First Blood (1982) ♥Movie Reaction♥ First Time Watching!

[@BlackMatt2k]

The franchise factory turned Stallone into a cliche action hero, but Rocky and First Blood are unusually deep dives into male psychology.

[@Balleehuuu]

I agree and I hated the second and third Rambo. I didn't liked the Rockys (2-4) that much, but they are somehow a nice addition and worth watching at least once. For a really good Stallone I recommend "Cop Land"

[@olpossum5186]

yeah. i wouldn't say to "never" watch them, but you also wouldn't be missing anything if you skipped the other rambo movies. the first stands alone as a great story and showcase of stallone's acting chops. that end scene gets me every time.

[@Dragon-Believer]

He wrote Rocky. People like to hate on Stallone but he wrote a screenplay.

[@Balleehuuu]

@@Dragon-Believer yeah and deserved that oscar

[@Nicholasmcmath-cr1xl]

Agree

[@Harv72b]

First Blood and Rocky: two early Stallone movies that are *never* what a new viewer expected. 😁

[@schroedingers_kotze]

Presumably because the image of the two characters was more shaped by the sequels, some of which are much more clichéd than the originals. But the first films are both great.

[@PerfectHandProductions]

Rocky is so great, one of the best of the 70s for me.

[@taberjohnson1901]

Yeah, like Schrödinger said, the sequels are exactly what everyone expects.

[@Raven5150]

Stallone first movie was a porn that since the popularity of rocky renamed itself the Italian stallion but you probly won't find that on imdb

[@PerfectHandProductions]

@@Raven5150 lol that's funny

[@zedwpd]

My dad served in Vietnam. I served for 20 years in the military and watched my dad's eyes over and over when people thanked me for my service. No one ever thanked him. He has since passed away.

[@Grnademaster]

Jesus Christ...I WAS having a good day until I read this comment.

[@alexconn7473]

I'm really sorry that happened to your father. The war was a no-win situation for everyone involved, especially the American soldiers who were sent overseas, unlike the soldiers who came before them in World War Two those men were fighting for a questionable cause that many of them were forced into and they were dealing with an enemy they didn't understand and that the so-called higher-ups had completely underestimated the boys who survived came back to a country that treated them like monsters this movie shows that particular problem very well just like its first sequel shows the problem with the higher-ups particularly well honestly the people who didn't know what the soldiers went through should have just shut up because if they weren't there they didn't have any right to judge if they had been to Vietnam they would have had a different mindset and if the higher-ups wanted a war they should have just gone themselves than again those cowards weren't too keen on the idea of having bullets whizzing past their heads the generals of world War two would have agreed with me because I know that some of them actually fought on the front lines with the soldiers they were giving orders to

[@shanwyn]

Something people all over the world usually forget: soldiers don't 'go' or 'do' something on their own accord. They are sent. Looking down or insulting a soldiers is like cursing a sledge hammer that landed on your hand instead of blaming the one who swings the hammer. Soldiers are 'instruments', usually of politicians. And they have no choice in a matter. That is the life of a soldiers. There is an old saying: No one wishes for peace more than the soldier fighting other mens battles

[@alexconn7473]

@shanwyn yep and honestly there was a time when the men who ordered for war to be waged actually fought in them as well and you know what I think I think that sort of thing needs to be brought back those people who want a war wouldn't be so eager for it if they were the ones who were fighting in it

[@shanwyn]

@@alexconn7473 I remember one thing my grandfather told me when I was little. He explained to me soldiers and firefighters are very much alike. Your instinct is to run away from the fire, but as a firefighter you are drilled to run into it. Same goes to soldiers. Fighting is a part of human nature, but our technology makes it horrendous and there is a mental breaking point that is easily overstepped. And the times you are mentioning are from hundreds if not thousands of years ago. Not even Napoleon was in the front once he seized power. In fact, if leaders of countries want a fight, I say put them into an arena. Just the leaders, and let them fight it out by themselves. I bet that would make war far less common. But again, in the end, I think we all have a long long way ahead of us til we overcome those basic instincts in our human nature. And until then, simply stop blaming soldiers, blame their leaders. And that rings true for all the soldiers in the world

[@WarriorOfGhengisKhan]

"For being like 90 minutes long I cannot believe how much protein this movie has." You young lady are a wordsmith. That's the most succinct description of this film I've ever heard. 10/10 reaction.

[@lennyvalentin6485]

Another 1980s action movie which isn't incredibly long and isn't wasting a single moment is "Predator". It too has a wicked soundtrack also by the way.

[@pencilnecked1579]

Stallone is mostly thought of as "action star" but when the man gets a role, or creates it himself, he really feels he can act his ass off. Cop Land (1997) is another example of his ability because he holds his own with true acting heavyweights in a star studded cast.

[@Scottie_S]

Cop land was such a great movie! Both Stallone and Liotta were fantastic in bringing their characters to life.

[@shabbafett8520]

Copland is both my favorite "cop" film and Stallone film... or it was until I watched First Blood. Incredible performances!

[@benprewitt4600]

THANK YOU FOR GIVING COP LAND A SHOUT OUT!

[@robl56]

AGREED Copland is an underrated gem in Stallone's catalog of roles! He brought such pain, resentment, and regret to "Heflin". Each actor has their own strengths & weaknesses in their work, but one of Stallone's best attributes is his ability to play an "Underdog," his ability to make you invest in the character and care about them in a very short period of time is second to none. While he was a great "Action Star" he is an even better unsung hero. Especially one point in the film she's asked him, "Why is it you never got married?" In his reply "All the best girls were taken" he really are you feel that your heart was ripped out with his when you found out he saved her but married someone else. The rest of the cast is amazing but the fact he gained so much weight to convincing play this role truly shows his dedication to the craft, he has never gotten enough credit for any of that. Still one of his best roles to date!

