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While still a million miles behind First Blood, Rambo III is at least that bit more entertaining in its "over-the-topness" than its predecessor Rambo: First Blood Part II, and doesn't take itself quite so seriously.

As the chapter opens, we find John Rambo (Stallone) living in Bangkok, participating in stick fighting contests with the locals for money. Colonial Trautman (Richard Crenna) has travelled halfway around the world to see his favourite soldier and ask for his help in going to war with those bastard Russians once again -- who this time around have been bullying the people of Afghanistan. At first, Rambo refuses, prompting Trautman to go in alone with his small team of soldiers, but after he is soon captured, John realises that he has no choice but to get involved in yet another war.

Rambo's venture into hostile territory this time is more exhilarating than it was in First Blood Part II. Instead of dull shootouts, there are some great individual hand-to-hand combats and a number of moments involving gallant Afghans on horses defending themselves against Soviet air strikes. My favourite moment, though, has to be Rambo stealthing behind enemy lines in an attempt to break out Trautman from his cell; it's terrifyingly engaging viewing, and showcases the ex-Green Beret's long-term commitment to his closest friend.

Things do start getting a little silly after Trautman manages to make it out of prison alive, with Stallone's character deeming it necessary to throw in a cheesy joke after every run-in with the Russians. There's a particular scene that takes place in a cave, where Rambo manages to pick off his enemies one by one in his trademark bow-and-arrow fashion: Trautman asks how John is after a close encounter with an explosion, to which he replies "[I'm] well done". The dialogue is bad, yes, but at least it's not pretentious; it contributes to the overall "fun" tone of the movie.

As with First Blood: Part II, though, the politics are still ludicrous -- the film is dedicated to "The Gallant People of Afghanistan" -- but at least this time I could see past it, in the sense that Rambo satirizes everything he touches. In the film's notable climax, Rambo and Trautman are completely surrounded and ordered to surrender by the Russian General, to which an unfazed Rambo responds "Fuck 'em!" before decimating every living thing in sight. This, however, made more of a statement about him being an freedom fighter than pretty much anything he's done, thus far, so I didn't mind too much.

(C) Andy Carrington, 2009.