10 Alternate Endings That Improve Movies

2. First Blood - Rambo Commits Suicide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp1mdSQ4BfI Though the theatrical ending of First Blood is still a complete downer, and a thrilling comment on both the warping power of war and our treatment of veterans, the original ending takes this to an even more extreme degree. After delivering the classic monologue about one of his war buddies being blown to bits, Rambo decides that he cannot handle returning to a world that spits on him, so grabs Colonel Trautman's gun and shoots himself in the chest, quickly dying while Trautman stares on in shock. In terms of hitting its targets - namely critiquing a society that doesn't provide adequate treatment and readjustment tools for returning soldiers - the finality of this ending, with Rambo's death, is far more impactful, and it'd also mean we don't have to sit through all of those tiresome sequels. Still, First Blood is a great film either way; it teases out what is easily Stallone's best performance to date, and it's still an emotionally affecting film that's not given anywhere near enough credit, usually lumped in with its lame-brained shoot 'em up sequels.