2. Rambo (1982-2008)
Originally... Nobody seems to really remember the fact that Rambo (one of the go-to buzzwords for "mindless action schlock") started out as a quiet, broody drama movie about the effects of the Vietnam war on its soldiers. That's to say, in the original Rambo movie (titled "
First Blood"), the focus is centered on John Rambo's return home as a disillusioned veteran forced into a confrontation he never wanted. Essentially it's a psychological thriller. It's also interesting to note that there is exactly one death in the entire movie.
So What Changed? For the second Rambo flick, subtly titled
Rambo:
First Blood II, the writers put Rambo back into the fray: gone were the quiet moments of the original, replaced with endless sequences of carnage and firepower. Sent back to Vietnam to rescue P.O.Ws, Rambo racks up a mean 46 kills this time around. By the time a belated fourth feature came around in 2008, the genre-shift began to parody itself: Rambo killed almost double that with 84. And of course it was the bloodiest entry in the series (and one of the bloodiest movies of all-time).
Did It Pay-Off? Depends on what you like about Rambo. Fans who like and appreciate the original for its sensitive moments and comments on the horrors of war are bound to be unimpressed by Rambo's personal shift. If you like action movies, though, then the second and fourth flicks are worth your time.