I won't waste time with critiques of all 4 Rambo films. Chances are that anyone visiting this page likes these movies enough to want to own them on DVD, so my opinion is inconsequential. But, since there have been two Rambo collection DVD sets over the years, whether or not to purchase this set can be somewhat of a dilemma for fans. Artisan originally released all 3 movies in a Rambo Trilogy Special Edition DVD Collection back in 2002. This was an incredible set put together as nothing short of a labor of love. Not only were the movies digitally re-mastered, but the set came with a plethora of special features including commentaries, documentaries, and trailers, most of which were included in a bonus 4th disc. Another great addition was the last on-screen interview with the late, great Richard Crenna discussing his years as Colonel Trautman for the documentaries.In 2004, Artisan released the Rambo Trilogy Ultimate Edition DVD Collection after the Special Edition DVD set went out of print. The Ultimate set was mainly a waste of money for many Rambo fans, as most of the great Special Edition DVD features did not carry over. Instead, the 'Special Operations' interactive features were offered up as a poor substitute. The only notable inclusion to this set was found on the 'First Blood' DVD, which featured the alternate ending and a commentary track by Stallone. Then, there is the Lionsgate 2008 Complete Rambo Collection DVD set featuring all 4 movies. This set carries over most of the bonus features from both of the previous collections, although the advertised 'First Blood' commentary with author David Morrell from the Special Edition is erroneously missing. The individual movies are identical to the Ultimate Edition set but the bonus disc from the Special Edition set is also included, along with a few featurettes found only on the individual Special Edition movies. Here are the specs:
First Blood: Ultimate Edition
Audio commentary with Sylvester Stallone
Alternate Ending
Interactive Military Special Operations FeaturesSurvival Mode, Early Warning System, MetaBrief, MetaScope, MetaSight, MetaPoint, MetaMap
Rambo First Blood Part II: Ultimate Edition
Audio commentary with director George P. Cosmatos
Interactive Military Special Operations FeaturesSurvival Mode, Early Warning System, MetaBrief, MetaScope, MetaSight, MetaPoint, MetaMap
Rambo III: Ultimate Edition
Audio commentary with director Peter MacDonald
Deleted Scenes
Interactive Military Special Operations FeaturesSurvival Mode, Early Warning System, MetaBrief, MetaScope, MetaSight, MetaPoint, MetaMap
Rambo: 2-Disc Special Edition
Audio commentary by Sylvester Stallone
Deleted Scenes
"Legacy of Despair: The Struggle in Burma" featurette
"It's a Long Road: Resurrection of an Icon" featurette
"A Score to Settle: The Music of Rambo" featurette
"The Art of War: Completing Rambo" featurette
"The Weaponry of Rambo" featurette
"A Hero's Welcome: Release & Reaction" featurette
Digital Copy of the feature film
Bonus Disc
"The Real Nam: Voices from Within" featurette
"Guts and Glory" featurette
"The Forging of Heroes: America's Green Berets" featurette
"Rambo-nomics" featurette
"Selling a Hero" featurette
"Suiting Up" featurette
"An American Hero's Journey: The Rambo Trilogy" featurette
"Drawing First Blood" featurette
"We Get to Win This Time" featurette
"Afghanistan: Land in Crisis" featurette
Theatrical Trailers for all 4 Films
To recap, this DVD set is probably best suited for those fans who don't own either of the previous DVD collections. Those who have the Special Edition DVD set are probably better off buying the individual release of the last Rambo film. Those who own the Ultimate Edition DVD set might want to consider upgrading if the features on the bonus disc sound appealing. Further compounding matters is the 2010 Rambo: The Complete Collector's Set (Blu-Ray) edition, which reinstates the David Morrell 'First Blood' commentary but has many of the featurettes found on the DVD set's bonus disc inexplicably omitted. Whatever set one decides to purchase, the constant re-release of the Rambo movies, although frustrating to many, can also be seen as a testament to the enduring legacy of a pop cultural icon that refuses to die.
Also to be labeled as "Complete" there are a few very obvious things missing.
First off, the biggest and most obvious omission is the new Rambo Extended Cut that is being released on Blu-ray on its own the exact same day as this set. That's right, a whole new version of the fourth movie with 90 minutes of new extra features and it's being left out. Why it was not included in this "Complete" set makes absolutely no sense to me at all.
The second big omission is a bonus disc including all of the extra features and documentaries that were available on a bonus disc first in the Special Edition Trilogy set and then the DVD version of the Complete Collector's Set a couple of years ago. There are nearly 2 hours of documentaries and featurettes about the original 3 movies that are not on the blu-ray discs out now. Wouldn't this have been a perfect opportunity to press a new bonus blu-ray disc with all these features and include it with this set?
The third thing missing from this set and, although not nearly as important as the first two, should still have been included is the deleted scenes from Rambo III. For some reason Lionsgate left them off of the Rambo III blu-ray. Since the July 27 Complete Collector's set appears to just have the same blu-ray of Rambo III out now don't look for it to have those deleted scenes.
Now back to that bonus disc I was talking about above; That's why a new bonus disc needs to be made so it can include them. The one made for the DVD set a few years back won't work as those scenes are not on it either so you can't just throw it in with this set. Not to mention the Teaser Trailers for the original 3 movies from the Special Editions and two featurettes "First Blood: A Look Back" and "Rambo III: Full Circle" found on the Special Edition Trilogy bonus disc but not on the DVD version of the Complete Collector's Set bonus disc. They may just be a montage of clips from the movies set to music but since Lionsgate owns them how hard would it be to include them as well?
Buy Rambo: The Complete Collector's Set (2010) Now
The Rambo series will forever be classics in film. Simply put, this boxed set is not only a must have for the Rambo fan, rather anyone who enjoys great flicks! This set includes all 4 installments in the Rambo series and packs quite the punch on each disk.The Good: Includes First Blood, Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rambo III, and Rambo. All updated in HD and looking amazing. Sound is awesome in surround sound and seems cleaned up over the dvd boxed set. Plenty of bonus features to dive into as well. Awesome packaging keeps the case thin and compact unlike some other sets that feel the need to take up "book-sized" space on your shelf.
The Bad: Only thing I don't like is that the version of Rambo(2008) included is simply disc one of the collectors edition. If like me, you like your bonus features you may want to grab the Rambo Trilogy [Blu Ray] instead and opt for the 2 disc version of Rambo.
Other than that, this has been one of my favorite acquisitions of late and I more than recommend it to anyone!!
Read Best Reviews of Rambo: The Complete Collector's Set (2010) Here
Just bought this collection! It's awesome. Very clean looking design.This collection is for any Rambo fan!
The new movie "Rambo" is awesome. Like other reviewers mention, it is very realistic. The movie takes place in Burma, where events depicted in the movie are happening daily.
The collection includes Rambo 1,2, 3 and 4. Plus a digital copy of the new Rambo and a special features disc.
This is the ultimate Rambo collection for your DVD library!
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I really like this collectors set, the dvds come in a metal box that has some really nice graphics. The extra features are also quite good and the quality of the movies is also very good. The reason I give it 3 stars is that the first 3 movies have no subtitle options I live with someone that has hearing problems and well with no subtitles we have to crank up the volume a bit so we can both enjoy the movies.Save 33% Off
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