Merrick here...


Colonel Trautman sent in this look at RAMBO.

He viewed an unfinished version of the film, but says...at this point...the uber-violence we saw in the original trailer is still in-tact. This is fantastically cool news - I'd hate to see 'em whimp out, because we need a film with balls right about now.

AND, in answer to many (MANY) e-mails we've received about this matter, Trautman says we DO hear Jerry Goldsmith's original themes in the movie.

There are MODERATE SPOILERS AHEAD - fairly broad & not too revealing. But, be warned...


Here's Trautman...

Hey Harry, Colonel Trautman on a film mission that I
feel compelled to share. Please keep my identity
secret as I actually stumbled across a screening
of...ssshhh...JOHN RAMBO.

And I come to praise Sylvester Stallone not bury him.
As for my street cred, I was a big fan of FIRST BLOOD
especially Brian Dennehy, and thought the next two
Rambo films were jingoistic action comedies. 'Nuff
said about them. I thought it cool when Sly came to
AICN to interact with his fans and he was honest about
his experience. I will be too. However, the version
that I saw still needs post-production work, so this
is by no means the final version. Still, I wouldn't
have sent a review unless I thought JOHN RAMBO was
worth seeing. I think it is.

While I wasn't overjoyed at the prospect of another
Rambo adventure to cartoonishly right Vietnam era
wrongs, I have to say that timing favors Stallone this
time around. The Burmese government is one of the
world's most corrupt and barbarous regimes. I advise
all to use the web and research for yourself the
facts. Don't expect a history lesson from John Rambo.
But the film opens with a montage highlighting the
Burma government and their brutality, including shots
of the recent violence against the monks. No matter
your poilitcal bent, your blood will boil.

The narrative is relatively simple, basically the
story of outcast ex-pat John Rambo taking a team of
missionairies up the river into the heart of the
dangerous Burmese region. The dialogue for the
conflict between the silent bitter Rambo and the
idealistic pacifists goes as expected. Fortunately,
Stallone plays Rambo perfectly, fitting back into the
role like an old friend, and I liked him at his first
line: "Fuck off, okay?" Sly keeps his dialogue to a
minimum through the film but his expressions say
everything. After all these years, he's still
charismatic. So what I'm saying is that Stallone is
terrific in this.

To cut a long story short, the missionaries are
captured by the wicked Burmese colonel, who sadly has
no character to develop outside of representing pure
evil repression. Stallone has shot the atrocities with
a naturalistic 1970's verite style that's highly
effective. He's clearly building up the audience
anger, and however manipulative, it works.

Stallone is thus entreated to rescue the missionairies
with the help of a team of mercenaries, who provide a
neat counterpoint to Rambo. It was also a smart idea
to add another group to give the battles more realism
and tension. I liked the Australian merc leader, a
bad-ass who loves getting into Rambo's face to taunt
him. It's cool the way Stallone keeps Rambo taut,
ready to explode but never knowing when...

Eventually the mercs make it to the compound holding
the missionairies along with other women, who are
brutalized during the film's most uncomfortable
moments. It's almost too much. The tension as Rambo
leads the mercs through the compound is extreme and
it's this slow build up that leads to the cathartic
rush of the final battle, which is what amps up the
film to must-see status.

Remember that first trailer that showcased incredible
gore? Well, it's all here at this stage and it must
not be cut. Because Stallone has directed an exciting
and kinetic action set piece worthy of the masters. I
defy audiences to not cheer when John Rambo goes into
full-on RAMBO MODE. Heads explode, skeletal bodies
fly, and bodies literally disappear in a red mist as
Rambo takes out the Burmese soldiers with the capable
help of the mercs. It must be said that Stallone looks
spectacular for his age; you never doubt that this man
can still chew bubble gum and kick ass. We should all
look so buff post 60.

What I liked best about the battle, over the top as it
may be, is that it avoids the ADD frame-fucking "what
the hell was that" of today's uninspired action
scenes. Each shot here has a start and resolution.
Props to the editors and to Stallone for actually
choreographing the battle. And while the gore is no
doubt extreme, it suits the vengeful nature of the
story. Truncating the violence here would be as deadly
as removing the gore from Romero's DAWN OF THE DEAD.
Must. Not. Cut.

I won't reveal much more suffice to say that Rambo
ends up exactly where he should in a very satisfying
ending. Even better, Stallone has avoided giving
himself a speech to declare what we already know.

There's more work to be done so who knows how much the
film will change by the time it comes out. I can say
that JOHN RAMBO is easily Stallone's best directed
film and he pulled off a sequel I didn't even want to
see. It's darker than the previous two but much better
in its execution. I do hope he uses this movie to bow
out of the genre and maybe get that Edgar Allen Poe
script into production...

Oh, and yes, you do hear the Jerry Goldsmith theme.

Uh-oh, somebody's coming. Remember, you didn't see me.

I don't even exist...

This is Colonel Trautman, over and out.