[@MiketheratguyMultimedia]

He's been nominated for two acting Oscars, people generally don't give him enough credit.

[@waterbeauty85]

An interesting thing about Gault is that he and Teasle serve together in the Korean War. I can imagine Teasle having a sense of loyalty to Gault because to the horrors and hardships they went through together and keeping him on as a deputy (despite the fact that he was clearly mentally unfit) because the war had left Gault so messed up that he would have ended up unemployed and homeless if it weren't for Teasle letting him work for him. Back when "First Blood" came out, some vets complained that Rambo was a stereotypical dangerously unstable war vet, but it seems to me that Gault is the vet who's more unstable and dangerous.

[@molasorrosalom4846]

Wow, I didn't know that.

[@carlgibson285]

Stallone's speech at the end of this movie is one of the greatest bits of acting ever commited to film. Stallone is so good in this, it makes me wish he'd done more "proper" acting during his career instead of concentating on being an action hero (although he's great at that too!).

[@paristo]

Stallone's serious acting are characters like Rambo or Rocky. Those characters are very deep, and the error many does make is think that his characters are just action heroes. Like from the start of the First Blood, the Rambo is extremely broken by finding out that his only army buddy is dead... He has no one else in the world to trust. Everyone who has been in combat, knows that in unit you will bond with your squad deeper than in normal life. The trust level is totally another level. The Rocky character is as well very deep, it is life story of a street thug to become greater than life and then still fight to stay simple as he is but try to be a fair and good through all. The love story, the family and all is about the Rocky character. Many see Rocky movies just as a violent boxing movies about some love story and so on, but Rocky delivers a lot more through all movies. Even the last two Rambo movies are great by the character, but I can't just like those movies past the sloppy visual effects (speeding up some scenes, blood splatters etc) and it does ruin them for me. Stallone wouldn't have been great in a melodrama movies etc. He is great delivering characters that has conflict for right and wrong, and to do it by himself.

[@jackspringheel9963]

He's also not bad at comedy, e.g. Demolition Man

[@LordEriolTolkien]

The leap from the cliff and subsequent self stitching from his knife cemented Rambo as an epic soldier in the minds of boys all over the world. Hardcore badass

[@oystersnag]

I'm so glad you pointed out Jerry Goldsmith. He's a very accomplished composer that has done music for so many films. Back in the early 2000's, I was able to go to Hollywood and have a 13 hour workshop with Jerry. The orchestra I was performing in at the time got to have Jerry conduct for us and he gave us instruction and pointers for 13 hours straight. It was the most exhausting, yet absolutely amazing experience I ever had while playing the cello. Jerry not only loved music, but loved teaching others and helping pull out the best in each individual musician that was in that group that day. It's something I will never forget.

[@Chris-ji4iu]

That is an amazing experience! I am a huge fan of soundtracks and I collect them. I still have my first OST Album (yes, on vinyl) Star Wars - a double LP! Jerry Goldsmith's Rudy soundtrack is one of my all time favorites.

[@richardvillafana8111]

John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, and the late greatly lamented James Horner the Godfathers of contemporary film composers.

[@Mike-rw2nh]

I predict there will be tears at the end. PTSD is a shitbox situation to be in. My heart goes out to veterans and civilians alike, who may be struggling with this condition. ❤️❤️❤️

[@CrazeeAdam]

Some people have it and don't know they do even. Can happen from a lot of things really. :(

[@Mike-rw2nh]

@@CrazeeAdam☝️100%. Apologies for the mini rant, but you make an excellent point. If anyone reading this is suffering, just remember, although there are many people who do not know how to deal with comprehending your situation, there are many, many people out there who will treat you with the dignity you deserve. It doesn’t matter if you’re suffering from flashbacks, a sense of guilt, night terrors, anger issues or the myriad other wholesale crap floating about in your head. Help is available. Where? Samaritans, your employer, GP/MD, support groups. Please, please do at least find someone who has been through the same horseshit you have suffer and is who is further down the path to healing/coming to terms.

[@earthwormandruw]

@@CrazeeAdamI met a vet who shared his ptsd experience with me. I had been wondering if the death of my fiancé had given me ptsd. So many things about his story and symptoms resonated. I went to a therapist a few weeks later. it's been 3 years ago now since getting help and I am forever grateful to that vet for being open and sharing his experience. I never served, but am forever grateful to those who have for me any my fellow Americans.

[@ajstyles5704]

