MOVIES - Aug. 25, 1988

John Rambo may be able to mow down entire Soviet divisions at one go, but he has been unable to defeat a much smaller group that has a much greater impact on his cinematic life: the British Board of Film Classification. The board announced Tuesday it had made 24 cuts to “Rambo III” amounting to just over a minute, deleting violent scenes and “glamorous” displays of weaponry, prior to the film’s British release. In addition, the board gave the film an “18” classification--meaning that people under 18 are not allowed to see the film. “It is said that Rambo contributes to an attitude which glamorizes weapons. The film was definitely handled the way it was because it was ‘Rambo III,’ ” said James Ferman, director of the board.