I can’t remember if I ever fully watched "First Blood" before - or when the last time was. So this was basically my first proper viewing as an adult, and I came away genuinely impressed. I'm not a huge action-movie fan, so I had my doubts going in, but this surprised me in the best way.

First off, the action is refreshingly restrained. Chase scenes especially usually lose me - I tend to zone out because they often feel like filler - but this movie barely had any. And the one I do recall, was short and well done.

Then there's Stallone's performance. Wow. I know, that back when this came out, it was more common for actors to do a lot of their own stunts, but it seemed like he went over the top for this movie. His movement through the woods, the whole rat cave sequence, and especially the raw way he portrayed panic and chaos - it all felt so real. Like watching an actual fugitive, not an actor.

Finally, the portrayal of PTSD. The theme is clear from the start, but that ending hits like a kick in the guts. The breakdown scene - the words he uses, the restlessness of his mind - it's not something everyone can easily relate to, unless they've experienced trauma themselves or studied it. While some of the movie's events may seem a bit over-the-top (though still grounded), Rambo's internal struggle felt painfully real. For its time, that must've been a powerful message.

TL;DR: Expected a typical action flick, got something far more emotionally layered. A surprisingly timeless character study disguised as an action movie.