The other week, when we were in the States, this Empire correspondent paid good money to check out the return of Sylvester Stallone’s other big-screen icon, Rambo – and we weren’t disappointed by one of the truly enjoyable guilty pleasures of the last year or so. Heads exploding, guts flying, people being cut in half by heavy machine gunfire – it’s one of the most extraordinarily violent mainstream movies in years, and yet one which carries a surprising weight.
And with decent success in the States (despite a well-earned R rating), Stallone is suddenly hot again. Or, if not hot, then certainly quite warm – and he’s parlayed that status into a deal with his Rambo producers, Nu Image/Millennium Films’ Danny Dimbort, Avi Lerner and Trevor Short, for two more, as-yet unannounced, action films.
It looks like at least one of the two scripts – to be written by Stallone, who will also produce - will be yet another Rocky or Rambo movie, to which we say, let Mr. Balboa enjoy his retirement in peace. Rocky Balboa was a pretty definitive end to that saga. Rambo, on the other hand, could easily sustain a fifth outing and be taken in any number of directions.
We would, though, like to see Stallone do something different that doesn’t depend on a wave of retro affection for his classic characters. Only time will tell. However, if he does feel the need to resurrect any more of his past icons, we can’t be alone in wanting to see the return of Tango & Cash, can we?