THE FIRST WAS FOR HIMSELF. THE SECOND FOR HIS COUNTRY. THIS TIME IT’S TO SAVE HIS FRIEND.

Opus 3 features the kind of muscle flexing we’ve grown accustomed to since First Blood (1982). This time, Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) tries to rescue his only friend, Colonel Trautman (Richard Crenna), who’s been caught on a mission to Afghanistan.

Stallone’s recluse is not so “difficult” this time and I’m glad to see Crenna take a more active part in the story.

Good action sequences compensate for the somewhat dull first half of the film, and there is an amusing political irony in watching Rambo mingle with people who one day might become al-Qaeda fighters.

1988-U.S. 101 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Peter Macdonald. Screenplay: Sylvester Stallone, Sheldon Lettich. Cast: Sylvester Stallone (John Rambo), Richard Crenna (Sam Trautman), Marc de Jonge (Zaysen), Kurtwood Smith, Spiros Focas, Sasson Gabai. 

Trivia: Macdonald replaced the initial directing choice, Russell Mulcahy. Followed by Rambo (2008).