ComingSoon.net reports that Rambo IV — which went by titles like Rambo IV: In the Serpent’s Eye and Rambo IV: Pearl of the Cobra before it was re-named John Rambo, following the success that Sylvester Stallone had had by calling the latest entry in his other major franchise Rocky Balboa instead of Rocky VI — has been re-named again. Its new title is Rambo to Hell and Back.
It has been common knowledge for a while now that Rambo comes out of retirement in this film to rescue some Christian missionaries in Burma. But the official plot synopsis adds a few new details:
Less than two weeks later, pastor Arthur Marsh (Ken Howard) finds Rambo and tells him the aid workers did not return and the embassies have not helped locate them. He tells Rambo he’s mortgaged his home and raised money from his congregation to hire mercenaries to get the missionaries, who are being held captive by the Burmese army. Although the United States military trained him to be a lethal super soldier in Vietnam, decades later Rambo’s reluctance for violence and conflict are palpable, his scars faded, yet visible. However, the lone warrior knows what he must do…
I hadn’t realized before that Rambo is actually paid to rescue the missionaries here. I am trying to imagine any of the churches I have attended raising money in order to hire armed mercenaries to retrieve our missionaries. Indeed, I am trying to imagine any of the pastors or priests I have known trying to persuade someone to take up arms again against his conscience. I don’t think I can.
OCT 12 UPDATE: Harry Knowles at Ain’t It Cool News says he has talked Stallone into going back to the title John Rambo.
OCT 23 UPDATE: And now, in the trailer, it’s just plain Rambo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzZwzoD1ZFM
Click here if the video file above doesn’t play properly.
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