Company: Lionsgate
My Cost: $15.00
Opening Thoughts: In the last year, studios have been going to their back catalog, scanning in films to 4K, and then releasing them on to 4KUHD. With fantastic to mixed results. Lionsgate is no exception to this. Earlier this year releasing Terminator 2, now following that up with the first three films in the Rambo series.
Honestly, this is a film I would have skipped buying on 4KUHD except my current version was a 1st generation dvd release. So it was time to upgrade.
Synopsis: First Blood has one of the most simplistic plots out of all the films I have ever seen and does not require much explanation.
John Rambo, a Vietnam veteran, decides to visit a person he was stationed with in Nam. When Rambo arrives at Delmar's residence, Rambo finds out Delmar is dead and he is the last of his team from Nam still alive. Rambo leaves Delmar's residence, to drift to the next town for something to eat.
That town just happens to be Holidayland, Washington. In real life, the town used to film at was Hope, British Columbia. Holidayland falls underneath the jurisdiction of Sheriff Teasle. Teasle rules this town with an iron thumb. Nothing happens in this town unless Teasle wants something to happen.
While on patrol, Teasle comes across a drifter in town. The last thing Teasle wants in this town is to become a home for drifters and homeless people. Teasle picks up the drifter and drives him to the edge of town telling him he can get something eat at a diner up the road about 14 miles.
That drifter decides to walk back into town in defiance of Teasle. Teasle arrests the drifter and decides to bring him in. What Teasle didn't count on was arresting a vietnam veteran by the name of John Rambo.
Rambo is a former green beret, medal of honor recipient, who is suffering from PTSD. One of the side effects is that Rambo's mind slips in and out of present day to tense situations he was in Vietnam and at times cannot tell if he is in a war at the moment with the enemy or back stateside. One thing is for sure though he is a killing machine.
After mistreatment from the police and their failure to understand just how bad Rambo's psychological condition is. Rambo escapes in the woods nearby. Teasle decides that Rambo is his pray and that all his resources will go in to bring Rambo down.
The question is who the hunter and who is the prey in this Mexican standoff.
Video quality: 3.5/5
I am not going to lie there is no question this is the best the film has ever looked on a home media release. The backgrounds of the mountains, forest, and mist are simply gorgeous with the depth of detail provided. The last half of the film which is mostly dark sequences is where the 4K release has its advantages. In which, honestly all you have to watch is the very opening moments of the title First Blood black card transitioning into the background to know what you will be in for here.
The issue you run into is the first half of this film with bright sequences and the color bump the film recieved. You just can't hide any of the film's flaws anymore.
Rambo's green jacket looks like it is brand new no wear or dirt. Teasle's jacket doesn't show any dirt on it later after a long sequence of chasing Rambo in the woods. Then there is a scene in which is supposed to be shocking by Rambo surprising an officer coming out of the bushes which was always effective before, but now I could cleary see Rambo night and day before the attack. His camouflage loses the effectiveness that it is supposed to have in the film. Then there are other sequences in which you can now tell when a stunt actor is being used vs. the real actor most notably the infamous helicopter sequence.
Myself I find this release as a distractingly annoying at times, but awarding at times. So as a viewer you have to decide for yourself is the payoff worth more than the distractions. I found myself as a Cinephile for the first half of the film more distracted by the first half losing my ability to focus on watching the film. While the second half I was blown away by the detail.
Unfortunately that is my experience with older films from the 80s back being released onto 4K. Kind of a mix bag of good and bad to where it evens itself out. That is why this release gets a C for Video Quality.
Overall Thoughts: At 15 dollars I am not going to complain much. I think people who have the DVD or lower grade media should upgrade if they want to. Otherwise for those with the Blu Ray Edition that is more than an adequate release for you unless you are a diehard fan then upgrade if you feel like it. While I was rewarded with great backgrounds and the last half of the film being an improvement, that first half felt like a chore to get through the distractions
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