​@@earthwormandruwPTSD is an exaggerated term. The problem that majority or 90% people don't understand, war PTSD is much more severe than you think, during the Vietnam war, it was first for 1st World country to face these issues, governments, psychologist/psychiatrist didn't have a clue how to deal with it. It was a political war, turned to a coup, turned to guerilla warfare, turned to full war. Most of the US soldiers in the beginning faced success after success with no repercussions of their actions, it got out of hand as Vietnam grew desperate and more desperate until Russia suddenly provided them what they needed and all hell broke loose. These had massive impact, but back then they considered as mentally weak and couldn't handle the pressure and eventually was one of the reason why US lost that war. US was in full gear making sure it doesn't happen again, instead of listening to them. So PTSD from war veterans was more like "you couldn't handle it" situation than "you need help". People don't understand this part, other soldiers who didn't suffer PTSD, war veterans looked at these guys with PTSD as whiny babies and basically they didn't want soldiers with PTSD with them. And severe cases of PTSD are always linked with soldiers from Aggressors that lost, not defenders. Weak PTSD are considered as shell shock, soldiers that simply were rookies and couldn't handle what war looks like. Its considered weak because the more privileged a country is, the more their minds are unprepared, the only cure fast enough to work is trial by fire, well that's a variant what soldiers call them back then, push them further into the war until they are used to it. What you faced, losing a fiance, is actually much harder than PTSD, not to downplay the word, but you aren't even trained to deal with it. Soldiers are trained to have certain ticks or behaviours when in uniform, what to do, where to go, who to listen to, pay attention, muscle memory, do something familiar, to keep pushing forward. But you, none of that, you can find similarities when you or the war vet don't know what to do, but don't ever put in the same situation, both didn't experience both situations except very few cases, and both experience it differently. The difference is in the healing, where your hardship and stress are much easier to heal than war PTSD, even weak ones. I'm just saying weak in the term, between PTSD not the people who suffer PTSD or severe stress as weak. Strong PTSD is nearly incurable, it only happens to those who lost too much while kept moving forward, repeated events that eventually broke someone apart. I hope this helps understand why many war vets didn't get help(im totally oppose not helping, as if the soldiers couldnt find a reason to be there, to fight or die because of politicians decision, then they should already know, PTSD would be in great numbers).

[@sparksdrinker5650]

Nope no tears til the re-watch

[@Whitetailmilitia2015]

My dad is a veteran from the Gulf war, was in Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, and the early days of Enduring Freedom when he got out. Rambo's breakdown is one of the most realistic depictions of PTSD because my dad did the exact same thing if he really thought about his service.

[@firedoc5]

Agent Orange was a defoliant that killed off the heavy vegetation of the jungles, and any other kinds of plants. I've lost a number of older friends that died from the effects of it. One was in the Navy on an aircraft carrier and loaded it on the aircraft that would drop it. There were a number of times he was drenched in it, and he died of cancer of the esophagus. The PTSD is very real. Stallone may not be the greatest actor, but he nailed the portrayal of someone suffering from it. Love the way you do a movie to show your initial reaction, then go back and re-watch it for the commentary.

[@pennie2387]

It's important to note that it was targeted against the Vietnamese population, so of course the horrors were not limited to US servicemen. 4.8 million Vietnamese were exposed to it and current counts are that 400, 000 died from it. It still affects people to this day. Another US atrocity among atrocities nested within the overarching atrocity that the entire war was. It was an important portrayal of PTSD too, as you say. A surprisingly important film that brought some awareness at the time before becoming a ridiculous franchise.

[@lincolnhawk5650]

Stallone is actually a great actor. It just depends on the role he acts/gets. He can play the cool 80s action hero, or a very deep character.

[@TheFalconerNZ]

Agree that Whimsory's way of reacting to videos is unique & gives it a special feel.

[@Blue-qr7qe]

Note, too, that the makers of Agent Orange(Dow Chemical, Monsanto, and others) accrued millions of dollars supplying the Military with these defoilants. When American veterans came home from Vietnam and began having serious persistant illnesses caused by exposure to these chemicals, Dow, Monsanto, et al, went to the courts to claim that they should not be held liable for damages.

[@olpossum5186]

@@pennie2387 nope, it wasn't targeted at the vietnamese population. it's a defoliant, as the OP said. it was targeted at the canopy of the jungles that hid the trails used by the vietcong and the north vietnamese army to move supplies and troops into the south. also important to note in 1961 the south vietnamese president asked the US to help defoliate the jungles after using his own air force to begin the defoliation campaign. were there secondary effects on both US servicemen and the vietnamese? yes. i have a relative that has agent orange poisoning. but that doesn't change the fact that it wasn't targeted at people. that doesn't even make sense from a military perspective. if a military intends to kill people, it will do so with bullets, bombs, and artillery, something that is immediate. it doesn't do so with a chemical agent that takes decades. and no, the war was not an atrocity. the vietnamese communists murdered half a million of the south vietnamese after the war, and sent another million to concentration camps for "re-education." in addition to them murdering their own civilians in the north while purging their own party and military during the war. (100,000 killed, 100,000 imprisoned) and when south vietnam fell so too did neighboring cambodia to the communists, where the khmer rogue also murdered 1.5-3 million, nearly 25%, of their own people. trying to prevent murderous communists from taking over and murdering their own people is not an atrocity.

[@Harv72b]

7:30 "That looked like it hurt so bad!" That's because it actually did. Stallone did most of his own stunts in this movie, and broke multiple ribs filming that particular shot. Edit: I should have known you'd discover that yourself afterwards. 😄

[@Eliphas_Leary]

Whimsory again showing that she's the best there is at what she does. And what she does is watching movies and really getting into the depth of it. After First Blood maybe Full Metal Jacket would be interesting...

[@smoothe4216]

agreed and oh boy FMJ is a big pill

[@damon6126]

A little homage to Wolverine? 🙂

[@sjuthberg]

There are plenty of movies to depict the insanity of Vietnam. 'Casualties of War' with Michael J. Fox is one I would also recomend in addition to 'Full Metal Jacket'. The 'theme' of that one can be quite disturbing for sensitive viewers though. Another one that shows the insanity of the Vietnam War is 'The Platoon'. Although I haven't seen that one myself, apart from a few clips. Edit; 'Casualties of War' was inspired by a real event btw. 'The incident on Hill 192'

[@jaketherake71]

Stallone is an American treasure. I can't watch this movie enough, or enough reactions to it.

