Rocky IV (1985)

It was time for Sylvester Stallone to say "enough, already" to the boxing hero he plays in the popular Rocky film series, but instead Stallone kept the saga going by pushing Rocky into Rambo territory. The 1985 Rocky IV finds the Italian stallion pitted against a seemingly unbeatable Russian monster named Drago (Dolph Lundgren) who lets his wife (Stallone's then-wife, Brigitte Nielsen) do all the talking. With a mighty punch, Drago has sent Rocky's former opponent and trainer Apollo Creed to an early grave, and the boxer responds with the ultimate challenge. Even the Russians are rooting for Rocky, so it's not hard to guess how the film ends. Despite Stallone's claims to the contrary, this installment was followed by Rocky V in 1990. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

Brutal

I seem to enjoy watching movies in the wrong order. Previously, when I was really young, I watched the Back To The Future movies in the wrong order. I've seen the third one so many times now, that I refuse to watch it.

I'd already seen Rocky Balboa at the cinema, but had never seen any of the others until now. Thankfully, you don't really need to know too much about the previous movies, a quick recap before we started watching the movie. Plus, there are plenty of flashbacks throughout the movie, but not in an intrusive way.

Boxing is quite possibly one of the most brutal sports around that there is, yet the Rocky films are popular. But a boxing movie with Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren pitted against each other? Yeah, I could watch that movie.

It's directed and written by Sly, and of course he reprises his title role, and get the muscles all pumped up. The training montages in this movie are absolutely spectacular, with Rocky's simplistic approach versus Ivan's hi tech approach. The boxing matches throughout are simply amazing, and will have you turning away from the screen at the blood and absolutely ferocious punches. Dolph also does brilliantly in the movie, although is a man of few words. I really don't like Bridgette Nielsen, Sly's ex wife. I don't know what it is. In my opinion, she never added anything to the movie.

There's not much of a plot - and if you've seen the Rambo movies, you do feel and see the similarities in plots occasionally. It's also pretty much formulaic, but when you've got two very hunky looking guys putting every man in the world to shame, what do you care about the plot? You're not there to watch an in depth movie that you have to concentrate on.

Rocky IV is a brilliant time waster, even I hadn't seen the previous three. Maybe sometime. And I did like Rocky Balboa too. Hell, maybe I've got a not-so-secret crush on Sly. Those sad eyes really get me. And the beard as well - hell yeah. July 7, 2008

Christ Almighty-- What just happened!?

I think someone spiked my drink! What is wrong with this movie? Did I hallucinate the whole damned thing?

The film is entertaining, but not for the reasons the writers intended, or at least I hope not. I don't remember there being talking (marginally obsessive) robots in the 80's, but maybe I wasn't paying attention. And Apollo Creed... seriously guys, the character is simply unbelievable. He persistently refers to Rocky as "Stallion" throughout the movie, yet we are supposed to believe that he's both straight, and married. I think he's on the DL, and the studio endorsed massive gay-bashing, and I mean that literally. Also, his little dance number with James Brown? No thank you. No part of that was good.
Beyond that incredulity, the rest of the film was an endorsement of anabolic steroids with just a touch of hate-mongering aimed towards the Soviets thrown in, for flavor.
Granted this is the first Rocky film I've seen, but if it is an accurate reflection of the rest, I will avoid. I suggest the same for you, unless in a state of extreme inebriation, in which case it might hold mild amusement. June 23, 2008

Entertaining, but lacks credibility.

The makers of this movie could have at least researched Russian names, before making this. Drago is nowhere near anything remotely Russian. Apparently the only Russian name that came to their minds is Ivan, how original.
While this movie is entertaining, it is a cleverly made anti Soviet propaganda that was expected of the time, with little shred of truth to it. March 3, 2008

Production Does Not Fix Reality

Loved this sequel when I was a child, however time has not been nice to this film, as it has become more riddled with flaws with each passing view. This is Sly's worst film, written or otherwise. Well, his acting is on par, but not great.

A major flaw, I believe, is how they minimized Ivan Drago to a mere caricature of himself with no personal history or character development. It did make it easier to hate the Russian and also made it easier to like Rocky. In fact, it's a ridiculous habit this series has throughout. I felt like there was history trying to be shown in Drago's character (new trainer in, old trainer out), but they wanted a cartoon instead of a movie with guts.

A cheap exploitation on over-ratcheted feelings during the Cold War. But it all gets so much worse...

It can not be forgiven that a boxer would throw a referee to the floor before the bell, keep hitting his opponent after the bell--and still win the fight! There has never been place in time where that is even remotely possible. Yet, it is written. How is this? How is it that Rocky just sat there like a baby and did not even get physical with Ivan Drago? That is not possible, for it is completely out of sync with the subtext of Rocky's rage "switch," as developed in the first three sequels. In life, it would have been a me-lay. In the case of Rocky, it needed to be as such. It was a must. All respect is lost for him after this.

By now, the characters are all clichés of themselves; the montages are all ridiculously cheesy and time consuming (for a reason; substance). It is just very bad. What is worse is how superficial and void this film is. When Rocky takes off in his Ferrari after Creed's death, the cinematographer has no problem stealing a few shots of the Ferrari's badge plate. So, they could not even do Apollo's death justice with a decent montage.

This stuff matters when millions of dollars are invested in a motion picture. To me it does, anyway. If they do not have the conviction of their own material, why should I respect it?

This movie was an excuse to show off Stallone's new nose job and body build.

Fails on most accounts. January 10, 2008

ROCKY movies

OOPS! Recepient received this item with Rocky V for Christmas, 2006. Recepient will return these for his selection. Thanks you. December 28, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...