Rambo IV
“Live for nothing … or die for something”
1) Film introduction
- Hollywood superstar Sylvester Stallone is the main actor of Rambo part I, II, III and IV. He had been portrayed as a very patriot soldier who set priority to the life of innocent people than his own. The first series of the film Rambo part one was about the aftermath of Vietnam wars while part two was taken in Afghanistan, part three was in USA and part four was taken in Thailand and Burma (Myanmar).
Rambo IV was the last and final part of Rambo film series in which the entire crew members and producers had tried to bring the attention of international community against the brutalities of Burmese regime toward fellow citizens. The production of movie was completed in 2008, right after which the screening of the film was followed in all major big screens cinema halls around the world.
2) Summary of the plot
- Basically, the film was about problems of ongoing discrimination practiced by the Burmese regime against ethnic groups. The ethnic people are being discriminated on the ground of their ethnicity, language, religion and cultural diversity. The level of oppression toward them by the Burman majority has no limit which had triggered over six decades of civil wars in the country.
No foreigners were welcomed in the ethnically dominated areas but a group of Christian missionaries had managed to cross Burmese border from Thailand with the help of Sylvester Stallone (Rambo). Their journey was dangerous as Burmese border guards and pirates used to extort money across the border. The missions had encountered the pirates in the middle of the night and Stallone had to kill them all as it was not possible to negotiate with them.
In spite of many difficulties, the missions continued their journey and finally reached their destination. However, later they did not have a chance to return as they were kidnapped by Burmese army commander Maung Maung Khin and his associates who were brutally stationing in the Christian dominated Karen state of Burma.
The mission group pastor of the Church had to hire a group of American legendary soldier to rescue the missionaries and aid workers. Stallone was used as a boat driver for those soldier and they later found out that he was more than a simple boat driver. They never expected him to be so brave and strong in fighting against the oppressors!
3) The main character
- Sylvester Stallone, a group of missionaries, Burmese pirates, Maung Maung Khin and his associates’ army and a group of American soldier were the main characters of the film. They had different important roles which made the film very interesting. They had to play totally opposite character in which Karen people were the main issue of concern to them. They were a prey to Burman army while Stallone and the mission group acted as a rescuer. All the main characters had to struggle hard in order to survive.
4) Use of camera
- The film used both hand held and still digital high definition video camera. The modern qualitative technological video camera had brought the movement of actors so real. It’s just like seeing the actual real life. Action music was used with some special sound effects. There was not much dialogue, as the film had to do a lot with fighting and shooting. However, a very meaningful dialogues and short talked were used. Stallone calls on fight to comrades saying “Live for nothing… or die for something” was actually a very strong call.
5) Genre
- The film was very violence with full of action which includes just a few minutes of drama and comedy. It was funny to see how the commander army of Burmese border security had to run in fear as to escape from the bullets. After all he was the one who had started all those troubles. Stallone was determined to bring justice for those oppressed Karen Christian and American missionaries. As a result of which he along with some American soldier had to fight against the whole battalion of Burmese army who were stationing in the border. It’s thrilling to see how Stallone had wisely used his weapons and strength in defending the life of many innocent people.
6) Theme
- All the main characters of the film had to train hard for a long period of time as to depict the life of Karen people under the oppressive Burmese regime. Their hard work had contributed a lot to make a very interesting movie. In fact, it had been on top ten lists of action movies in the world. Their portrayal of the life of innocent people and their suffering under dictatorship had opened the eyes of many who did not have any ideas about the situation of refugees in the war zones.
It’s not something special for a famous actor to act for a film. But it’s more than a status for those Burmese who had acted for the first time. Some of them enjoyed the experience of fame after which they would definitely find it difficult to be back to a normal life. Not everyone is a popular actor in real life and it’s not easy to make a living out of acting as well. It requires talent, dedication and a lot of training, in addition to having a well known person who can supports and promotes someone in this very competitive world of modern film industry.
7) Personal opinion
- I think the movie was one of the best ever films produced for Burmese struggles against brutal dictatorial regimes. The ethnic people had fought over sixty year of civil wars but a very little attention had been paid to them. The United Nations Security Council can do nothing about it because China and Russia had been objecting to set a commission on crime against humanity and war crimes committed by the regime toward fellow citizens!
I really like the movie because the Burmese regime could no longer mask their face of brutality. It is not only inspiring but also encouraging to see that a Hollywood superstar Sylvester Stallone had made sincere efforts to contribute something in defending the right of innocent people. I believe that the popularity of his heroism will certainly continues to increase even after Rambo series, particularly this one!
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