[@mickluchsinger486]

Herodotus (an ancient greek) said in peace sons bury their fathers, in war fathers bury their sons. There have been lots of variations on it since. I also come from a military family, my grandpa was a Marine in WWII, my uncle was a Marine in Vietnam, I was a Marine in the middle east. If your family was in then all of your family is part of mine also. I will drink a horn with them in Valhalla one day. Thanks for watching this movie. My uncle had a hard time coming back from NAM. This was one of the first movies to touch on that. Great reaction as always.

[@namelessjedi2242]

I really appreciate how in-depth you go in researching films afterwards. That shows a level of respect and interest in each film that is so cool to see. In this case, I learned from you that Teasle was a Korean vet in the book, which does add another layer to his character.

[@zamdrist]

Oh look, Whimsory hitting it out of the park again, no surprises there! Great reaction and review, as always.

[@Whimsory]

OMG!! Thank you so much!!! 😊

[@jaketherake71]

Whimsory has an almost CGI face, her smile almost looks like Disney designed it for maximum cuteness.

[@McPh1741]

I have to say, you do excellent reactions and reviews. You’re the first one to note that Teasle is a Korean War vet. And that war is known as the forgotten war because it is overshadowed by Vietnam. You’re actually reading the book. It’s nice to see a reaction channel not just watch a movie for the first time and just give a personal opinion along with questions for the viewers, but actually educate viewers that may not know these things. Keep it up young lady.

[@johnnyboy6707]

I saw this movie a few years ago for the first time and thought it was going to be a cheap 80’s action flick. Never thought I was going to love it…and then cry at the end, which was the biggest surprise.

[@gallendugall8913]

This movie was very socially impactful. Post Vietnam the US military was always depicted as the bad guys - that is how the public saw the US military and treated them accordingly. It was hard for former service people to get jobs, and active service people had to wear civilian clothes to leave base. After this movie there was serious work done on what would become known as PTSD and it was discovered that over half of all homeless were vets unable to adapt to civilian life. While only lip service has ever been provided to resolve the problems facing vets the public perception did change, and there is public sympathy in the place of hostility.

[@taoist32]

Well, the military is in some ways bad, but that falls on the leaders of the military, although there at times a few bad apples as soldiers as well. A lot of secret wars going on that none of us will ever know about. A lot of agendas that are complicated, but always portrayed as good for national security. Agent Orange was sprayed by US military, but got quite a few of their own soldiers.

[@craigplatel813]

While there was a lot of bad feelings towards vets and the homeless Vietnam vet is a big trope studies have shown that Vietnam vets succeeded better in civilian life than non vets.

[@RootinrPootine]

No that’s an insane fantasy, there was no mainstream anti Vietnam sentiment basically at all, at any point-that’s just reconning. Total propaganda. Go check. Look at public record at the time. However, Vietnam was the worst post ww2 war crime ever committed by the US and you’d have to willingly sadistically ignorant to not know that at this point. ‘This movie was impactful’ god you are a clown. Pathetic.

[@RootinrPootine]

‘Anti war sentiment grew hugely, it was a big deal. YET, None of it was “mainstream”. What are you talking about. War of aggression started in 62 and literally no one said a thing about it until the 70s. Hippies were not “the public” Jesus you get your history from movies?

[@bryanobrien2726]

It wasn't everybody who saw the military as bad people , it was the hippies who did this .

[@joeblankenship377]

This is one of the best "they messed with the wrong guy" movies. The sequels are more about the action, but this one really drives home how poorly we treated soldiers returning from Vietnam. And we still don't give Veterans the respect and dignity they deserve. Especially the sick and injured.

[@chrisnoonan9486]

Hi Whimsory, thank you for another wonderful heartfelt outro. They are the main draw to watching your reactions, no-one else does such a thorough job of analysing the films that they review. Cudos to you.

[@erwinquiachon8054]

Outstanding job of editing. You caught the key plot points with minimal visual obstruction of important frames. Top notch review, as always. You're very thoughtful.

[@JoshSmith-wo7zw]

Stallone should have gotten an Oscar for the last 15 minutes of this movie. I think of this every day for the past 7 years. Ramboo had severe PTSD. All the Ramboo movies are good but this one is by far the best. The Rocky movies are really good as well.

[@theylied1776]

This was one of the first movies that directly dealt with PTSD. Up until the Vietnam War, it was called Shell Shock. And it was mostly ignored by the military. But First Blood started a national movement that forced the military and mental health care to do something.

[@Azhalan]

First Blood is one of the most iconic 80s movies. And way deeper than many people give it credit for.

[@williamjackson4469]

As a Vietnam Veteran you did a great job

[@paulayala6174]

I watch a lot of reaction videos on KZbin and it can be difficult to find good content creators in this genre. Some talk too much, many have no clue or familiarity with the subject matter, others pretend to be experts, and many just have no cultural reference or ability to comprehend how things were when older films were created, or appreciate the fact that older movies had to actually have good plots, excellent acting, well-written scripts, and really good practical effects. I must say, that I thoroughly enjoy your reaction videos very much. For your age, your insight is truly remarkable; and I appreciate how you leave your in-depth analysis 'til the end. With Rambo in particular, many KZbinrs have posted reactions, but most have no clue about the historical accounts of the country negatively receiving Vietnam Vets. None of them understand the lack of knowledge there was at the time regarding PTSD (in fact, that particular label didn't even exist yet). And absolutely none of them went as far as to read the source material. Kudos to you for that dedication and effort! You are a very beautiful soul, and it has been a pleasure reliving the movies I grew up on through the eyes of someone who truly appreciates them for what they are, and not purely out of nostalgia. I am now binging through the videos on your channel and enjoying every bit of them. I also greatly enjoy the fact that you are well spoken. I noticed this early on as it is a personal peeve of mine how people your age are terrible with the English language and communication in general due to the fact that they grew up in a time where being social meas texting on your cell phone ad DMing on social media. In my day, being social meant actually getting off your ass and out of your house, calling them on a landline, or writing a letter. We were sill taught in school how to write in cursif, balance a check book, prepare your own tax return, write essays on current event, debate in class, and give oral reports. And researching required physically going to a library, using the card catalog, and verifying everything with a m inimum of two reliable sources. Very different times indeed, but thanks for saying that 45 isn't old. I'm 47 now, but my daughter (now a music major in college) calls me old all the time. She's even refered to me as a Boomer; again, kids these days butcher the English language by redefining its words. However, I guess that's better than their overuse of the word "like", or their misuse of words like "random", or "literally". With all that said, I wasn't surprised at all when you mentioned in another video that you were largely home schooled. I have personally found that most home schooled kids turn out to be much better educated than those who go through public schools; and there are multiple studies that back that up as well. So please, keep up the good work. I look forward to watching many more of your videos!

