Rocky V – Review #24

Posted on June 9, 2015 Updated on June 10, 2015

As Rocky week nears its completion, I watched the so called ‘black sheep’ of the series. And honestly? I don’t see why it’s so hated.

Rocky V, directed by John G. Avildsen, his second time in the Rocky franchise, starts where the last one left off, with Rocky and Iva-no, I’m not gonna do it again. We see that Rocky has actually retired, but still feels that spark in his heart, but when his fortune is conned away, he has to go back to where he came from, and hopes that the fire in his heart doesn’t stop. The fuel for that fire comes in the name of Tommy Gunn, an amateur hoping to be managed by Rocky. Besides that, the relationship between Rocky ans his son Robert becomes-and forgive me for the pun-rocky as he starts to spend more time with Tommy than him. When Tommy gets sold-out to a representer called George Washington Duke, it’s up to Rocky to set things right.

One thing that immediately stood out for me was the time-line. It is shown that the events in Rocky V take place immediately after Rocky IV, but Rocky’s kid looked like he was 7 or 8 in IV, but in V he’s a preteen. That’s kinda saying that Stallone didn’t care for this film, even more so since he wrote the story.

Most people were pissed that Rocky didn’t fight in the ring in V, but from the story’s point of view, I think it’s quite ambitious and pulled off quite well. It’s shown that if Rocky continued, fighting, he would die, so of course, he had to retire, but he still had that spark, as I’ve said, and Tommy Gunn made him alive. You have to see this from Rocky’s eyes.

Tommy Gunn too, is quite hated in the fandom for causing Rocky to lose his bond with his son, but again, looking from Tommy’s eyes, he just wanted to be Rocky, the underdog that had nothing. When Rocky lets Tommy stay at his house, he even relents a bit so his family won’t be involved before finally being pushed by Rocky. Granted, he is made the antagonist when George Washington Duke coaxes him to join the Dark Side, but again, he just wanted to be the champion, and thought that Rocky joined him down.

Speaking of George Washington Duke, Tony Burton’s portrayal of a sports-representer is of the upmost charismatic, dare I say even more charismatic than Apollo Creed. He’s your stereotypical fast-talking, money-grubbing, fur coat-wearing businessman, but by Mickey does Richard Gant do a good stereotypical fast-talking, money-grubbing, fur coat-wearing businessman.

Rocky’s son Sage does well, portraying the kid who had it all and then had to learn to live in the streets. You can see that his relationship with Rocky is very close, since well, he is his son, and you can feel genuine emotion from him, so props to you, kiddo.

The music has changed significantly, with the 80’s synth being turned to 90’s hip-hop. In fact, the actual Bill Conti score is absent almost all the time. A re-working of ‘Gonna Fly Now’ is heard, which is probably compulsory, but even that is only heard for a short while.

In the end, I didn’t hate this as I thought it would. Yes, Rocky not fighting in the ring is kinda disappointing; Yes, Duke will never replace Apollo; Yes, the whole money-losing thing could’ve been done better, But for what it is, it’s not an absolute disgrace I thought it would have been.

Rocky IV – Review #23

Posted on June 8, 2015

Oh, propaganda. Even in movie form you were too serious for your own good and just ended up being ridiculous.

Rocky IV, with Sylvester Stallone in the director’s chair for the third time, and once again starts with the ending of the last film: Rocky and Clubber Lang beating the living day-ah, you know the drill. The film then fast-forwards to 2 years later, and the Soviet Union announces that their best fighter Ivan Drago, played by then newcomer Dolph Lundgren, can defeat Rocky Balboa. Of course, Apollo Creed, being his usual self, decides for an exhibition match between him and Drago, but, as Stu Nahan said, ‘A joke quickly turned into a disaster.’, as Apollo CreedSPOILERS dies, it’s up to Rocky to defeat the Russian and regain the American pride.

Now, let us get the elephant of the room out of the way right at the start-the Cold War symbolism. It is blatant that Rocky is portrayed as the ‘all-American hero’, whereas Drago and the Soviet Union in general was shown to be cold, uncompromising and relentless. Rocky’s end speech with the line, ‘Everybody can change!,’ basically solidifies the overall cheese that this movie offers.

Bill Conti does not, in fact, return to score, and is replaced by Vince DiCola. I was quite surprised by that, and his score here, especially Ivan’s Theme, are quite reminiscent of the score ofTransformers The Movie that came out a year after this one, which is understandable, since he scores that one as well. ‘Gonna Fly Now’ is not used, instead being taken over by cheesy 80’s songs, another proof that the Rocky series has moved to a completely different style.

All in all, this is not the Rocky from days past. Heck, this blowsRocky III out of the water for cheesiness. But hey, if you like that kind of stuff, good for you, but the amount of it was just a tad too overwhelming.