The Vision: Vietnam War as government betrayal
The Story: Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is abandoned by his country in the middle of the jungle, just as he was abandoned--politically, emotionally--upon his return from combat years before. Lost and alone, his mission is symbolic of all vets whose daily life involves dealing with the psychological and physical wounds of active military service.

Rambo: First Blood Part II, Sylvester Stallone, 1985. Photo courtesy of the Everett Collection.