[@TheLordofthewolf]

The most heartbreaking part is when he screams "MI FRIEND IS ALL OVER ME" 😢

[@MrHritz]

I absolutely love your deep dive reviews at the end. So many people just react without adding any value to the experience and you are incredibly insightful.

[@GuyFleegle]

Your outro to First Blood was extremely touching, and is a credit to your insight and compassion. ❤

[@pasteye1671]

Around this time (1980s) Stallone was popularly regarded as an "Action Hero" with no real talent, just beefcake with slurred speech (especially after Rambo II). The end scene in this and his performances in the early Rocky films showed that he was as good an actor as anyone else in Hollywood. Only now is he being lauded for his skills. So powerful. Gerry Goldsmith had been doing his thing for decades.

[@ulyssesfilmchannel]

Smartest reactions on the Internet right here. Great movie and a great reaction/commentary as always. This film and The Deer Hunter were two movies that made me realise that war isn’t the great adventure it seems to be when you’re a little kid and you watch it on TV.

[@davidterhune8277]

Sometimes people equate a young age with a lack of maturity. Don't let this happen to you. You are a wise and well-informed individual, very refreshing to see in a reactor. Thank you for not being shy about reacting to some "older" classics!

[@Martman5150]

I joined the Army in 1987, because of the Cold War. There was a movie made in 1968, the year I was born called the Green Beret. I was actually born in Thailand, because of the Viet Nam War. I am so glad you can appreciate this movie. You're such a sweetie.

[@cass4114]

I served 20 during cold to help prevent ww3

[@lidlett9883]

This movie is almost criminally under rated. Discounted as a action movie. Its truly a drama of the struggles with PTSD which at this time was just called flash backs and ignored by the Veteran Administration The mention of "Soldier of Fortune" was a magazine at the time read by many former military men. The magazine also had a classified section. That section was found to have been used by at least one murder for hire. The magazine was sued out of existence shortly after this movie came out. You wouldn't like the book ending. As we find out what Troutman would do.

[@jackbrigoli7452]

Thanks to the sequals being action-packed thrill rides, the Rambo series has been lost in the sea of 80s action movies, and Rambo himself has joined the roagues gallery as another action hero. But that's actually kinda sad because the original purpose of this story was to draw attention to the PTSD suffered by war vets and their mistreatment after Vietnam. It had a much deeper meaning and a sympathetic lead character as opposed to a mindless lunatic who went around blowing shit up. This is honestly one of the few movies that actually exceeds the book, and it makes me cry every time, not to mention the fact that it stands out from its sequals due to its deep meaning and character building, not to mention its brilliant storyline. Filled with emotion and fantastic performances. This movie is absolutely amazing. It's a true masterpiece.

[@numbersasaname2291]

Bravo on your research. Great format, especially on this film. Most reactors don’t get that Teasle is bitter at the world and being a forgotten veteran in a forgotten war. The Rambo series is known for its machismo overload, but this first movie wasn’t about that. It is about veterans coming back to the world. US civilians feel good about thanking us “for your service”, but then hold us as pariahs. “We support our veterans” until it comes time to give us jobs or even understand what discipline and grit we have. Again, BRAVO!

[@mostvaluableproduction]

Your post-viewing commentary is always so thoughtful and well-presented. This movie always breaks my heart at the end, even though I know it by heart.

[@CousinWhatIsIt]

You know what's not sad? The 80s comedy, Better Off Dead, starring John Cusack in his comedic prime. Lots of memorable quotes from that movie and a great soundtrack!

[@OneEyedJack1970]

"Two dollars!"

[@IDLERACER]

😎👍 Jerry Goldsmith had an incredible half-century long career creating the incidental music for hundreds of TV programs and theatrical releases. In addition to this, "Poltergeist" and "Alien," I'm certain you'd also be impressed with his work in "Total Recall" (1990), "L.A. Confidential" (1997) "Mulan" (1998) and "The Mummy" (1999).

[@magicbrownie1357]

I can appreciate anyone who uses "dag nabbit!" in public. That aside, I love your in-depth reactions. You're doing it right.

[@tomr5577]

as always, i cannot praise enough the depth and breadth of your thoughts on this movie! your "outro" is unmatched! i will echo what so many have said - post Vietnam soldiers were far to often vilified, and treated with hostility. this shows that (yes to a bit of extreme, but not by much), and did have a positive influence on returning veterans. And, i believe others have also said to look at Full Metal Jacket. it's another wild ride, and honestly pretty disturbing in the depth of the characters developed. keep up the amazing work!

