Fresh
The darker tone, somber subtext, and generally non-exploitative violence allow viewers to enjoy the film not only as an action/thriller but as something with a degree of intelligence and substance.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
First Blood
This time he's fighting for his life.
1982 · 1h 33m · R
Action, Adventure, Thriller, War
Directed by
Ted Kotcheff
Overview
When former Green Beret John Rambo is harassed by local law enforcement and arrested for vagrancy, he is forced to flee into the mountains and wage an escalating one-man war against his pursuers.
Director and cast
- Ted Kotcheff Director
- Sylvester Stallone as John J. Rambo
- Richard Crenna as Col. Samuel Trautman
- Brian Dennehy as Hope Sheriff Will Teasle
- Bill McKinney as State Police Capt. Dave Kern
- Jack Starrett as Deputy Sgt. Arthur Galt
- Michael Talbott as Deputy Balford
- Chris Mulkey as Deputy Ward
- John McLiam as Orval the Dog Man
- Alf Humphreys as Deputy Lester
- David Caruso Cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
86%
Tomatometer
Fresh
This action film hangs on an interesting reversal, taking the crazed-killer-in-the-woods theme from Friday the 13th and turning it inside out-- the psychopath is now our hero, a maladjusted ex-Green Beret played by Sylvester Stallone.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Fresh
Sylvester Stallone is one of the great physical actors in the movies, with a gift for throwing himself so fearlessly into an action scene that we can't understand why somebody doesn't really get hurt.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Fresh
First Blood is ragged and flashy; it ought to be a big success with audiences that value action for its own sake.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Rotten
Director Ted Kotcheff has all sorts of trouble with this mess, aside from credibility.
Variety
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