History Film / RamboIII

* ImproperlyPlacedFirearms: Though the film was able to get access to some genuine Soviet hardware due to being filmed in Israel, they still had to make do with stand-ins on a few occasions, including a ZSU-23 Shilka replica made out of an M113 chassis, [=AKMs=] and [=AKMSUs=] mocked up to resemble the smaller-caliber AK-74 and AKS-74U, and Kourov's AK having an M203 launcher that [[http://www.imfdb.org/images/8/84/Rambo3-AKM2034A.jpg clearly wasn't made to work with it]].

* TankGoodness: In the final battle, Rambo takes over a Soviet tank and uses it to shoot up and ram Zaysen’s chopper.
Colonel Zaysen attempts to attack Rambo head on; this ends up biting Zaysen in the ass since he can’t aim his missiles properly at Rambo’s tank at close range and, since he’s so close to the ground, Rambo ends up taking him out using the tank’s machine guns and by ramming the helicopter with the tank, obliterating it due to the tank out weighing the Hind.

* YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters: the Mujahadeen assisting two American Special Forces soldiers. Terrible irony considering that the film is dedicated to their struggle against the Soviets. However, it should be noted that not all members of the Afghan Mujaihideen joined the Taliban.[[note]]The Mujahadeen splintered and descended into in-fighting in the 90s, while a radical student movement, the Taliban (Talib being the Arabic word for student), took advantage of the situation and took over the country.[[/note]]

The film begins with Trautman tracking down Rambo and asking him to join him on a mission to Afghanistan to assist the Afghan [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters freedom fighters]] who are [[FightingForAHomeland fighting against the Soviets]] in the UsefulNotes/SovietInvasionOfAfghanistan. Despite being shown pictures of suffering civilians, Rambo refuses and Trautman goes alone. But when Trautman is ambushed and captured by the Soviets, Rambo must go in and rescue him. Just like the James Bond film ''Film/TheLivingDaylights'', ''Rambo III'' features Afghan mujahideen as good guys, before they morphed into [[TerroristsWithoutACause generic terrorists]] following the September 11th attacks.

* YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters: the Mujahadeen assistung two American Special Forces soldiers. Terrible irony considering that the film is dedicated to their struggle against the Soviets. However, it should be noted that not all members of the Afghan Mujaihideen joined the Taliban.[[note]]The Mujahadeen splintered and descended into in-fighting in the 90s, while a radical student movement, the Taliban (Talib being the Arabic word for student), took advantage of the situation and took over the country.[[/note]]

* RealityEnsues:
** One of the Mujahadeen is a little boy who follows Rambo on a secret mission despite Rambo’s protests; instead of being an assist, the kid gets wounded by a Soviet bullet and doesn’t even get to do anything badass. In a darker movie, this kid would’ve been killed.
** In desperation, Colonel Zaysen tries to attack Rambo head on with the Hind chopper after Rambo commandeers a tank. This ends up biting Zaysen in the ass since he can’t aim his missiles properly at Rambo’s tank at close range and, since he’s so close to the ground, Rambo ends up taking him out using the tank’s machine guns and by ramming the helicopter with the tank, obliterating it due to the tank out weighing the Hind.

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Kourov walks around with a bandolier of grenades on him. That ends up being his own undoing.

** Soviet invasion is portrayed as a full-blown conquest without a cause, rather than fighting in support of local pro-communist regime. Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and the Afghan Army is not even mentioned.

* TakeMyHand: After finally rescuing Trautman and some Afghani prisoners, Rambo steals a Hind chopper to escape. But during an ensuing air battle with another Hind, one of the Afghans falls out and despite efforts to pull him back up, he gets shot then falls to his death.

** To put things in to perspective, typical position for a colonel would be CO of motorized rifle regiment, comprised out of ca. 2200 men equipped with hundreds of armored vehicles and own tank battalion.

* CrewOfOne: In the climatic battle, Rambo is able to drive a Soviet tank while at the same time loading and firing the main gun and coaxial machine gun. Well, T-72 features an autoloader, but aiming and firing from the driver' station is out of the question.

* ShownTheirWork: Rather bizarre example, considering how many things are this film got wrong. Soviet helicopters had "excellent aircraft" marking. This award was given to maitenance crews for meeting exceptional standards in keeping aircraft in working and combat-ready.

** Colonel Zaycen, despite being a CO of infantry unit, is somehow authorized to be a pilot of attack helicopter.

** Soviet invasion is portrayed as a full-blown conquest without a cause, rather than fighting in support of local pro-communist regime. Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
and the Afghan Army is not even mentioned.

** Soviet invasion is portrayed as a full-blown conquest without a cause, rather than fighting in support of local pro-communist regime. Afghan government and its forces not even mentioned.

** While trench can be explained as a part of natural landscape, light blue pickup truck (with .50 cal mounted), conveniatly parked near them, certainly can not. Note that said truck just appears out of the nowhere, and its appearance right in the middle of the desert is never addressed by anyone.

* ContrivedCoincidence: In the finale, Rambo and Trautman stays in the open, facing Soviet forces. Coincidentally, there is a convenient trech near them for cover.
** While trech can be explained as a part of natural landscape, light blue pickup truck (with .50 cal mounted), conveniatly parked near them, certainly can not. Note that said truck just appears out of the nowhere, and its appearance right in the middle of the desert is never addressed by anyone.

** Soviet Army, as represented by Colonel Zaycen's unit, are noting but Mooks. Their incompetence shines in finale, when they are easily overrun by Mujahideen cavalry armed with bolt-action rifles, despite having superior weaponry, tanks and helicopter support.

* GratuitousRussian: While some Soviet soldiers can be heard to speak in correct Russian (Scenes in the compound were fimed in Israel, country with large number of Soviet expats), Colonel Zaysen attempts to sound Russian are just painful to hear.

* Mooks: Soviet Army, as represented by Colonel Zaycen's unit. Their incompetence shines in finale, when they are easily overrun by Mujahideen cavalry armed with bolt-action rifles, despite having superior weaponry, tanks and helicopter support.

* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: When Rambo infiltrates Soviet compound for the second time, security isn't improved at all. Very laid back senttry, supposedly manning a machinegun accidentally sees Rambo and, instead of quickly grabbing the rifle near him, tries to rotate the large DShK around, losing the time and life.

* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: When Rambo infiltrates Soviet compound in the second time, security isn't improved at all. Very laid back senttry, supposedly manning a machinegun accidentally sees Rambo and, instead of quickly grabbing the rifle near him, tries to rotate the large DShK around, losing the time and life.