For this week's Nostalgia Theater Podcast I discuss the
Rambo
phenomenon with author David Morrell, whose
is where it all began
.
Despite its reputation for ultra-violence, the
Rambo
series, starring Sylvester Stallone as war-weary Vietnam vet John J. Rambo, is a fascinating artifact that lies at the intersection of the pop culture and politics of the 1980s. The franchise reignited discussion about the Vietnam conflict, and inserted itself into the political vernacular of the time (anyone remember Ronald Reagan quoting and comparing himself to Rambo?).
In addition, it also sparked a mountain of tie-ins and merchandise, including (but certainly not limited to) a weekday afternoon cartoon show and a whole slew of action figures and accessories. Listen in as David Morrell discusses the origins of Rambo, what he thought of the various sequels (not to mention the cartoon show!), and how he feels now that Stallone has decided, as of a few weeks ago, to retire the character for good. Check it out via the embed below, or subscribe via iTunes, Stitcher Radio, or TuneIn Radio. As always, send all questions or comments our way via MovieFilmPodcast@gmail.com, and don't forget to hit "like" on our Facebook page!
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