

News broke on Friday that Sylvester Stallone was abandoning a sci-fi premise for his upcoming fifth Rambo movie, which would have been the logical evolution of the ultraviolent action franchise.
To which we say, aw, heck.
Stallone reportedly envisioned a story in which his alienated veteran character would have led a squad of commandoes into a secret military base to hunt a monster from a secret military project that went awry. The movie was to be based on James Byron Higgins' novel Hunter, to which Stallone owns the rights, according to the U.K. Press Association.
Instead, the fifth movie will involve a hostage rescue in Mexico.
We think Rambo should make the jump to sci-fi. For one thing, most of his previous adventures (after the first, relatively realistic one) involved superhuman feats of heroism and/or carnage that practically qualify the character as a sci-fi creation: all-powerful, impervious to pain or harm, invincible.
For another, Rambo's single-handed resolution of such real-world political issues as the Russian invasion of Afghanistan and the military takeover of Burma rank as pure fantasy.
Lastly, we think it's past time that Rambo joined the ranks of such characters as Dutch (from Predator) and Sarge (from Doom): improbably muscled military guys for whom the only worthy adversary is a scaly razor-toothed behemoth or an army of ravenous zombies.
What do you think?
Rambo 5 is supposed to start in the spring.
By Gabriel Angeles at 2:47 PM ON 11/16/09
SciFi Rambo would have been a blast but I'll take whatever I can get as long as it's like R4 and not watered down.
A little more Bow and Knife action wouldn't hurt either !
By LaserRazor at 2:48 PM ON 11/16/09
I think it's time for Rambo vs. mash-ups ala Alien vs. Predator. Think of it. Rambo vs. Hannibal Lecter, Rambo vs. Hitler, Rambo vs. The T-1000. Endless gold, endless.
By silverrose at 2:48 PM ON 11/16/09
Why not just put Rambo in space. It worked in Jason X.
By MCP-001 at 3:15 PM ON 11/16/09
NO!!!!!
Not Judge Dredd 2!!!
By suprememango at 3:21 PM ON 11/16/09
Close Encounters of the Rambo Kind. Ohhh yeahhh
By Imagica at 3:22 PM ON 11/16/09
I read Hunter that would make a good premise for a movie or a Rambo film
By Chris at 3:23 PM ON 11/16/09
Patrick,
All I have to say is don't write an article if you don't understand the subject matter. The Rambo sequels are not fantasy by any means. Stick to what you do best - watching Citizen Kane for the 100th time on a Saturday night by your lonesome self. And did you really just mention The Rock's Sarge character from Doom in the same sentence as Arnold's Dutch character from Predator? Wow. How did you get your job?
ps, learn to proof read and spell check before publishing an article.
-Chris
By Facepalm at 3:25 PM ON 11/16/09
Rambo V: Attack of the Clones
but seriously, Mexico with all the drug cartels and killings in recent years holds the promise of being rather gritty realistic.
By Allison&Jack at 3:41 PM ON 11/16/09
Is it possible for a movie franchise to jump the shark? Cause that's exactly what a scifi rRambo would be, Rambo "jumping the shark".
By jdmimic at 3:59 PM ON 11/16/09
No need to insult the guy, Chris. But it is true that even though the Rambo movies were pure entertainment and did not resolve anything in the real world, Stallone did use them to highlight real atrocities in the world. I have to commend Stallone for making his Rambo movies politically relevant. So I think a sci-fi premise would be terrible and ruin the entire point of the movies (beyond just watching a lot of people get blown up).
By SethSJ at 4:24 PM ON 11/16/09
Why didn't didn't he just call his upcoming film "The Expendibles" Rambo 5? I heard Gov. Schwarznegger is actually supposed to make a cameo in that film.
By AngryJonny at 5:55 PM ON 11/16/09
Chris,
Wow, bit of a "see you next Tuesday" tone, huh?
