Book Review: First Blood by David Morrell (1972) and why it should be a Netflix series
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- čas přidán 12. 10. 2019
- Taking look at the captivating novel that began the legend of Rambo. David Morrell (from my own home town of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada) has written a visceral and existential masterpiece about a kid who's been pushed too far, gives a surprisingly likeable small town sheriff a war he won't believe and they both learn the most valuable lesson of all. 'Nothing is over' for this 1972 novel hopefully, it deserves so much more than a single movie adaption. Bring on a Netflix series starring some Oscar-caliber talent!
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Quentin Tarantino has recently come out in an interview and stated that he is interested in making an adaptation of First Blood with Adam Driver as Rambo and Kurt Russell as Teasle. I would totally pay to see it because I feel like he would make it a lot closer to the book and casting Adam Driver (who was also a marine, btw) as book Rambo would be perfect casting, same with Kurt Russell as Sherriff Teasle. But the likeliness of this happening is probably unlikely since Tarantino plans on making one more film before retiring. But I would still love to see it happen.
They also mentioned of bringing Sylvester Stallone as Trautman
What do u think about the movie adaptation?
For me I always thought Jon Bernthal would make a badass Rambo and Andy Serkis as an older Teasle
A Netflix series that actually adapts the book would be a great idea! The tone of the book was so different than the movie.
Just finished the novel it would make a good 10 episode series on a streaming service. Was surprised by the ending with both characters
David Morrell wrote a Captain America comic mini-series called The Chosen published 2007-2008.
Have read this book as well. It's great, as is the movie. Hard to believe how artistic First Blood is, compared to the hard left turn to popcorn action the remaining Rambo films took.
The book is excellent. Very thought provoking ending that will haunt your thoughts for days.
The inner monologue of the two protagonists is very enlightening.
If you love the movie you will love the book because it's so different that you will be shocked and yet not disappointed.
Great review! I’ve been looking for my next book to read and this sounds perfect! Thanks!
Okay. Now you got me interested in this book. You did it to me again!!! First the Tommy Lee Jones film and now this!!!!
Haha, enjoy!
The funny part is as a kid I wasn't allowed to see Rambo when it came out, because I wasn't old enough. It was rated R and I was 9... So I marched down to Walden's books and got the book. ( I was NOT a normal kid when it came to book choices at my age. The irony....you couldn't watch the tame movie as a kid, but you could buy the savage book without anyone battng an eye.) I read it multiple times. I was already obsessed with everything Military and Vietnam, but my friends dad's were often veterans, I still got my haircut at the local barbarshop that had ww2 vets, Korean vets, Vietnam vets, and I remembered their banter. This wasn't a story about some strangers it felt like a story about the men I had grown up around. Even the local in Kentucky felt local, as I was in East Tn. Imagine however my disappointment once I did see the movie a few years later on HBO (still had to stay up late to watch it). I enjoyed the movie as a mindless action flick, but after thinking in terms of the book first it was strange, however after the final dialogue it felt right. Like that is what the MOVIE should be. Even though it wasn't good as the book, it was the movie needed at that point and time for those veterans. I had seen those "dad's" have to eat crap at the barbershop, during little league etc. They were NOT well treated by older vets. Had the movie been faithful to the book I feel like it would have further the stereotype of Vietnam Veterans, but with Stallone's ending speech, it sort of vindicated them, and they needed that. They deserved that, and I can not emphasize enough how important this movie was for those guys and helping America take a look at itself and how it had treated them. So DO NOT sell the movie short. Still the book rules in every other way. I would love to see it remade now as a TV series faithful to the book. (one season) It's weirder now, because Now I know so many of my fellow generations with similar experiences to Rambo (though not as extreme), as several served in Iraq, and Afghanistan, and many of them are now also suffering from PTSD and many of the same issues. And now I see the arm chair generals and the usual war pigs, wanting to set off yet more wars, and I wonder will my son's generation be next. I used to view such men as heroes, the older I get I just see victims. They're still heroes, but victims of a machine that could care less what it cost them.
I have finished reading First Blood recently and i love the book so much and it is so different from the movie 🙂.
I wonder if the movie "Hunted" was a closer film to the book "First Blood"?
Read this probably 15 years ago. Need to give it another read.
Great review on one of my top 5 favorite books! I think a short series would be great , it would definitely allow those who don’t like to read, enjoy this story!
Could not agree more. It is one of the earliest examples of post-Vietnam War literature. A lot of it is really hard to take in & process...
I just finished First Blood book and i couldnt agree MORE with you.
Netflix series is a damn good idea.
