Having never seen any of the other Rambo films, I cannot compare it to them, but I don't think that's a major issue.

Rambo is living just down river from war-torn Burma and makes a living by catching snakes that are then sold to a local snake farm, when a bunch of missionaries approach him. They want to take Bibles and medicines into the villages in Burma. He tries to persuade them not to go in, saying how they are unlikely to change anything unless they go in with guns blazing.

Eventually he gets convinced to go in, delivering them to a drop off site down the river. A few weeks later he learns that they have gone missing and their pastor has hired a bunch of mercinaries to rescue them. Only Rambo knows where they were dropped off.

This film is bloody and violent, so this film should not be viewed by anyone who can't handle that. What's more, though, is that the scenario is not one that is far-fetched. Although this isn't a true story - there are plenty of similar scenarios going on around the world.

That is what was at the back of my mind throughout. The thought that there are people out there who would happily ransack a village and callously open fire on anyone - men, women and children without a second thought. The worse thought was that there are whole societies for whom women are treated like second class citizens or like sex slaves.

The contrast between the boat rides into Burma drew the contrast between the two groups of people. The first group, whether you consider the trip to have been pointless or not, are there on a mission of peace but the second were there purely for material gain and they had no concern for the people whatsoever.

As horrible as the film's gore was, it reminded me as to how much of a bubble we live in in the West. It really helped me to put my life in perspective. One other concept that rattled through my mind during the film was the notion "is there ever a reason to kill?"

I'm glad I saw this film, but it's certainly not for everyone.

see also:
Lucky Number Slevin, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, Wanted, The Departed

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photo © Lionsgate Films.