Rambo: The Complete Collector's Set

Reviewed by:
Gene Newman

The Skinny: All four Rambo films—First Blood, Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rambo III and Rambo—in special edition glory, packaged in a metal case to keep them safe and secure when navigating the treacherous landscape of your living room.

A Quick Rundown of the Series for Those of You Living in a Cave the Past 25 Years: In First Blood he takes on a town run by an asshole sheriff; Rambo: First Blood Part II puts him back in Vietnam rescuing POWs; Rambo III has him rescuing his mentor Colonel Trautman and fighting the Russians alongside what would become the Taliban in Afghanistan; the angriest and most violent of the series, Rambo has the ultimate soldier living somewhat peacefully in Thailand when he's roped into the genocide of Burma by the abduction of a group of missionaries.

Third Time's a Charm? This is the third Rambo box set we've encountered over the years. First there was the three-disc Rambo Trilogy: Special Edition in 2002. Then there was the three-disc Rambo Trilogy: Ultimate Edition DVD Collection in 2004. Now there's the six-disc Rambo: The Complete Collector's Set in 2008, which features all the movies, a digital copy of the most recent one, and a bonus disc with all the documentaries and interviews. If he makes another movie, which has been reported, then we've gotta start all over again, because as Rambo once said, "Nothing is over!"

The Good and Bad: It's an incredible collection, mainly because it includes Rambo. It pretty much has the same extras as The Ultimate Edition, so if you already own that there may not be a reason to upgrade. But there are a few extras here that we've never seen before, and the metal case is badass. Besides, you can always regift the previous collection.

Clarity vs. History: They put out the original trilogy in HD, so if you have a Blu-ray player you have a serious decision to make. They seem to have skimped on some of the special features, so it's the choice between clarity and perfect sound or special features. We suggest choosing clarity, because the movies look awesome in HD.

Best Extra: Each movie has something worth watching, whether it's the alternate ending of First Blood where Rambo dies (no spoiler required since it's clear he didn't die, otherwise there'd be no box set, genius); the awesomely titled "We Get to Win This Time" retrospective on Rambo: First Blood Part II; the creepy historical significance of pairing Rambo with what became the Taliban in Rambo III; or the miraculous resurrection of John-boy in Rambo. There's also "Interactive Military Special Operations Features," commentaries, deleted scenes, and interviews, all of which are guaranteed to keep you busy for a long time.

Read the review of Rambo [Blu-ray] | Read the review of Rambo I–III Box Set [Blu-ray]

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