Rambo sans the violence

Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Bangkok (Reuters): Thailand's film chiefs have told the makers of the next Rambo sequel due to start filming in the southeast nation early next year to avoid excessive violence for fear of corrupting youth or damaging the environment. ''We have warned them that any violence has to be reasonable because we care about young people,'' said Wanasiri Morakul, a director at the Thailand Film Office. In the planned movie, Rambo IV: In the Serpent's Eye, the renegade Vietnam veteran played by Sylvester Stallone comes out of retirement in Bangkok to track down missionary aid workers who disappear in the jungles of military-ruled Myanmar.

Much of the movie will be filmed in national parks and Wanasiri said officials would be keeping a close eye on the movie-makers to ensure they did not damage their surroundings. ''We have told them that no real guns or bombs are allowed in the national park where they will be filming. Thailand has a law banning that and they've told us they will just imitate it,'' she told Reuters.

Wanasiri said portrayal of the muscle-bound warrior as a retiree repairing military motorboats in Bangkok might even help a government drive to promote the country as a top spot for wealthy Westerners to live out their final years. ''I think it will help boost the country's image as a relaxing and nice place to stay,'' she said.