Thank you for your review. It is so disappointing that so many people have never read this wonderful book nor his second novel Testament. I love to see a review of it.
If I had never read the book, only seeing the movie, I would have rooted for Rambo, but not hated Teasle. I didn't like everything about Teasle in the film, but I understood him.
Reading the book, twice, I'm a Teasle fan. I understand Rambo. I sympathize with him. But Teasle had the higher moral ground.
In both versions, neither character is all good or all bad, it's more who you identify with and how objective you are in looking at each man's motives and actions.
It's a shame the book was published just once in my country (Brazil) back in the early 80s. I heard a publisher plans to re-release it here in a near future, but if it doesn't happen, I'll try to catch up the original version in english.
I love the Rambo movie series for what it is, but I'm sure the source material has a whole lot more to bring to the table. Thanks for the great review!
Thanks Elton! 🙏
I'm a fairly new subscriber and didn't realize that you reviewed books. I'm impressed, and I enjoyed it very much. However I did have to shut off the audio after you began talking about the ending since I am planning on giving it a read. Another layer to your channel, great stuff, I really enjoy your content. Keep up the awesome work!
Thanks! Enjoy the book!
Actually I do want to see this version of Rambo into live action, it feels more dark and psychologically intense. I can feel the intense between Rambo & Teasle in the novel.
Thanks for review Michael, I saw this film back in '87 (aged 11), loved it, and inspired now to read the book. Always found the Teasle character interesting, looking forward to seeing how he comes across in the book.
Thanks Dominic. Enjoy!
Hi Michael. This book sounds so interesting. I’ve always really enjoyed the original movie but the changes sound like they make the two versions very different. Cheers M
Nice review and interesting knowing the differences between the movie and book. I saw Rambo fairly soon after it came out and I saw it in my Minnesota small hometown drive-in back when those still existed. First Blood was a really big deal when it came out and I think the idea of it will always resonate. It was one of America's dealing with the aftermath of Vietnam stories. I would not have guessed that the book surfaced in 1972 but I know the author was impacted by stories of former Soldiers he had spoken with. I do know how this one ends and it kind of makes sense.
All the best to you and Luana and always looking forward to more Classic Trek reviews and ANY glimpses inside the awesome toy museum! ;-)
Thanks John! We just watched 2 more TOS episodes so those videos will be coming soon. We also watched the first episode of the animated series just for fun and loved it! Really enjoyed the quicker pace.
@@MichaelMercy yes indeed. The cartoons were "different" as we'd say in Minnesota because it was for a cartoon and they were always just half an hour. Take care!
I used to hate the novel, but I like it more now as I've gotten older. Also, I empathized with the book version of Teasle more, since he was a Korean War vet and going through a divorce during the story.
I’ve been thinking about this book since I discovered it existed (Two weeks ago)strange that you happen to be reviewing it, now it is a must read.
Might I recommend( the short timers) the novel that full metal jacket is based on, and The first mature novel I ever read.
“Great” meaning large or immense! We use it in the pejorative sense!
Michael,
Great review Brother! You made it very tempting to go out and buy this book to read.👍
I am glad to hear that the main Sheriff character was more likable. The movie character made me so upset of what a big jerk he was! Being a Police Officer I would have never have treated anyone like that!
You might really despise Rambo in the book because of how brutal he is with the cops and be cheering Teasle the whole way. :D
Agreed! I may have to hold off reading the book. Thanks again for the review
RAMBO 👍❤
I just finished reading the book, in two days, and came across your review. If you have not read the book then I warn you there are "spoilers ahead"
I am sure that in the book he is called by the first name John on occasion but maybe wrong...
He didn't have to, as Trautman says also, go back and hunt the rest of the first possee, he could have just continued with his plan to journey to Mexico. The book describes him considering this but he reckons he would only lose 2 hours hunting down the rest and, in particular Teasle. As a matter of fact he ends up losing far too much time doing it and Teasle escapes. But it's like he is still at war, and Teasle being the one that triggered him, should be done over.
Probably since he got back from Vietnam he's had more-or-less the same treatment, the last 15 towns the same happened this time he's not going to take it anymore, that's why he returns the 3rd time even though there's going to be trouble, but what else could he do? Teasle just stereotype him without knowing anything about his history. But who is this guy who wants to know where Teasles military badge is from? And his terrible wounds, Teasle doesn't think at this stage of course Rambo is closed, won't even tell him his name.
But gradually, through experience and then through intelligence, Teasle learns more about Rambo, and in fact still calls him kid because he saw service in the 50s, Rambo is the next generation. He has more and more respect for Rambo, learning about his methods and until finally he wants to be with him at the end. Just imagine, it's all down to misfortune, misunderstanding, if they had met in the right way they would have been best friends.
