Having single-handedly defeated the Vietcong in First Blood Part II, there was no going back for John Rambo: once a tortured soul, he was now a larger-than-life comic-book hero righting the world's wrongs through extreme violence and that was how he would have to stay in order to keep his fans happy. Rambo's next mission would have to be bigger, the villains more evil, and the body count higher. With the US in the midst of a cold war with Russia, the answer was obvious: send Rambo to kick Russian butt in Afghanistan.

Armed with a knife that would shame Crocodile Dundee, several big guns, and his trusty bow with explosive-tipped arrows, Rambo frees his ex-commanding officer Col. Trautman (Richard Crenna) from a Soviet fort and liberates the Mujahadin, laying waste to hundreds of the enemy in the process.

But while the film's numerous battle scenes certainly deliver on the promise of much carnage, with some of the biggest on-screen explosions of the 80s, the film offers little in the way of genuine excitement or tension thanks to Rambo being virtually indestructible. The spectacular action also has the effect of making proceedings seem rather dull whenever Stallone eases off the trigger, resulting in this film being a marginally less enjoyable affair overall than the previous movies.

Ironically, for all of Rambo III's glorification of violence in the name of a noble cause, the closing message, dedicating the film to 'the gallant people of Afghanistan', unintentionally but effectively illustrates the futility of war.

First of all, there cannot really be a "Rambo III" since there was not a Rambo I and II... the movies were called "First Blood" and "First Blood Part II"... but that is really beside the point.

This film is more of the same, and I would rank it my favorite of the three. The action actually gets too intense later on in the movie, but overall I found the plot to be better and the scenes to have been shot better. It was a more enjoyable viewing experience. On a personal note, the fact they moved from Vietnam to Afghanistan really made a difference for me. Vietnam movies are alright but do not really "connect" with me. Movies about the mujihadeen in Afghanistan are a little more relevant to my life...

The movie also had Richard Crenna as Colonel Trautman for the third (and final) time. His inclusion really made the difference - again. Russian: "Who do you think this man is? God?" Trautman: "No, God would have mercy." Recommended, especially if you want to see Osama bin Laden's friends starring in a movie. Bring on Rambo IV!