rambo had to prove his competence by winning a traditional sport of Afghans (lifting a lamb's skin from a speeding horse), the entire theatre stood on the seat and whistled for straight five minutes, including me. Then I was 7 years old. That's how our city Madurai and it's theatres Madurai Mappillai Vinayagar and Manicka Vinayagar (Sri Mappillai Vinayagar) played a pivotal role in fueling the cinema enthusiasm among us. Remember, we seldom watched regional films. If we did, it had to be exceptional.

I did watch Rambo 3 the first day first show.

Character Study | John Rambo:

He is the sole survivor of an elite force served in Vietnam. He is tormented by his brutal experience in the war. He comes home to find peace, he is rejected by the society. While he did his duty to the nation, a congressional medal of honor recipient, he is considered to be an unwanted. Unaware of his composition, who is trained to endure, ignore any kind of profound pain, weather and food, he is detained and tortured. He is reminded of his troubled past in the war. His strengths are stealth and the ability to turn anything into a weapon. He unleashes and wages war on everyone with just a knife. In essence, he is a one man army, but inherently, a pacifier.

Addiction to soundtrack:

Arguably, someone who finds peace in violence is instinctively a pacifier. I do. After destruction, what you witness is peace which lasts for a considerable length of time, until the victim is provoked. This soundtrack 'FirstBlood' (1982) main theme composed by legendary musician JerryGoldsmith is synonymous with this notion. JohnRambo prevails. So do I.

https://youtu.be/Q0H8bvipGCk

Among the very first scores i needed OchaThevar to hear was from one of the soundtracks or scores, which not only manipulated my conscience but awakened me. He did listen to prolific musician JerryGoldsmith's #SylvesterStallone starred "FirstBlood" (1982) soundtrack.

Apparently, he liked it.

For some unknown reasons, First Blood, the first installment of Rambo franchise was not released in Madurai Mappillai Vinayagar and Manicka Vinayagar theatres. Traditionally, since the inception of the above mentioned theatres

almost every English language speaking film was released there as they had exclusive contracts with the Hollywood Studios based out of Bombay. But incidentally, First Blood didn't get released there, instead it was released in Madurai Amirtham and Cinipriya theater. My father #OchaThevar took us (Pandians - OchaThevar and MayandiThevar) in the late 80s to Amirtham theatre for First Blood. Since then both the characters John Rambo and Rocky Balboa became our coaches for martial arts. Four decades later, now OchaThevar is watching the Rambo franchise and listening to it's soundtracks. Apparently, he is liking them.

http://mindofbt.blogspot.com/2020/10/obsessive-compulsive-disorder.html

"To survive a war, you have to become a war."

Rambo: FirstBlood2 (1985)

Upon its release in Madurai Manicka Vinayagar theatre Sri Mappillai Vinayagar in the late 80s, my father took us Pandians to this sequel to First Blood. Since then JohnRambo teaches me survival war tactics. Now, decades later OchaThevar is being introduced to Rambo.

What do you call "Hell", he calls home!

Rambo FirstBloodPart2 (1985)

JohnRambo, my fictional coach from Arizona, an Indian - German descent, who taught me mixed martial arts.

So, will he for OchaThevar as well.

RamboV:LastBlood (2019) official synopsis and trailer:

Almost four decades after he drew first blood, Sylvester Stallone is back as one of the greatest action heroes of all time, #JohnRambo. Now, Rambo must confront his past and unearth his ruthless combat skills to exact revenge in a final mission. A deadly journey of vengeance, #RAMBOLASTBLOOD marks the last chapter of the legendary series."

https://youtu.be/4vWg5yJuWfs

Unlike the 90s kids of India, who make too much noise in social media by watching films in multiplexes and streaming sites, I grew up watching Sylvester Stallone's Rocky and Rambo series from late 80's in the standalone theatres (mostly, Sri Mappillai Vinayagar & Manicka Vinayagar) of Madurai. I stood in the long queues, fought, whistled. These characters are among those, I grew up watching. Therefore, no one can emotionally own Rambo as much as I do.

RamboFirstBlood2 (1985)

This character study of #JohnRambo is not extensive as this is not the only time his patience is tested. Therefore, the study will be continued.

On the occasion of October 22, 2023 marking the 41st anniversary of Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo in "First Blood", MayandiThevar needed OchaThevar to watch something exceptional that had made profound impact on their lives. While OchaThevar took Pandians - OchaThevar and MayandiThevar to Madurai Amirtham theatre to watch " First Blood" (1982), OchaThevar is being introduced to John Rambo a four decades later.

I must thank a former Navy Seal Sniper Jack Carr and David Morrell the author of the character Rambo, whom I idolise as my God and has been one of the reasons why I admire American Army more than any other, for making me remember that Rambo3 released 36 years ago today on 26th May 1998, which my father took us for the first day noon show at Madurai ThangaRegal theatre.

For the ordinary, Rambo is just an action thriller movie, but for the extraordinary, First Blood is the code - way of living. As far as I'm concerned, John Rambo has been and will be my "Vedam", a sacred scripture forever.

I'm indebted to the creator David Morrell, actor Sylvester Stallone, composer and conductor Jerry Goldsmith for ironically not only instilling the notion of patriotism but nihilism.

42 years go today, First Blood premiered.