Digital Survivors
 

Why we all need to see Rambo III one more time

Scott Manning
January 20, 2002 | Comments (27)


Director: Peter MacDonald
Release Date: 1988
See it on Amazon

rambo3 (7k image)Rambo III - why would I bring up Rambo III? This trilogy starring Sylvester Stallone features a one-man army taking on anyone and anything in any part of the world. The one thing that sets Rambo III apart from the other Rambo's is that it takes place in Afghanistan.

Rambo travels to this middle-Asian country to save his life long trainer and friend. While there, he finds himself in the middle of the Russian-Afghan war. Having no other friends, Rambo teams up with the struggling Afghans to fight the Russians.

As opposed to being just another shabby one-man army movie, Rambo III actually goes a little deeper. Much of the Afghan culture, people, and determination are displayed in this movie.

Recently, the news has chronicled the return of the Afghan game, buzkashi, in which two teams fight over the body of a goat or calf. This game is played in this movie.

We have all seen the Afghan people determined to fight off the Taliban. In this movie, we see that same determination fighting off the Communist Russians.

It is worth watching this movie purely to gain a better understanding of the war, people, and culture in Afghanistan.

Related links:
Stallone to take on Bin Laden


Enjoy this article? There's more. Digital Survivors is a source of articles, tutorials, reviews, and commentary on all things digital.

Stay informed with rss, our feed is permanently ad-free.

These articles are new:

bullet The Best Solution for the Financial Crisis
bullet Photos from the McCain/Palin Rally in Media, PA (9/22/08)
bullet Churchill's Earliest Warning About Hitler
bullet "Friendship with Germany" by Churchill (Sep 17, 1937)

If you don't immediately see what you want, you can start a topic in our forums.

 



Comments (27):
1) Posted by: angus
August 16, 2002 8:39 AM

You fool. Rambo is helping the brave Mujahedeen against those godless commie scum. Problem... The brave Mujahedeen later become, with the help of the CIA (they don't dispute this) the... er... Taleban!


2) Posted by: Parwiz
August 24, 2002 11:55 PM

Re: Previous Comment

You are WRONG!

Most of the Taleban's foot soldiers come from Pakistani Madrassas if you even cared to research. The Mujahedeen formed their own politcal parties, some joined with Taleban, while MOST didnt. The Taleban were FORMED early 90's. The Mujahedeen have been around since 79. Like the movie shows, buzkashi is played. Taleban banned this game.


3) Posted by: chris
September 24, 2002 6:18 PM

Most of what you say above is true, however A large number of Mujaheed went on to form what we now know of as "al qaeda". Hell, they were still holed up in the same mountain caves that had bewildered the russians 20 years earlier. Only, the americans probably did a better job routing them out, as they had more high-tech equipment (night-vision goggles etc.) and their troops were more well fed (the russian occupation were largely malnourished, and due to lack of certain vitamins in their diet, suffered from lack of natural night-vision).


4) Posted by: the rambo fan
October 7, 2002 4:54 PM

whatever the case the Rambo triligies are the greatest freaking movies ever!


5) Posted by: Paul
October 11, 2002 11:06 AM

Rambo kicks ass!


6) Posted by: luiz karloz karriyo
October 31, 2002 11:22 PM

RAMBO ES UNA VERGA Y SI NO LES GUSTA TODOS ME LA PELAN


7) Posted by: Simon in Japan
November 19, 2002 12:59 AM

Yeah, Rambo is fun, but we should all remember that peace-keeping is a TEAM EFFORT. Thank you, US Peacekeepers in the Air, and on the Land and Sea for dedicating your lives for our security (and I'm not even an American, but a New Zealander!)


8) Posted by: A Fn' K
November 20, 2002 4:52 PM

Rambo comes FULL CIRCLE!!!!!!! Rambo III kicks ass!!!!


9) Posted by: SOMETHING
December 1, 2002 4:14 PM

rambo is the best
i like him he is the best actor
i like all of his movies espically the ramboIII


10) Posted by: Tristan
December 5, 2002 3:48 PM

Out of these three movies, I like Rambo First Blood the most. It started out with a realistic plot. The guy was on the edge already and these backwoods pigs pushed him too far. Any person would do everything they could do to survive, but he was a pro at this stuff, so he did more than just survive. I didn't really like 3 because it's a little hard to believe that any man would really stand out in a modern war in afghanistan. The biggest stars of modern wars are the machines being used.


11) Posted by: Monny
January 10, 2003 6:40 AM

Baunina tun Rambo sankarakepan ya movie ya anengneng ko!


12) Posted by: Lee Parks
January 16, 2003 6:03 AM

I believe RamboIII is a great movie, i am unsure as to which Rambo movie is the most effective. i believe Rambo to be a very Proud and patriotic character, i believe he is the picture of many americans views as to what they believe a vietnam war veteran to be. he demonstrates strength of both mind and body, this is why, with a grouyp of other Rambo fans we proceeded to make three rambo films ourselves.


13) Posted by: Gary Newborne
January 16, 2003 6:07 AM

I agree with Lee Parks, he has a very good sense of who Rambo really is, i like the idea of new rambo films too.


