10 Film Sequels That Went In Wildly Different Directions

5. Rambo: First Blood Part II

Tri-Star Pictures
Tri-Star Pictures

Remember Rambo? He was far more than Expendable. The original First Blood was a taut, character-driven action piece, as much about the cat and mouse between Sylvester Stallone and Brian Dennehy as the Vietnam vet and twisted law enforcer respectively. For Part II that quality went out the window faster than a fart in a wind tunnel factory.

John Rambo had transformed from a troubled drifter to a bullet-slinging government mercenary, dishing out lashings of hot justice to all and sundry. With James Cameron co-scripting the adventure, it wasn't going to be a modest affair. Stallone's bicep-wielding death machine in a headband, ludicrously described as "The Force Of Freedom" in the cartoon series, is one of cinema's great caricatures.

He consolidated the outlandish nature of Rambo in the third movie, which featured unbelievable sequences like the "hero" half-immolating himself to cauterize his wounded insides. That craziness had its origins right here.

Contributor
Contributor

I am a journalist and comedian who enjoys American movies of the 70s, Amicus horror compendiums, Doctor Who, Twin Peaks, Naomi Watts and sitting down. My short fiction has been published as part of the Iris Wildthyme range from Obverse Books.