Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Graphic war violence in bombastic, clichéd sequel.
Parents Need to Know
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Rambo III
What's the Story?
In RAMBO III, Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is now living in Thailand, living in a Buddhist monastery while making extra money in underground martial arts brawls. Colonel Trautman (Richard Crenna), after finally tracking Rambo down, asks him to join him on a clandestine mission to supply weapons to the Afghan rebels fighting the Soviets. Weary of war, Rambo refuses. Trautman undertakes the mission anyway, and is captured by the Soviets and held in a formidable Soviet fort. When Rambo is informed of this, he immediately goes to Afghanistan to rescue his friend and mentor. Joined by Afghan rebels, including a gung-ho tween boy, Rambo witnesses Soviet brutality firsthand when Soviet helicopters attack the village where he's staying, indiscriminately killing rebels and civilians alike. Meanwhile, Trautman undergoes torture but refuses to divulge the purpose of his mission, or anything about Rambo when the Soviets discover that Rambo is in the area. With Trautman's life on the line, Rambo must find a way to infiltrate the Soviet base, rescue Trautman, and help eliminate the Soviet presence on Afghan soil.
Is It Any Good?
Most third movies in a film franchise are mediocre at best, and this is no exception. While there are some attempts at being thoughtful, of showing the plight, culture, and fighting spirit of the Afghan people, with even a dedication to the Afghan people at the conclusion of Rambo III, all of this is overshadowed by ludicrous levels of action movie bombast and laughable clichés. For instance, when we first meet the evil Soviet colonel, he's sitting at a desk with both a bottle of vodka and a chessboard, because he's Russian. The third act devolves into Rambo and Trautman wisecracking their way through one ludicrous skirmish after another, to the point where any deeper meaning or message is completely forgotten.
It's a strange movie to watch decades after its release, when the Soviet Union is long gone and so much has transpired in Afghanistan. But even with that contemporary historical baggage, the ultimate problem with Rambo III is that it's just a typical action movie, losing the elements that made the first two Rambo movies stand out.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about action movies. Do movies such as Rambo III glorify and glamorize war and violence? Why or why not?
How does this movie reflect the Cold War mentality of the 1980s?
What are some of the action movie clichés used here?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 25, 1988
- On DVD or streaming : November 23, 2004
- Cast : Sylvester Stallone , Richard Crenna , Kurtwood Smith
- Director : Peter MacDonald
- Studio : Lions Gate
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : August 10, 2022
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