[@wheelmanstan]

Stallone almost burned this film. It was like 3hrs long and basically just a guy killing hunters and guardsman and police and saying cheesy one-liners or something..and he died at the end and the test audience hated it, but he somehow managed to trim it down and change the ending and BOOM, it's a fantastic film..and a franchise. It's up there with films like Robocop where they're tainted by bad sequels to the point when people actually see them for the first time they're really surprised how amazing they are. Stallone is such an awesome guy, he gives his films everything, what he did to get Rocky made is unbelievable.

[@joshb6960]

Wow Whimsory! your reaction was great as always! Your analysis was above and beyond expectations... others 10-15 min outros usually feel cheap like trying to push somethin out of the experience. your deep analysis make is worth staying with all the knowledge you gained from the research you put in... also, it hit me hard when you stated the rewatches also made tear up as well. love all your videos! keep it up!

[@JohnA-bear]

The crazy thing, the guy playing mean sheriff Brian Dennehy, in real life was one of the nicest guys in Hollywood.

[@blakewalker84120]

26:15 "I kinda like Mitch." Yeah, he's a good guy. When he gets older, he moves to Miami and runs their CSI department, and he has the most badass sunglasses ever.

[@rgerber]

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

[@P5YcHoKiLLa]

7:23 That reaction is real, Stallone decided to do the bottom third of the fall himself, and in the process, broke one of his ribs when he landed on the tree branch

[@andoncroft5154]

You weren't even born when this movie was made, ADORABLE

[@barstro]

This is Stallone's finest performance. I really appreciate your analysis of the movie it shows that you paid attention to the details. Yes, Rambo has PTSD and it was definitely hard for him to fit in with the average citizen. He just wanted to see one of his old was buddies because they understood what he's been through. As a vet, we know what we signed up for. It's great to travel the world to see and experience different cultures. But we also have responsibilities and missions that may put you in harms way. Support systems and proper counseling can help many to cope with their PTSD, and there are some that just can't and it can be tragic. The military and the VA are trying to help those who need it but they still need to do better. Appreciate this reaction.

[@brentfugett2700]

What's really great is how movies like this so effectively tell the story of the Vietnam vet. As always I greatly appreciate the time and effort you put into these reactions and analysis. PLUS, gosh you just make me smile ear to ear, you're a side dish that should accompany every movies main course. You just make it better. Keep on keepin on!

[@chrisbanks6659]

Brian Dennehy (RIP). One of the most recognisable faces and in so many movies (over 180 of them), but not many people were able to name him. What a great actor and one of my favourites.

[@pleutron]

new viewers expect the legacy of most of the sequels and rarely expect what this is actually.

[@DukeMachiavelli]

It's a hell of a thing to see a grown man cry. Especially if it's warranted,

[@Beligana]

Great review, as always!!!! Teasel's service awards are behind him when he is sitting at his desk in the movie, I think he had a purple heart so he was wounded in combat at some point. I think he does allude to it a little when he is sitting in the bar/diner talking to Troutman.

[@TheWebcrafter]

44:00 - GREAT OUTRO, Your reviews are the best. I follow other 'reactors' who, for the most part, will react during the playback but as soon as the movie is over, at best, they'll add a couple of minutes of comments at the end. Conversely, you put a great deal of thought into your added review and I love that. In fact, having already seen a great deal of movies in my time, I sometimes jump straight to your outro sections. THANK YOU.

[@shawnskelton4736]

I'm not even that big of a Rambo fan, but if Whimsory is critiquing, I AM HERE for it!

[@dukecunning7046]

Same 🙂

[@Garganit]

Never heard of your channel, never recommended and when I decided to see some reactions of one of my favorite movies of all time, I struck your channel thinking it'll be just like the rest, soulless and vapid. Boy I couldn't be any more further from the truth, the fact that you have multiple watches, deep dives into characters and put ACTUALL EFFORT into your vids, Well, I think that deserves a like and a subtribe :) Keep doing what your doing, Cause its great!

[@PaulMcMurray-q7j]

To all the many people on here please hit the subscribe button , because Whimsory works so hard on her Reaction Videos.(also hit the like button)

[@goyaassfilms4551]

I love the Outro/discussion where you took time to rewatch, research and analyse the movie in more depth and not just do a first view reaction. Kudos! 👍

[@TheRealRodent]

The best PTSD movie ever made. Nobody really realises though, Sheriff Teasle is also a Vet, and served in Korea. The Korean War Vets also suffered PTSD and mental health problems but they were forgotten about by the public and the press because Vietnam was such a huge deal. To defend Teasle a little: The story of Teasle is he resents Rambo, but probably doesn't realise it, because Rambo and Rambo's comrades got all the press, good and bad, and Teasle got forgotten. Good press or bad, doesn't matter, Teasle and his comrades, got left out. It was as if it didn't happen. Teasle also shows behaviours of someone with PTSD in that he became a hard-ass Sheriff, someone with authority. And his behaviour AS the Sheriff is hard, brutal and unbending, which is another post-trauma defence mechanism. When a Vietnam Vet, someone he (maybe subconsciously) despises, comes into his town, he immediately goes into a passive-offence-is-the-best-defence, disguised as kindness and duty "This town doesn't want vagrants, and I've been tasked with making sure that doesn't happen, get out of my town, and I'll even drive you out to the border to be nice". That's a PTSD trait. Passive aggressive, but with hints of genuine, actual threat... and when Rambo crosses Teasle's line, the threat is then brought forward without a second thought. Teasle has something to protect, and he has authority to do it in a harsh way should he need to... so, simply, he does. PTSD can make people overly protective of what they have, paranoid even, and they tend to go OTT with how they keep control over a situation... and that's the point of Teasle. Teasle NEEDS to have control over who does and doesn't come into his town, he NEEDS to have full control and authority in every situation, even standing against the Army and telling them this is "his town". A sure fire red flag for PTSD.

