RAMBO RETURNS

RAMBO IS BACK, and fans should be glad they get another chance to see their hero back in action, to go one more round with him as Rambo takes the war back to the jungle one last time, to right the wrongs against humanity, to save the day... and most of all to remind us of what we are capable of, when push comes to shove, when we revert back to our jungle instinct.
Like a blast from the past, JOHN RAMBO is not just another coming attraction, but it is a iconic character in cinematic history, reminding us what a huge impact Sylvester Stallone and Rambo had on our lives and subconscious mind when he stormed into our cinema screens two decades ago.
That film and the name Rambo has been etched on our minds and social consciousness eversince, and it never left us. We will never be the same way again, as Rambo reveals the indomitable spirit in every human being to thrive and to excel.
I was 16 when I saw First Blood. It was also my first introduction to Sylvester Stallone, the actor. At that point I have not seen Rocky before, which I discovered to be one and the same, although they fight different battles under different circumstances.
Both had the Eye of the Tiger. The inbuilt survival mechanism inside every human being to rise to the occassion, who listen to his heart, and always belief that "mine is the best one."
It was towards the end of 1982. I went to the cinema on my own, on dad's motorcycle and I was 10 mintues late. When I eventually found my seat in the dark, the movie had already started,
It was the motorcycle chase scene where Rambo was riding a scrambler with the sheriff in hot pursuit. It was hell of a ride, there was even a rhythm to the chase the sound of motorcycle engine screaming, and the roaring car in pursuit, the lean vs the mean, as sound spinning wheels hititng the dirt road.
Rambo won the first round, when his motorcycle crashed on some rock boulders near the edge of the forest, which provided him an escape route into the wild, while the sheriff shouted some final words of warning, he is doomed now and his fate is sealed.
Even though we do not know who Rambo was at that time, our hearts went out to him.
"What did he do wrong to deserve this?" He was like a trapped animal, who could not defend or even speak for himself. How can he win a war against prejudice, against a belief system with no right or wrong, where it is my word against yours, as the town Sheriff gleefully declared: "I am the law", while driving Rambo out of town.
Rambo was not looking for trouble, he just wanted to have a simple meal, yet trouble was thrushed upon him. And he became the reluctant hero, to preserve his own life.
In one scene he even tried apologizing for what happened, but they shot at him. It was not his war, as he stated towards the end of the movie, but they drew FIRST BLOOD.
As the film unfolded, cinema audiences gasped at the reality of the stunning action scenes, most which they have not seen before in the pre-computer era. How could Rambo leap off the cliff and break his fall against huge tree branches. I cringed as I heard the cracking sound of tree branches breaking under the weight and momentum of his free fall, I could swear half a dozen ribs must have been broken.
And how did he stich him arm with a deep cut(one of the most talk about scene), as blood gushes out.
There was no easy way out as Rambo had to revert back to his warrior self, to "win and to survive," which was his life philosophy as he explained in the boat ride in the sequel Rambo: First Blood Pt II, to Vietnamese agent Co Baio.
One of my favourite scenes was when he grabbed a gunny sack in the abandoned vehicle, and instinctively cut it up and turn it into an instant jacket to protect against the cold. Such was the resourcesfulness of Rambo to use whatever means within his grasp, to survive under any conditions.
He was expandable. He could create something out of nothing, like sharp wooden stakes for hunting, as well as traps, creating his own tools from mother nature.
When Rambo escaped into the wilds, you can feel he is safe there, as he is at one with nature and himself. As he said: "In here, I am the law. Don't push it or I will give you a war you won't believe."
Even when the blast the mind hole with a bazooka, Rambo lighted his own fire and made his way through the rat-infested tunnel.
Yet beyond all the entertainment, the film triggered something deep within our hearts, as part of us is uncivilised and refused to be tamed.
The war started when Rambo callenged the rule of why it was a crime for him to get a simple meal in town?" One thing led to another, until a life-threatening battle ensued, which is a common scenario in our day-to-day situation.
When I movie ended, I left the cinema impressed knowing that I have foudn something new. I was totally impressed by the Rambo character that I went home trying to understand and unravel the story, by writing the sypnopsis on a notepad.
Although i have never met such a character, yet I could feel totally related to it. To me Rambo was more than just action-packed war movie.
Something about the film was real to me. It tugged at my heartstring, reminding me there is another person deep inside us who is resourceful and who can adapt under any circumstances. And when push comes to shove, this survival mechanism takes over and we become Rambo.
It is said Rambo is a man of a 1000 skills. I haven't met such a person before, but I believe such a person exists. If we are fully trained and focused,and knowledgable, we too can rise above any situations,adn turn the odds to our favour.
Anything is possible when you realise in the beginning there are no rules, and we make our own rules.
Watching First Blood, andthe sequels was an exhilarating journey, but little did I know that it would lead me on to write a book called Survival Priciples from Sylvester Stallone's Life & Films, where I was honoured to have Jackie Stallone launched the book to coincide with Rocky Balboa: the last episode in the series.