From Delta Force to The Empire Strikes Back, Danger Room skewers eight war films for their inaccuracy, political bias, poor strategy, or all-out cheesiness. Take Rambo III, for example, which did not age well. John Rambo goes to Afghanistan to join the mujahideen who are fighting the Soviets.
Videos clips are included; some scenes may be NSFW. Link -via Metafilter
This is 1988, back when the exigencies of anticommunism rendered Afghan holy warriors the "good guys." One of them even refers to the U.S. as "the free world," bless his heart. Rambo's Afghan guide recites a graveyard-of-empires aphorism about how invaders would pray, "May God deliver us from the venom of the cobra, the teeth of the tiger, and the vengeance of the Afghans." Rambo translates: "You guys don't take any shit." Watching Rambo III in 2011 is awwwwwwwkward.
And not just because of Rambo's muj-ness. The camp invasion is crazy. Watch the Soviet helicopters overrun their own base while Rambo turns one of the Russkies' anti-aircraft guns against Ivan. Why do the Soviets have anti-aircraft guns when they're not facing an airborne threat? Because it's badass, that's why! Later in the film, Rambo magically becomes an expert in flying Russian Mi-24 attack helicopters. Must be his faith in Allah.
Videos clips are included; some scenes may be NSFW. Link -via Metafilter
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Oh...I had a forgotten all about this movie. That's no surprise though because you are right - it is horrible.
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Why blame the makers of Rambo III for that bias? The US government were providing the Afgans with arms. In the early part of the current action in Afganistan US troups were facing an adversary that was still using US provided arms.
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This historical controversy isn't the film maker's fault, you know..
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