When Rambo managed to break through, the National Guard line, the 2nd time, he might have escaped even then if he hadn't stopped to blow up half the town, but he's still after Teasle still wants that final fight, they both do, but really I think they both are stuck in circumstances, very much like war itself
I'd just add that the book reads very well, I couldn't put it down. Rambo was a very good action film but this is even more immersing
Regards LF
Oh I just had a thought, apart from hunting down Teasle when he comes after the cops who are retreating this is an age old military movement, having successfully defended and turning attack into retreat, you yourself attack and eliminate those retreating, as many of them as you can. It's an old military manoeuvre and logical since those retreating will potentially attack you again in the future. I always thought the film was realistic but this novel captures so many more dimensions. Don't think you could do it on film, it's so limited compared to written work, too limited, describing terrain for example, describing people's thought's, just the tip of the iceberg ! I liked the quote from Apocalypse Now, where the would-be, lone wolf general says that he'd rather read the trashiest novel than watch the greatest film. And I do think Apocalypse Now, director's cut was great don't get me wrong..... TEEHEE
I copped flack in my life for NEVER reading a entire novel from beginning to end, despite I write and written one novel. So I said "Fine" and read this. 10 years ago and not another one since. I just can't keep my attention on.
The novel Rambo looks like Chuck Norris.
Great review that is my very favorite book I did a video talking about how it deserves a remake.... I personally want Shia LaBeouf to play Rambo (I know it sounds crazy but so did Bruce Willis in Die Hard)
It's not a novelisation, the film was based on the original book.
Wow! Totally different character.
I'd read that the film adaptation can be traced back to 1972.
I could see this, from your description, as a Netflix tv show.
Now I've got to read it.
Enjoy! :D
This is an excellent novel, I try and read it once a year.
thanks Michael for the spoiler free review, Michael. I always wanted to read the book, but push it away everytime. Now I'm definitely gonna get it
As Rambo said, "Don't push it..." or he'll give you a war you won't believe! The war he was talking about is definitely in the book.
Warner Brothers had the rights for years but the problem was the length of the book therefore could have been offered to their television division to do as a mini series of 6 to 8 hours and offered to the then 3 networks Warner had just made Roots which was successful on ABC but it was the time when the networks were strict on violence and therefore the book was too violent and gruesome for TV at the time
The movie is good but the book is excellent.
The novel is great because it makes Rambo and Teasle jerks but still sympathetic.
If you are interested in these type of thrillers I suggest reading “The Terminal List” by Jack Carr
Thanks!
His name was Rambo and he was just some nothing kid, for all anybody, knew standing by the pump of a gas station on the outskirts of Madison Kentucky. He had a long heavy beard and his hair was hanging down over his ears to his neck. And he had his hand out trying to thumb a ride from a car that was stopped at the pump. To see him there leaning on one hip, a coke bottle in his hand and a rolled up sleeping bag near his boots on the tar pavement, you could never have guessed that on Tuesday a day later, most of the police in Basalt County would be hunting him down. Certainly you could not have guessed that by Thursday he would be running form the Kentucky National Guard and the Police of six counties, and a good many private citizens who like to shoot. But then, from just seeing him there ragged and dusty by the pump of the gas station, you could never have figured the kind of kid Rambo was, or what was about to make it all begin. Rambo knew there was going to be trouble though. Big trouble if someone didn't watch out.....
I would ONLY want to see the story redone as a mini series, another movie would ruin it. It deserves at least one season to patiently build it up. But knowing Hollywood they remake it as another crappy movie.
I can't help but put the blame on the cops for causing Rambo to trigger his PTSD and what he was trained to do in the book. I mean, they wouldn't let Rambo cross into the town so he can get to Mexico I believe, they treated him like a criminal, and then they force him into a damp, filthy prison compound. Teasel though, I felt in the book, he's just using the manhunt to take his personal problems out on Rambo, and leading his own posse to their deaths, including Orlov. Rambo in the book sounded like he needed professional help, rather than be hounded, harassed and treated like an outsider or an untamed dog that needed to be captured or put down.
A mini series of the book adaptation would be incredible. However, you would need it to be EXACTLY like the novel word for word and scene for scene. If you have the budget for it, you could set it in 1972 with authenticity or have it set in 2022. With that said, Rambo would be a veteran of the Iraq War and Teasle would be a veteran of the Gulf War. But, the mini series cannot be woke in any way shape or form. No turning white characters into black or Asian ones, no LGBTQ nonsense, none of that. Stay true to the novel and watch it become a huge success.