First Blood (Ted Kotcheff, 1982, USA/Netherlands)
First Blood is the first film in the Rambo franchise. Rambo in the collective consciousness now perhaps conjures images of the stereotypical action film, but First Blood, upon reviewing is more somber and gritty than your typical 80s action film. One of the cornerstone films to deal with the impact and aftermath of the Vietnam War on veterans, First Blood actually had its origins in a 1972 novel by David Morrell. While the film has since become the template for the “one-man army” film, in many ways it shares similarities with the Mad Max franchise. The first Mad Max is far grittier and different in spirit than its subsequent entries. Ted Kotcheff directs First Blood with true economy - there is hardly a frame wasted. Producer Buzz Feitshans, best known for his collaborations with John Milius, clearly came from the world of the 70s New American Cinema, and First Blood, in some respects, feels like a 70s film more than an 80s film. While there are many stretches of believability...