I had heard the fifth Rambo was going to be about drug dealers, which would have been cool since it continues with politically relevant plots like in the fourth film (which was great). A sci-fi storyline? Well, I wouldn't NOT see it, but I'm sort of glad to hear they're not going in that direction.
By Ken Morrison at 6:10 PM ON 11/16/09
Rambo V: This time it's personal...
How about Rambo eliminates the Jonas Brothers?
By shadow at 6:26 PM ON 11/16/09
You thought it was over...you thought he was finish for good...but now he is back ...again, but this time older than ever! From the producers of Glitter and the director of Waterworld comes an action bore that will blow your mind! RAMBO 5! A must avoid movie. Rated B....for boring.
By Keith Talent at 7:49 PM ON 11/16/09
Chris,
What's so transgressive about mentioning Sarge and Dutch in the same sentence? Guess I don't understand the subject matter any better than Patrick does.
Mike
P.S. You should capitalize P.S., it shouldn't be followed by a comma (unless it's part of a list), and the first letter in the sentence that follows it should be capitalized as well. Please proofread your snarky comments before posting them.
By REDante at 7:52 PM ON 11/16/09
If it goes scifi it would be a generic scifi movie. Anyone could do it with that premise, however to all those who really enjoy that scifi premise, never fear.....Stephen Segal will gladly take that to be his next monthly dvd movie.
By kebgd at 8:25 PM ON 11/16/09
I don't agree with taking Rambo into Sci Fi. Keep monsters and aliens out of it. Its ok if he is a little superhuman. I mean he's doing things at 60 that would kill me now if I attempted it.
By SighFyeGuy at 9:24 PM ON 11/16/09
There is NO reason for another Rambo movie! Stallone wrapped up John Rambo's story very nocely with the last one; he finally made his way home after the wars for some peace and quiet...that's it! THE END!
By PALADIN at 7:48 AM ON 11/17/09
Hell, why shouldn`t 'Rambo' get into sci-fi ?
The last Rambo effort was just plain BAD, and the character has pretty well milked the real-world possibilities for mayhem and destruction. Give him an android or an alien to combat....Make it a cheesy, rubber suited old school 'B'-Movie menace.
Stallone already looks like something artificial anyway.
By ghengisbob at 9:36 AM ON 11/17/09
Considering the character died at the end of the book, the sequels should all be remastered with Rambo as a zombie. It would certainly explain his delivery.
By XCalPro at 10:39 AM ON 11/17/09
Will Rob Schneider be in it???
By dakalmog at 6:37 AM ON 11/18/09
If Stallone wants to make Hunter, he should make that movie. But I think Rambo V should be a separate movie, and I'm glad they've made that decision.
The sequels have moved a long way from First Blood, which I think is a great film (up until that song over the end credits). It's actually about something. For all the pretence about the sequels tackling current events, basically they're just dumb - but fun - movies that revel in action. Not that there's anything wrong with that! :)
While the first film is still my favorite, I'll be there for Rambo V.
P.S. "(Please be patient, it may take a moment for your comment to appear.)" What about the fact that I've tried to enter it 7 times now, with no success? This system sucks.
By snarky at 1:16 PM ON 11/18/09
keith talent
uhh, do you or anybody on here even know what P.S. stands for?
By jhawks1510 at 4:23 PM ON 11/18/09
Put Rambo, Arnie, Chuck, Seagall, Van Damme, the Rock, and all those guys on an island, drop some monsters, bad guys, hot women, and a plethora of current & futuristic weapons, add the cast of Saturday Night Live & something good will happen.
By DanDFromNJ at 12:49 PM ON 11/19/09
Rambo cannot jump the shark; that's what TV shows do. Rambo can, however, nuke the fridge; that's what movies do... Particularly yarm movies created by really terrible producers that got really lucky a long time ago in a galaxy far far away... Anyway... Jar Jar sucks and indie four was terrible.
DanDFromNJ:
Rambo cannot jump the shark; that's what TV shows do. Rambo can, however, nuke the fridge; that's what movies do.....More »