Action Movie For The Day - FIRST BLOOD (1982)

Had to go back and watch the original after watching the newest one. And it is amazingly still awesome. In fact, better than I remember. Stallone is perfect as John Rambo, a Vietnam war vet who while traveling cross country gets on the wrong side of a small town sheriff (Brian Dennehy) and his deputies. When the law pushes him, Rambo pushes back--hard. There are so many reasons why this is the best one of the series. I know the new one has way more carnage and blood and all that. But First Blood actually has a good story with great characters. Dennehy is wonderful as Sheriff Will Teasle, a no-nonsense guy who refuses to back down; Richard Crenna as the stoic Colonel Trautman, who comes very close to the William Shatner style of acting, and of course Stallone who delivers all the required muscle and efficency at killing but also provides some good acting. And compared to the new one, he is positively Chatty Cathy for his debut as Rambo. And that terrific music score. One of the best action films ever made. First Blood is awesome. A classic. And has some of the best quotes ever.

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Teasle: Are you telling me that 200 of our men against your boy is a no-win situation for us?


Trautman: You send that many, don't forget one thing.


Teasle: What?


Trautman: A good supply of body bags.

ACTION MOVIES All Summer Long...

The summer is here and what better time than to watch some action flicks. You know the ones with the bad ass cops chasing the ruthless bad guys; the outrageous and over-the-top explosions and fist-cuffs; the high octane car chases; the sexy girls; the rocking music; all those things required to make a great action film. So for the rest of the summer I plan to watch at least one action movie a day and post my review. Such films like Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Gladiator, Escape From New York, Point Break, Bad Boys, Beverly Hills Cop, Speed, The Last Boy Scout, Bullitt, Cobra, Goldeneye, Romancing The Stone and tons more.

I will kick off things with Demolition Man, the sci-fi action flick from 1993 that starred Slyvester Stallone as super cop John Spartan who battles his crazy nemesis Simon Phoenix (played by Wesley Snipes). The two wage war in modern day LA but then are placed in suspended animation until the year 2032 when Phoenix is accidentally freed and the only person who can stop him is Spartan. You see Spartan was tried and wrongfully convicted of killing some innocent bystanders in the crossfire between him and Phoenix. So now Spartan gets payback. Co-starring Sandra Bullock as Officer Lenina Huxley, a cop who longs for the good old days of busting skulls and shoot-outs. Demolition Man is a cool action flick that really does throw everything at you. Stallone and Snipes make a good hero/villain dynamic. And there are tons of fist fights, car chases and shoot-outs galore.
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