The hosts report Ebert gave a television thumbs-up, praised the pacing and lack of political bias, and enjoyed the movie despite logical flaws. No numerical star rating is stated.

Stranding Trautman with Rambo; Murdock’s future; Rambo’s romantic history; Stallone versus Schwarzenegger

In the discussion (7)

Approx. transcript time · 00:37:29Read transcript

A question brought forward from Unanswerables imagines an injured Trautman stranded with Rambo. The idea is rejected because Rambo already has the POWs to protect and Trautman needs to confront Murdock back at base.
An unanswerable asks what happens to Murdock; the answer imagines him failing upward into more powerful government positions rather than receiving justice.
Another unanswerable speculates about Rambo’s romantic and sexual history, with his quick attraction to Co offered as evidence of continued interest.
Stallone is preferred over Schwarzenegger. — Bill Simmons
The other preference leans slightly Arnold; both stars are described as formative figures whose legacies are linked like Bird and Magic.
The hosts report Stallone tied with De Niro on thirteen Rewatchables films, behind Cruise at eighteen and Pacino at fourteen; Denzel has twelve and Schwarzenegger eight, from a stated total of 454 films. This is a short ranking, not a ten-item list.
The hosts appreciate both aging stars continuing to work but object to Stallone recutting Rocky IV; Daylight and Lockup are discussed as future possibilities and movie selection is described as partly personal lobbying.

Dolph Lundgren; Lee Marvin; local extras; John Travolta as Rambo’s partner

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:09:12Read transcript

Casting What-Ifs includes Lundgren reportedly removed because of his Drago role, Lee Marvin declining roles across both films, and local Chinese-restaurant workers recruited as extras in Mexico.
The producers reportedly wanted John Travolta as Rambo’s partner, an idea Stallone vetoed; the hosts enthusiastically imagine buddy banter and a Quarter Pounder and metric-system exchange.

John Travolta as the partner; Born in the U.S.A. for the ending

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:11:27Read transcript

Recasting Couch returns to Travolta as the partner and proposes replacing the closing song with Born in the U.S.A., while doubting Springsteen would approve.

Filming locations, fatal effects accident, video sales, Soviet ban, unverified on-set pranks and body count

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 01:11:58Read transcript

Craig is said to be traveling and absent, so he has no flex selection. The first name alone does not independently identify a credited producer.
Half-Assed Internet Research reports Mexico and Thailand locations, the fatal accident involving special-effects worker Cliff Wenger, 425,000 opening-day video units, high video prices and a Soviet ban.
A claim about remaining Vietnam POWs is read from research, followed by explicitly unverified accounts of Crenna pantsing Stallone, a retaliatory cream pie and cast mud fights.
The on-set prank story is suggested as a Steven Seagal unbelievable-on-set-story candidate, with doubt that Crenna would behave that way.
The stated body count is 85 total and 74 attributed to Rambo; helicopter weapons are suggested as padding his tally.

The short prison sentence, rock-breaking, nutrition, facial hair, helicopter targeting and sewage exposure

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:19:51Read transcript

Nitpicks question an eight-year sentence given the deaths, attempted killing and extensive property destruction in First Blood.
The prisoners hammering rocks prompts questions about whether they are splitting rocks or finding rubies. Making gravel is tentatively suggested; the hammer swinging mainly looks cool.
Rambo’s muscular physique despite eating nothing is challenged; the hosts discuss high nutritional and exercise demands without medical verification.
His lack of beard growth over several days is questioned; a knife-shaving scene is proposed.
A nitpick questions how Rambo identifies and spares the POW building during indiscriminate helicopter fire after seeing the camp only from the ground.
Another nitpick imagines fatal infection after the sewage pit, comparing it with Andy Dufresne’s sewage-pipe escape; disease and lost-smell claims are comic speculation.

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:36:13Read transcript

First Blood is the main Double Feature recommendation, praised for its wounded protagonist, thematic substance and nuanced Teasle before the sequel’s popcorn excess.
Cobra is another Double Feature choice; Rocky IV is also floated as part of a larger Stallone run.