From now on, the series gets really stupid. The introduction to this film in particular has been parodied dozens of times, and not without reason. John Rambo is no longer a character here, but a caricature. In the lead role, Sylvester Stallone also appears to be bored. In Tango & Cash, which was released a year later, he himself says, "Rambo is a pussy." And who knows, besides the weak financial results, there might be other reasons why the fourth one took way longer.

Anyway, at the beginning of Rambo III, our protagonist lives in a Thai monastery. He also keeps in shape by participating in stick fights. Stallone doesn't have an ounce of body fat here. He is shredded and looks like a machine. But the peaceful life doesn't stick. Rambo at first refuses a request from his former superior, Colonel Trautman, to accompany him on a mission to Afghanistan. But when Trautman is taken prisoner, that is it for Rambo's retirement.

The antagonists this time are the Russians, who still have control over Afghanistan. Rambo is supported by the mujahideen, who are presented as honorable and proud fighters for freedom. It should be clear to everyone that all of this has not aged well from today's perspective. However, I still find it fascinating to watch films like The Living Daylights or Rambo III that are set in Afghanistan in the 1980s.

In any case, the action starts in Afghanistan at some point, even if it takes quite a while. The tempo, however, is extremely slow. To make matters worse, the dialogue is all hollow and unintentionally funny. It's not all entertaining. The villains are even more faceless than in Part 2.

But now back to the positive: The action is convincing once again. At the time of its release, "Rambo III" was the most expensive film of all time, and it shows. In the finale, there are numerous bombastic explosions. Pyrotechnics are used again and again. In addition, masses of extras are employed. And the stuntmen probably had to work overtime. It's all of high quality and leaves you in the end with a good feeling from the finale of this original trilogy.