I just re-watched this again last night after many years and still enjoyed the experience... At the time this was made... the Vietnam War was still a raw wound for many Americans. Regardless of the reasons for the war the disgraceful treatment of returning Veterans..most who were teenagers when they went there and came back aged beyond their years and haunted for the rest of their lives. This movie highlighted the Divide in America back then which, in my view then as a teen, was largely two groups. Those (Short-hairs,Rednecks..etc) who supported the war and denigrated and harassed anyone who did not: Examples were refusing services, Gas, food , etc.. for any 'Hippies/Long Hairs wearing or displaying a 'Peace Symbol' AKA a Surfer's Cross', to extreme treatment by local and sometimes Law-enforcement like beating, locking up 'Long-Hairs' for minor offenses.. then them having their hair mysteriously cut (usually by a dull blade with several holding them down) before they were released. The Anger was over the Protests in the streets, the Anti-war groups who stood at airports and actually DID Spit on returning veterans, calling them names like Baby-killers..etc..

Yeah... I Lived and remember all that myself and this movie was VERY accurate concerning this aspect. I joined the Army at 18 and had long, shoulder-length hair the first 3 days of basic till we got our 'buzz-cuts. A fellow Long-hair friend and I cut each other's hair with scissors the night before. We Heard they really skinned ya if your hair was long going into the barber ! :)

There were a few mistakes with dialog not matching... one in particular when Rambo was escaping on the Motorcycle, going down the sidewalk screaming "Get out of the way!" I have always wondered what he was really screaming! ? The usual cars flipping and exploding, showing the explosive charge 'piston' that actually flipped the cars.. The special effects were GREAT at the time this was made. It is still a very enjoyable movie to me.