[@DougRayPhillips]

There's just some quick shots of Teasle's desk in the film, with mementos that show he was a Korea Vet.

[@A_Planner_and_a_Dreamer]

I like you, Whimsory. You’re the "I’m not like the other reactors" reactor. Had fun watching this! Subbed.

[@Adam_Le-Roi_Davis.]

I loved your reaction to this, and the compassion that you showed for the story. I'm so glad the Sylvester Stallone put so much into his performance to make the film what it is, it's really appreciated by a 63 old ex Serviceman.

[@cjpolett2055]

I adore that your after thoughts are as long as the movie. Also that you use the word "dagnabbit".

[@jimmyj5035]

FIRST BLOOD was the OSCAR Winning Performance that Stallone was Wrongfully DENIED

[@StayTrue1710]

Behave 😂 He hardly had any lines. The end was amazing acting but not Oscar worthy.

[@dondunco2538]

This movie was a gamechanger for so many people across America. The prevailing theory was that every Viet Nam vet was as guilty of losing the war to lesser people in a crappy foreign land as they were of being part of the Mai Lai massacre. A group of our soldiers wiped out a whole town, men, women, children.....all of them because the grunts believed them to be North Vietnamese sympathizers. There were a few other negative items that hit the news from Nam and Americans were so filled with loathing that they protested the vets as they came home. Jane Fonda (actress, fitness guru) spit on a soldier for being a baby killer. This behavior followed Viet Nam vets for years. No one was sympathetic to their cause at all. Until this movie. This movie redeemed and rehumanized the vets as they realized that not every vet was a scumbag, that they needed help, both physically and mentally. All because of the Teagles of the world.

[@egk2584]

Rambo was supposed to die at the end of this movie but they changed it because it didnt test well with sample audiences. You can find the outtake of that scene on youtube. This movie was more of a serious examination of someone coming home with PTSD. After this one, they turned Rambo into a cartoon character. The movies were good action movies but totally different from this one.

[@Dman425]

I’m pretty sure they wanted to make sequels also

[@kryptonianguest1903]

There was literally a cartoon at one point 😅

[@boboboy8189]

This movie Just like die hard 1 were adapt from book and both main character died in book, but studios decide to change the ending to happy ending

[@egk2584]

I don't think there was a lot of thought to sequels until they saw the box office for the first one. The funny part is this movie did not do well with critics originally but with the passage of time, critics hae jumped ont he bandwagon for it.

[@rayhunter-o3w]

Whimsory, you went deep into the research here. Teasle is not only a Korean War combat vet, but he won the Silver Star, which is the 3rd highest award for valor in the U.S. Army. He's no pushover, but he resents these young Nam vets who he seems to see as young punks.

[@stuart5824]

Another excellent reaction. Your edits continue to be on point! It feels silly to admit but even just watching it secondhand I still get chills with that final scene. A really tightly-wound film that gets under your skin. Thanks for watching it and sharing your feelings about it with us even with the difficult subject matter. You have a sincerity to what you do that makes these videos really special, and I want you to know that it's appreciated.

[@terrycollumjr.4870]

I'm a veteran. And it's true, you don't just turn off what you go through. You're not the same person. Like he said unless you were there and been me. It's been close to 20 years for me and it's always there

[@o0pinkdino0o]

Great film. Was in development hell for years with everyone from Burt Reynolds to Robert Redford being in line for the role. The original script had Rambo as a menace to society killing many before dying in the finale, but Stallone got the script and gave Rambo his heart. A strong film about PTSD and the horrible way NAM vets were eventually treated when they returned home.

[@jasonward1470]

Really great reaction as usual. I really appreciate the work you put into these, with the re-watching and research. It contributes to you having so much insight into the films and having the best outros of any of the online reactors. I grew up watching this movie over and over, and to this very day, my friends and I always great each other with, "Are you gonna take a bath this week?" lol

[@Lord_Legolas_Greenleaf]

😺Whim!!! 😺 Wasn't till about 1977 when they finally acknowledged PTSD. Yeah - back in the day we didn't learn all that. We got physical ed, sociology (later), history, math, and the rest of the 'general stuff.' My brother was drafted just before he graduated in 69, got PTSD - was never the same; we're happy that he did come home! Yes, it was thee first time 'we' got a tiny glimpse of PTSD and 'their' experience when they came home. I remember watching all the news cause my brother was there. Then the protests started happening. Thank you 😺Whim!!! 😺

[@miller-joel]

They called it "shell shock" after WWI.

[@alexconn7473]

​@@miller-joelhonestly even if they didn't acknowledge it when it was still called shell-shock the name at least sounded like something to be taken seriously names can be a powerful thing in that regard

[@miller-joel]

@@alexconn7473 George Carlin had a bit about that.

[@RichardM1366]

This is so heartbreaking! This is a movie that gets me every time! My cousin was in Vietnam and thankfully he came back in one piece. This is a great one. but a sad one.

[@alexconn7473]

It's good to hear your cousin made it back home in one piece but is he doing okay mentally? I ask this because war of any kind can really mess up a person's mind if they are directly involved in it either as a soldier or a civilian

[@PsychedelicChameleon]

Thank You Whimsory, you're a fun reactor and I also appreciate your deep research and discussion section afterwards. Good Night Pumpkin!

[@seannovack3834]

The Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart in the shadow box on the shelf behind Teasle's desk hint at it, but he's basically the Proud Warrior from a proud tradition that made it back from a lousy but accepted war in Korea and became the Protector of his home town by getting elected Sheriff. There were a huge number of people pretending to veterans around this time because of a massive fire at the Records building, and so the already poor reputation of Vietnam veterans was being tarnished daily by beggars and vagabonds claiming to be veterans for some kind of special status or handout. This problem continued late into the 90's.

