Rocky IV

I saw that Rocky 4 had 6.9/10 and frankly I felt angry. This film was made with love and acted as a surrogate father for many lonely or single parent kids. When I first saw this I was in care and I was lonely and frightened and my older Uncles came for me at the home and took me to the cinema with all their mates and it was the best day of my life. The part where Uncle Paulie says "he ain't gettin beat he's gettin mad!" is probably the single most energising line of any film I have ever seen and I jumped out of my seat super pumped and to the point where my Uncles grabbed me to sit down. The film is supreme and to give it 6.9 is nothing short of pathetic and weak. They took MJ, and now they're taking Rocky 4 and I'm saying go away and leave them both alone cos they were my youth and I love both. 10/10, done

Rocky IV really stood out from the rest of the Rocky films to me, with the whole America versus Russia ordeal. Now it has been mentioned by other critics that this is inaccurate, but who really cares??? The point is that you really get to the point where you want Sly to kick Dragos butt in the ring. I enjoyed the training montage, and the boxing scene was so entertaining for me. And with the Russian leaders, and the Russian public standing up and cheering and clapping for Rocko.. a bit corny but so great.Talia shire in my opinion is at her best in this one out of all the other ones; she seems more confident and easier to get along with her character. And one of the most dramatic scenes to hit cinema was the death of Carl Weathers(Apollo Creed). The idea of fighting for the death of his friend, and for himself is just so inspirational. It just makes you want to jump up and get in the ring to help rocko. Out of a perfect score of 10, i gave this one a 7.

The sheer effort Dolph (Ivan Drago), Sylvester (Rocky Balboa) and Carl (Apollo Creed) must have gone into training for this film must have been truly awesome. They all look amazingly fit and sculptured. I think more so than any current modern day boxer.

Kudos to Dolph who in almost his first major feature film (his first was View to a Kill) made, at least for me, a major impact. Despite his lack of dialog "I must break you" is right up there with Schwarzenegger's "I'll be back". He looked amazingly strong - a freak almost - just as the plot intended. Scary. He looked even taller than the 6 inch difference between him and Stallone (Lundgren 6'4", Stallone 5'10").

I would think that difference in height/reach would make him nigh on impossible to defeat if this were REAL. Of course it is a movie. Dolph is the highlight and was sad to see Apollo's demise (but at least it shut him up). The writers must have based Apollo's character on Muhammed Ali surely! Am currently watching Rocky V and is interesting so far!

The Rocky saga continues as Sylvester Stallone returns as champion boxer Rocky Balboa in Rocky IV. Rocky IV might be a far cry from the original movie which won the 1976 Best Picture Academy Award with its paperthin plot, part 80's music video, and blatant patriotism but nonetheless is still great entertainment and one to enjoy.

Rocky is still riding high of the success of the world championship and is enjoying life with his wife Adrian (Talia Shire), Rocky's friend and Adrian's brother Paulie (Burt Young), and trainer and former adversary turned friend Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) has arrived from the Soviet Union along with his team of trainers and managers as well as his wife Ludmilla (Bridgette Neilson) to announce their intentions of entering professional boxing and promoting Drago's superior athleticism. Apollo Creed steps out of retirement to challenge Drago in an exhibition match in Las Vegas despite Rocky's misgivings. Things go tragically wrong when the former world champion underestimates the Soviet powerhouse as he ruthlessly receives a pummeling and is later killed when Drago lands a fatal blow. Drago emotionlessly responds, "If he dies, he dies", during his victory interview as Rocky cradles a bloodied Creed. Ridden with guilt for not throwing in the towel and enraged by Drago's lack of remorse, Rocky Balboa vows to avenge Creed's death with the help of Creed's former manager Duke (the late Tony Burton) by taking on Drago in an unsanctioned boxing match where Rocky surrenders the championship and the fight will take place in the Soviet Union on Christmas Day.

The events from Rocky IV would later form the backstory of Creed II (2018) where Apollo's son Adonis Creed takes on Ivan Drago's son Viktor Drago in the ring, and also sees the return of an embittered Ivan Drago.

Sylvester Stallone who also returns to the director's chair is still a delight as Rocky Balboa, the former underdog turned world champion and is also in peak physical condition too. Dolph Lundgren is memorable as Ivan Drago in his first movie role. Also returning to the sequel is Tahlia Shire as Adrian, Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed, Burt Young as Paulie and the late Tony Burton as Duke. Bridgette Neilson also stars as Drago's wife Ludmilla and James Brown appears as himself performing the song "Living in America" during the exhibition match as Apollo Creed makes his entrance.

It's a visual experience seeing Rocky Balboa go back to unconventional methods of training in a secluded village in the middle of the Siberian mountains by chopping down trees, lifting logs, running in the deep snow, carrying carts, and culminating in running up a mountain alongside Vince DiCola's inspirational soundtrack (who has replaced Bill Conti). Meanwhile, Ivan Drago receives state of the art training with advanced equipment recorded by computers, as well as and steroid injections to maintain his powerful strength.

Rocky IV was a big hit at the box office despite a mixed critical reception and was one of the highest grossing films of 1985. Its hard to believe that Rocky IV is now 35 years old. It's still a popular movie especially amongst Sylvester Stallone fans and fans of the Rocky saga. I still enjoy it, and it's certainly a welcome addition to the Rocky saga. It's also a movie that used to psych me up before a gym session or before a long run 10 years ago. That aside, forget all the negative criticisms and enjoy Rocky IV.

7/10.

Rocky IV goes to the Evil Empire during the heart of the Cold War and beats their invincible Super Champion, Ivan Drago and instantly converts the SU from Lenin-Stalin to McDonalds-Burger King! God bless Rocky, God bless Stallone, God bless capitalism, God bless America! I can change, everybody can change! Now sing it with me...

Heeeeeeeeeearts on fiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-yyyyyyre...!