Rocky IV

In 1976, a phenom was born. By now we are all aware of the story of how Stallone wrote the screenplay for Rocky in three days after watching a fight between an extreme underdog and a highly favoured champ. Stallone was a nobody back then yet he still stood his ground and didn't sell out to the producers until they promised him the title role. The rest they say is history. Well 9 years later, after three Rocky films, in my opinion comes the best one. I realize that Rocky was all story and then a climatic boxing match and that is what won the film the Oscar. And even though I can admit that this film is not as concerned with character developement as it is with training montages and bulging muscles, it is by far and away the most entertaining film of the 5. And that is what I enjoy about the film. I love that Rocky IV has some of the best training montages ever filmed. I love that it has the heart of a lion when it shows Rocky scaling a mountain that you know damn well he shouldn't be able to. And I absolutely love the boxing match at the end of the film. This was completely choreographed by Stallone and he and Dolph Lundgren boxed for real for about 75% of the match. Stallone felt that it needed some authenticity so that was the way to do it. And if you think Robert De Niro is an impressive method actor, try this fact on for size. When filming the boxing match, some of the scenes were so real that Stallone was rushed to hospital because his heart was actually pushed up and his ribcage was slightly shattered. So when you watch that match at the end, just know that what you are seeing is not exactly choreography and trick camera work. They did the best job they could to keep the look of the fight as real as possible. And I think this is the best boxing match ever filmed, with all due respect to Raging Bull.

Stallone was in the shape of his life in this year as he filmed Rocky and Rambo back to back and it shows. I have never seen a more sculpted man in the movies than he was here. And I think that added to his superman persona. If you notice in all the Rocky films, he grows a little each time. And that also adds to the enjoyment of the film.

Rocky IV is different than Rocky, there is no doubt. And as much as I love the first one, it doesn't come close to entertaining me as much as this one does. Rocky IV starts fast and it ends hard and in between we are blessed with a great soundtrack and a beautiful montage of all the Rocky films to Robert Tepper's "There's No Easy Way Out" And it is here that even though some will say that Stallone has substituted real human emotion with an MTV ersatz video, I think it works well. There is nothing about this film that I didn't enjoy and if you forget what the experience of watching this one is like, I suggest that you rent it now and take a look at it. And try to remember what it was like when you first saw this film back in the winter of 85. I remember I was in Kokomo Indiana visiting family for Christmas. My mom and I walked into a packed theater and you want to talk about a place erupting like a volcano, then this was the place. When Rocky finally hits Drago to cut him over the eye and Duke yells " he's cut, he's cut! " the crowd went into a frenzy. And you can look no further than that as to why the Rocky films were so popular. It doesn't matter if you are Canadian, American, Portuguese, Polish or Dutch or whatever, Rocky appeals to all of us. Because all of us have been the underdog at some time in our lives and we love to watch him and perhaps live vicariously through him. That is the beauty of Rocky. If Rocky can do it then dammit so can I!

When the movie ended on that cold night back in 1985, and people were filtering out to their cars for the drive home, I swear I could hear the crowd chanting his name, as did the millions..... and millions of the Rock's fans.

" Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!"

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 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.

Here's another low-brained but very entertaining "Rocky" movie with one more interesting villain. Instead Of "Apollo Creed" or "Mr. T.," we now have "Ivan Drago,"(Dolph Lundgren) a giant Russian who is more like a machine. He's "indestructable" (and on steroids, too, and unlike some baseball slugger, he admits it!). He has the latest in technology, nutrition, etc., but you just know the much-smaller disadvantaged hero "Rocky Balboa" (Sylvester Stallone) will somehow find a way to chop this "Goliath" down.

Minute-for-minute, this might be the most entertaining of all the Rocky films, and looks good on DVD despite some graininess in the first five minutes. Rocky's wife "Adrian" (Talia Shire) never looked better: mature and pretty; the gruff and profane manager played Burgess Meredith is gone and the repellent obnoxious slob "Paulie" (Burt Young) has only a few lines.

This is the ultimate "David vs. Goliath" tale in every aspect and the final bout - held in Russia - breaks the all-time Rocky record for most punches ever thrown at two fighters. Of course, any real-life human would have been knocked cold about 50 times had they suffered the blows "Rocky" did in this fight!

This is a real flag-waving film with Rocky draping the Stars and Stripes around his shoulders. It's a totally unrealistic story but, all of these in the series were similar, credibility-wise, so just go along with it and enjoy the story. It's only an hour-and-a-half and story literally flies by.

While this movie is short and not as classic as the first one or even 2 or 3, there is a lot of drama in it and great music. The villain is very intimidating and I can't help but get the feels from all of that 80s music. I feel like taking on the world after watching this movie while having a heart of gold at the same time, and THAT'S Rocky!