Engages the plight of the Mujahideen with a humanizing, doc-like approach (fascinating to witness, all these years later, when the ally/enemy tables have turned so drastically).

Strays slightly from the formula and therefore loses some of its mindless fun credentials.

Always at ground zero in the chaos is Rambo -- gloriously, inhumanly impervious to fear and danger -- whose character is inhabited by Stallone with messianic intensity.

As Rambo himself observes, even before the opening credits have unrolled: "I don't believe this."