[@baronvg]

This channel is one of the rare reaction channels that I watch from beginning to end.

[@2971username]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE your reactions!!! So detailed and your quirkiness just adds to it 1000%. Well done!

[@JayPadrig]

I know, isn’t she cute? 🥰 I was just thinking of Whimsymimsy jamming out to the cheesy end credits song in this. Made me think of another one in the Stallone movie COBRA! It’s kind of a Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen soundalike of sorts (dare I say ripoff?)

[@2971username]

@@JayPadrig voice of America’s son, by John Cafferty. I used to jam out to that soundtrack and others like quicksilver on my Walkman riding my Raleigh technium tri-lite back in the 80’s 😂😂😂

[@joedaes03]

Being a Marine and the only Marine in my family, I came back with issues. My family and friends brushed it off like there's nothing wrong with me. Still, I'm treated the same. Strangers have been the only ones that have reached out to try and help me. It's a sad feeling. I've fought and continue to fight becoming a statistic. I'm not gonna be one of the 22 a day.

[@McPh1741]

Great reaction. I love that you take the time to research movies afterwards and then share your thoughts. I have the special edition interactive DVD. At certain points during the movie you can select characters and a mini bio will come up. I was a kid when this came out and it’s still one of my favorites. Watching it an adult, Rambo’s breakdown at the end has a different meaning to it now after I found out what PTSD was.

[@Atom.Storm.]

I love this movie and most reaction channels do a live react and leave it but the fact that you watch the movie, are smart enough to sort it out live and then do a post review makes your channel big time for me. Subbed, and I never sub to react channels. I always bookmark and watch, but subbed to you.

[@quixote6942]

The Book goes into Teasle better... His Backstory would've explained alot and Blurred the lines between Hero/Villain by showing their Similarities. I saw this when I was in the Navy... It was aboard my ship in the middle of the Pacific during Movie Call. It really hit home with alot of us (especially Rambo's Monoloque). The Song at the end was sung by Dan Hill... He had a few love song hits back then ("Sometimes when we touch") and a duet with Vonda Shepard called "Can't we try"... GREAT Musician!

[@howardb.6205]

Anna in California and Orvell are a big part of Teasle's actions

[@jimmycrackkorn1596]

Great and thoughtful review. Liked your take on one of my all time, top 30, favorite movies. Oh yeah, I'm relieved that you don't "uptalk" or curse like a lot of other youtube-ers.

[@davezwieback4208]

Hands down one of the best action movies ever made.

[@MichaelPower212]

It was your outro that gave me reason to subscribed. Very well expressed.

[@islandgreenstrong]

Such a great movie and Whimsory...you did it again with the outro. I can't say it enough, and I know I'm a repeat offender saying it...I love how you dig in and learn so much more about the movies after watching them. Seriously the best reaction channel ever. Have a great weekend, and I hope we'll get something scary for Halloween!!

[@prltqdf9]

You have a great format going on here that stands out from the rest, especially with the outro/discussion segment. Keep it up!

[@NVidea-yz1fg]

Hiya! If you enjoyed this one, you may also want to try "Deliverance" (1972)

[@richardvillafana8111]

Just came across your movie reviews while surfing. Love your passion for the films you watch.

[@chrisbanks6659]

"They drew first blood, not me...." Like dropped for your channel, young lady, and for the algorithm. I will have to watch later. Looking forward to it 😎😃

[@ThePharaz]

Dumbledore, smiling. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends." If you haven't seen The Green Mile (1999) consider it if you're in the mood for a great movie and a roller coaster of an emotional ride. It isn't a short film. Stallone went back and forth between doing these movies and the Rocky movies. The problem was that each required a different body build that he underwent. Rocky has a more bulky muscle build and Rambo has a leaner meaner build.

[@silvernova354]

I saw this movie when it came out. I was only 7 and it left a lasting impression.

[@calise616]

At 7 years old you could not even understand anything fo this movie. Who would let a young kid watch that movie? Only very stupid or ignorant parents.

[@DylansPen]

The entire nation wanted to forget about Vietnam after it was over as well as the men that came back. This was one of the first movies that looked at them seriously and his soliloquy at the end opened the door for a lot of people to start talking about the Vietnam war back then. Great movie.

[@Hail_To_The_King]

*_'Don't push it! Don't push it or I'll give you a war you won't beliiieve....'_*

[@machfront]

I’m impressed! First time I’ve ever watched your channel. This was very astute and erudite. I enjoyed especially that your final thoughts are not immediate thoughts as most reactions but instead you rewatched the film, researched it and even starting to read the novel (great book!). I’m a 49 year old southern guy and you’re very young, but you’re very intelligent, insightful and fair! You’ve won a new subscriber so you’ll likely see too too many comments from me as I play catch up on your older vids. Heheh! Cheers! 🙂

[@Sukuun]

Another difference in the novel: Teasle doesn't immediately arrest Rambo when he comes back. He gives Rambo a few more chances, dropping him off at the edge of town multiple times, until he runs out of patience. On one of those instances, Rambo is even able to get to a diner and order some food, but then Teasle enters the diner and says, "Make that To Go."

[@justwatching6186]

The sheriff is right up there with Umbridge in most hated villains in movies.

[@michaelodonnell824]

Great parallel Teasle and Dolores Umbridge.. Both authority figures who use their power because they are absolute bullies who enjoy inflicting pain on those who are weaker than them...

[@matthewmullins3751]

Love your reactions and always look forward to them keep up the great work.