14) Posted by: John Kreese
January 17, 2003 12:50 PM

Every man needs someone to look up to. Sort of a measuring tool as to what he wishes to become. For many of us, its Rambo. He is the ultimate fighting machine! No matter if its with weapons or with his bare hands. Colonel Trautman has perfectly trained him to the max! He is the ultimate American whose ideals and fighting spirit serve as a beacon of light to even the darkest corners of the world where shadows of oppression and injustice lurk. He is like a superpowered flashlight of incandescent patriotism and supreme toughness striking down all those who stand for evil. God Bless Rambo! And beware Taliban. Who else can even come close to being as kick ass as that? Maybe some sort of robot-man, but those are fake and only exist in those really lame sci-fi movies. But Rambo is here to stay, here to inspire, and here give hope to all those who seem to have none.


15) Posted by: Damien Bianchi
January 17, 2003 1:22 PM

While I agree that Rambo III was a treasure to behold, it was by far the weakest of this epic trilogy.. First, let’s talk a little about John himself, aka “Raven”(his codename while serving in Vietnam under Col. Sam Trautman and the Baker Team), aka “LoneWolf” (his codename while enduring a top-secret reconnisance mission for POW’s in Vietnam in the mid-80’s).. When we are introduced to this perfect fighting machine, he is searching for an old friend, Delmar Berry (part of the Baker Team mentioned earlier – other members were Jorgenson, Calletta, Danforth, Crackower, and Mesner) who had recently died of cancer.. Think about it – aren’t we all just searching for a piece of our past to hold on to? A long lost friend ? Just like the film’s theme song, “it’s a long road”.. It most definitely is a long road, a long road for us all… When that piece of our past is eliminated (as Delmar Berry was by the tragic cancer he was diagnosed with from extreme exposure to “Agent Orange”) this emits hostile feelings of rage that we all tend to keep, deep inside..These feelings can be left inside of us until something triggers it’s release, aka Sherrif Will Teasle.. Don’t you see the significance of Teasle? He is our release, our release from our inner being, our inner demons, our inner self.. Then all hell breaks loose and everyone gets fucked! It rules!


16) Posted by: Damien Bianchi
January 17, 2003 3:08 PM

Let's not forget that we are talking about a man who is an expert.. A man who is the BEST.. with guns, with knives, with his .....bare hands.. A man who has been trained to ignore weather.. To live off the land.... To eat things that would make a billy goat puke.. In Vietnam his job was to dispose of enemy personnel... TO KILL.... PERIOD... Win by attrition... Well my friends.. Rambo was the BEST!


17) Posted by: Damien Bianchi
January 17, 2003 3:09 PM

Oh .. and.... one more thing.....
What you choose to call Hell......
He calls home !


18) Posted by: eat and sleep Rambo
January 19, 2003 5:36 AM

Sylvester Stallone said it best in tango and cash "Rambo is a pussy"


19) Posted by: Marcus Jones
March 9, 2003 6:06 AM

I think Syvelster Stallone played a spectacular role and fitted it perfectly! The film is packed with action and adventure. Who is Rambo you ask?
" I'm your worst nightmare!"
If only there were a Rambo 4...


20) Posted by: LONEWOLF
March 31, 2003 2:16 AM

NOTHING IS OVER NOTHING U DONT JUST TURN IT OFF


21) Posted by: Ron
February 2, 2004 12:39 AM

Rambo is so fuckin' awesome!! I have watched the movies well over 100 times. It's a release for me that is not comparable!


22) Posted by: Lizette
February 3, 2004 12:17 PM

I am looking for a movie still or photo of Colonel Zaysen (Marc de Jonge) from Rambo III and can't seem to find any movie stills at all on the internet. Anyone got a URL for me? Thanks.


23) Posted by: JoeRamboUK
October 22, 2004 9:29 PM

At last somewhere that people think Rambo is great too.
Rambo is a scumbag and can take on anyone.


24) Posted by: Tom
February 5, 2005 5:08 PM

RAMBO ROCKS
ITS THE BEST MOVIE EVER !
Not because of the fighting or action
but for the person who Rambo is
and how Sly plays Rambo
Its the best played character i ever saw in a movie !


25) Posted by: donny
May 4, 2005 1:48 PM

whoever said that mujahadeen went on to become al quaeda is grossly mis informed............. firstly al quaeda is an arabic word.....afghans dont speak arabic.....so if they went on to make an organisation...makes sense that they'd give it an afghan name.

secondly al quaeda is an arabic terrorist group. which bin ladin is supposedly part of. lastly bin-ladin isnt afghan, he is from saudi arabia...on other side of the world. rambo whoops ass by the way!!!!


26) Posted by: bob
October 30, 2005 9:05 AM

"It is worth watching this movie purely to gain a better understanding of the war, people, and culture in Afghanistan."

do you work for the us state department too? cultural understanding from a rambo film, youve got to be joking.

re the post above: muslims everywhere learn and use arabic to read the koran etc. jemmah islamiyah is a se asian organisation, but the words originate from arabic for eg.


27) Posted by: John Ramboo's Dad
May 20, 2006 11:07 PM

HAEV U GUYS SEN DA MATAVISION V3RSION OF RMBO II?!?!! LOL ITS LIEK A WHOLE NU FRIKIN MOVEI11!1 WTF ITS LIEK A CONTINUATION OF DA RMBO TRILOGY AND WH3N I SAW IT I CREID A LITLA!11!1111 OMG LOL U HAEV 2 CHEK IT OUT1!11 WTF


border