 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
First Blood
- Review Date: January 17, 2008
- R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 1982
Common Sense Media says
First and most popular Rambo; and yes, bloody.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie, the most successful of the movies featuring the Rambo character, has many moments of violent bloodshed (including the hero sewing his own gashed arm shut) and foul language. Rambo's incredible guerilla survival skills have special appeal for young fans, but there's lots of not-to-be imitated stuntwork.
What's the story?
FIRST BLOOD introduced to movies the John Rambo character, a cross between G.I. Joe and Tarzan, and a virtual icon of American film in the 1980s. We see him first as a shaggy-haired drifter trying to visit an old platoon comrade in rural Washington state -- where he learns the man, his last surviving friend, has died of Agent Orange-related cancer. The downcast Rambo is subsequently sighted by bullying local cops, harassed and arrested for vagrancy. When the small-town lawmen brutalize him in the town jail, flashbacks to Rambo's wartime torture by Viet Cong push the well-trained Green Beret back into full combat mode and instincts. Escaping into the wilderness, he fights back using guerilla weapons and tactics. Ultimately he makes one-man war on the entire town with captured National Guard firepower.
Is it any good?
First Blood is a crude but often effective actioner whose worthwhile themes about the country's treatment of its soldiers kind of get lost in the fiery mayhem and the now-classic pose of the Rocky leading man brandishing enormous rifles and bandoliers.
The problem-plagued production shot alternate endings, one in which Rambo died, another in which he didn't. Audience reaction made the filmmakers take the softer option -- and made the producers very wealthy when the film and its sequels became a hit. At least Rambo got to deliver a powerful climactic monologue (the only time he speaks at length) that puts into words the vet's feelings of anger and betrayal. And reminds us that Stallone could be a fine actor, when not caricaturing himself.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the difference between the military and the civilian mindsets in the movie, and how Rambo was educated by the Army: "When in doubt, kill." You can also discuss the shabby treatment of American Vietnam veterans compared to other war vets, and how Hollywood's portrayals of them -- either psychos or super-commandos -- contributed to the problem.
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AGE
First Rambo is really good, but sad and a little violent.
When "First Blood" came out, the movie was a drama about a man who is disturbed after war. Even though Stallone hasn't got a lot of text, near the ending he has an emotional outburst featuring an amazing performance you would not expect from him.
The whole movie features scenes in which Rambo gets reminded on war, even if it is completely harmless. Those scenes are superb.
The movie makes you understand how a man from war feels afterwards.
This movie is truly good and worth discussing.
The violence in this movie is actually pretty much PG-13. Not too gory, only two scenes are bloody: John Rambo dressing his own wound and in a flashback Rambo is cut with a knife resulting in blood (It's brief). Also a corpse with a bloody face is shown. All this is PG-13.
There is average R-profanity (f*ck, sh*t) but this is not why i rated this 15. The movie, especially the end, is very emotional. VERY intense and hard to handle for anyone below this age. Nothing violent is shown but the dialogue is incredibly sad.
Suitable for viewers 14 and up.
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AGE
just the swearing.
the violence isn't too bad. only one person gets killed, but many injured. the only issue is the language. there are about 4 f--ks. but if you don't mind some violence and swearing then check this movie out.
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AGE
Less Violent than the other Rambo movies
this movies is awsome I expected it to have more languge but there wasn't that much for an 80's movie (that's why I didn't rate it off). It's not as quite as good as the other Rambo's but it's very very close. you see his butt for a minute, but being a boy I don't mind that much. It's real sad, you feel sad for him like the whole movie (all his war buddys are dead,the wack cops are beating him ect.). you can realy admire Rambo for not wanting to kill any one, and for only fighting in self defence. If your kid realy likes violence let them watch it, if they alredy like violence it's not going to do any thing to them and their isn't that much violence any way. if your kid is 12 or older let them watch it, wait ti'll they're 13 to watch 2 and 3 they're a little bit more violet. you should deffenitly watch this movie!
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AGE
This is R-rated in 1982, but PG-13 level today
This is a film protesting wars and shows how war has a big psychological impact on the soldiers. To my surprise this was the first action movie I've ever seen (and my favorite genre is action) that had an tender, emotional ending that is heart wrenching rather than a blow 'em up ending that is gut wrenching.
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Kid, 12 years old
November 30, 2011
AGE
not bad!
not bad really.yes its rambo but not bad
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AGE
Rambo- An awsome smash hit
Rambo is a great and unique story. The story is about Rambo vs an entire (the police) I liked how the antagonists in the story were very cruel to Rambo. It made viewers want Rambo to fight back and teach them a lesson. Really intense action as well. What was great was that sometimes you would think that Rambo was the Anagonist in the story because of the killing and destruction he has done, but once you watch the ending, you feel really bad for the guy. Very touching
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AGE
Very sad movie, made me cry a little bit. On for ages 14+.
I thought this movie was OK, but it got very sad towards the end. The violence is nothing compared to many other movies, but it still might be enough to bother children. Heck, this movie might have been rated PG-13 today if not for the F words. There is also a bare butt shot of rambo.
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AGE
Good for Action-lovers
A decent movie. Lots of entertaining action. I would recommend this to action lovers. Suggested MPAA rating: R for strong violence including some torture, language and brief partial nudity.
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Kid, 12 years old
March 22, 2012
AGE
LOVE IT
I love this movie.
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| Studio: | Artisan Entertainment |
| Director: | Ted Kotcheff |
| Cast: | Brian Dennehy, David Caruso, Richard Crenna, Sylvester Stallone |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 97 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 22, 1982 |
| DVD release date: | November 23, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
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