Rambo (Blu-ray)

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Mission accomplished? You know at some point it's going to be, but the ride is what matters, and "Rambo" provides a fun conclusion to . . .

NOTHING IS OVER! NOTH

I know, I know, and you even hint in one of the bonus features that Rambo could come back again. But if it were over, it's not a terrible way to go out. "Rambo" is rated R for strong graphic bloody violence, sexual assaults, grisly images, and language (like Rambo's "Fuck the world.").

Video:
The 1080p picture is exceptionally clear, though not necessarily 3-dimensional looking. Black levels are strong, and I didn't notice any compression artifacts. Some of the scenes aren't overly laden with color, but that's a reflection of the atmospheric lighting conditions more than anything. "Rambo" is presented in 2.35:1 aspect ratio, and it's a pleasure watching in Blu-ray.

Audio:
The featured audio is a DTS HD 7.1 Master Audio, so if you've got a full system of surround sound speakers they'll get a workout. There's plenty of action to go around, with a nice wide spread across the front speakers and pretty solid audio emanating from the rear effects speakers as well. If you've got a subwoofer, it'll rumble in a number of places. No complaints here. An additional soundtrack option is the Dolby Digital EX 5.1 mix that's used on the DVD, with subtitles in English (CC) and Spanish.

Extras:
Lions Gate pulled out all the stops for this release. Like Twentieth Century Fox, they've included a "digital copy" second disc which consumers can use to load a standard-definition copy of the movie directly onto their computers and transfer to iTunes (it's Windows Media friendly). Once there, you can transfer the film to your iPod, iPhone or Apple TV. Obviously, not everyone is going to be able to use this feature. Same with "MoLog," which requires a Profile 2.0 capable Blu-ray disc player to connect to the Internet for interactive content, and "Bonus View," which requires a Profile 1.1 enabled player to access this Stallone audio-commentary with picture-in-picture separate video streaming that takes viewers behind the scenes.

You can still access the Stallone commentary without the picture-in-picture feature, and there are a number of decent bonus features as well, along with a few deleted scenes and a Rambo series trailer gallery: "It's a Long Road: Resurrection of an Icon" covers the ground you'd expect in explaining how and why this belated fourth film came into being; "A Score to Settle: The Music of Rambo focuses on the score in relation to the moods of the film; "The Art of War: Completing Rambo is a two-part look at the editing and sound; "A Hero's Welcome: Release & Reaction" merges footage of the gala with interview clips; "The Weaponry of Rambo" gives you the low-down on all the firepower; and "Legacy of Despair: The Struggle in Burma" interweaves clips of Burma/Myanmar with interview clips with a spokesperson from the Karen National Union, the Human Rights Action Center, and others. There's also a bookmark function and trailers for other Lions Gate releases. Speaking of which (and I talking not just to Lions Gate, but to ALL studios), since Blu-rays take longer to load than DVDs, how about stopping this nonsense of loading the discs so that they automatically play four or five previews (commercials--let's call them what they are) that you can't bypass with a push of the menu button? You have to keep clicking "next" until you finally get the menu screen.

Stallone said that he wanted Rambo to continue to be "a lost man," and that lost men end up at the end of the world--the worst place for living conditions and human rights. It kind of makes you wonder if there is a fifth installment, where he'll end up next.

Bottom Line:
"Rambo" may not top "First Blood," but it blows away the previous sequels--unfortunately, quite literally. The violence is so graphically excessive that it detracts from the film, though at least the action isn't as constant as it was in the other sequels, and it's tied to people we're led to care about.

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