Rambo

NEW YORK (CNS) -- "Rambo" (Lionsgate), the latest offering in a franchise begun in 1982, is remarkable only for the toxic level of graphic violence enabled by recent advances in special effects. Indeed, just about every ill that can be perpetrated on a human body seems to be portrayed on-screen in this relentlessly grim action flick.

Our putative hero -- Vietnam vet turned one-man killing machine John Rambo (Stallone) -- has found peaceful retirement in the jungles of Southeast Asia, where he spends his days operating a longboat on the Salween River that connects Thailand to Burma.

When Michael Bennett (Paul Schulze), the leader of a group of Christian missionaries, requests transportation upriver, where the humanitarians hope to assist Burma's persecuted Karen people, Rambo curtly refuses. But he eventually gives in to the persistent plea of Michael's wife, Sarah (Julie Benz).

Mission accomplished, Rambo soon learns from one of their fellow missionaries, Pastor Arthur Marsh (Ken Howard), that the others have been captured by the brutally oppressive Burmese army. Rambo not only agrees to ferry a band of mercenaries back to the spot where he dropped off the missionaries, but is soon vying with Lewis (Graham McTavish), the coarse Brit directing the operation, for leadership.

Stallone, who also co-wrote and directed, once again applies his familiar Rambo formula: creating extravagantly barbarous villains simply to justify the vengeful mayhem his character wreaks on them. If a Burmese soldier bayonets a Karen child, we soon see Rambo decapitating one of his comrades.

There is some suggestion, early on, of Sarah's staunch Christian faith eroding Rambo's inarticulate nihilism. She even makes a gift to him of the small cross she wears around her neck. The possibility of some sort of conversion is also hinted at in the film's final scene, not to be spoiled here.

But for the most part, Rambo is undeterred from his own slurred maxim: "Killin's as easy as breathin.'" And, alas, in this movie at least, as frequent.

The film contains extremely graphic violence, including dismemberment, torture, rape and beatings; rear and upper female nudity; pervasive rough, much crude and some crass language; and four uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops