Submitted by Bruce Bennett, Jan 26, 2008 10:32

Dr. Rabin - I was hitherto unaware, having viewed the previous three films, that Mr. Stallone (or Andrew Vajna, or Ted Kotcheff, or the late George Pan Cosmatos, etc.) had any coherent political message they sought to share. Try as I might, I can't seem to find the place in my article where I suggested otherwise. The opinion I labored (unsuccessfully, apparently) to share with the Sun's readership was that each successive Rambo film has been increasingly lacking in the polished story mechanics of the first film, though the body count keeps going up. With Lion's Gate chickening out about screening the new one, and that guy from the LA Times having counted the on screen death toll, my expectation was that the latest installment would likely be the lamest of the lot. Yes, I read the Economist and am at least cursorily aware of the horrendous political and refugee situation in Burma and Northern Thailand. Based on the trailer for "Rambo" I sincerely doubt that "reliable history" was on anyone involved in the film's mind. Have you seen it, or the film itself? If so, let me know what you thought.

Of course I greatly appreciate your opinion and greatly respect your war record (from a long line of soldiers myself - feel free to say hi to my granddad's likeness in the statue honoring New York's 7th Regiment's service in WWI. He's on the far right with fixed bayonet), but I am but a mere film critic, not a political analyst, nor a "'liberal 'do gooder," and like Mr. Stallone I have never been called upon to serve my country in combat. Respectfully, bb

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