Rambo: Last Blood (2019)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2019
	Director: Adrian Grunberg
	Actors: Sylvester Stallone, Paz Vega, Sergio Peris-Mencheta
	Country: USA, HK, F, BG, E, S
	Genre: Action, Thriller
	Conditions of visioning: 24.07.2020, VOD, 10" tablet screen
Synopsis: Leaving peacefully on his father's ranch, John Rambo (Stallone) considers Gabriela like his daughter. When she wants to go to Mexico to look for her father, he advises against it.
Review: I thought Stallone had said goodbye to the franchise in 2008 with the powerful fourth movie soberly entitled Rambo, but he had to do one more and this one looks like the real goodbye, between the title which calls back to the first movie of the franchise First Blood (no, the name Rambo was not in the title of the first movie), and the end credits which shows scenes from all past movies. Looking at the list of Countries that co-financed the movie, it looks like the producers had to search everywhere to find the money to make this one which is to me a sign that it was maybe not much wanted. I hope they stop there but you never know... The movie is not too bad but doesn't rival with the first or fourth, and the second and third are dated but may be better as well when looked today with nostalgia. I wondered which enemy they would find for the Vietnam War veteran, and was slightly disappointed to see the story go the way of Taken or Death Wish but in Mexico. I was however pleased to see Stallone not play the confident killer like he does in The Expendables series for example, but sometimes nuance his acting to better match the traumatized Veteran we know him to be. I immediately caught 2-3 moments like that but they were unfortunately fleeting. Like in all movies in the franchise, Rambo goes through the usual defeat before rising again, and this time his motivation is stronger than ever, although I wondered if it had to be so. As the previous movie, this one is (very) generous with blood splatter and violent killings, but they look too much like fan-service and Rambo is not even in danger at any point. Still, those were the fun parts. For me, a fun addition to the series but one which was not needed.
Rating: 4 /10