ROCKY IV (1985)

Featuring: Sylvester Stallone; Talia Shire; Carl Weathers; Dolph Lundgren

Director: Sylvester Stallone

By 1985 the Cold War was staring to thaw with Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of "glasnost" and "perestroika". This basically meant that the Iron Curtain was pulled away just enough for the West to take a peek at what was going on behind it. And this was just the gap Hollywood was waiting for. Think of movies from that period like Red Dawn (1984); The Falcon And The Snowman (1985) and The Hunt For Red October (1990). Off cause the makers of the Rocky films also had to jump on the bandwagon with Rocky IV.

In an effort to improve relationships between the Soviet Union and United States, the Russians parade their 'superhuman' amateur world boxing champion, Drago (Dolph Lundgren) on the press stages of America, challenging the current professional world heavy weight boxing champ. But when Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) declines the challenge, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) decides to take it up... with tragic consequences.

Of the four films so far, I liked this one the least. By the time this one done the rounds, the whole recipe became just a little too predictable: first there's the challenge; initially it gets turned down; then calamity strikes; finally there's the revenge brawl; and Rocky triumphs. Besides, if you had trouble following Stallone's dialogue, wait till you hear Lundgren! 

Therefor I rate this forth edition in the franchise only 2 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SquopDJdTbM

 West meets East...

 

ROCKY III (1982)

Featuring: Sylvester Stallone; Carl Weathers; Mr.T

Director: Sylvester Stallone

This third episode of the Rocky saga introduces to the big screen, the indomitable Mr.T. Who can forget him as the cantankerous B.A. Baracus from the cool 1980's TV series The A-Team? By the way and in case you did not know, B.A. stood for 'Bad Attitude'. But, back to the movie under review...

After unexpectedly winning the World Heavy Weight boxing title in Rocky II, the Bilboas get a taste of the good life. Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) also goes on to defend his title successfully several times. That is until an upstart, loud mouth youngster by the name of Clubber Lang (Mr.T) appears on the scene and challenges the champ to a fight for the title.

As with the previous two films, this one too is very good. But for me, the best scene in the whole movie is where Hulk Hogan gets to throw around Sylvester Stallone. It is simply hilarious and lends some much needed humor to what is otherwise a rather gloomy tale. Another interesting little tidbit is that Survivor wrote the hit Eye Of The Tiger specifically for this movie after Queen refused permission for the use of Another One Bites The Dust.

I rate this one 3 out of 5 stars also.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fHDMTQUClE

Hulk Hogan about to throw Sylvester Stallone like a sack of potato's  

ROCKY II (1979)

Featuring: Sylvester Stallone; Talia Shire; Burt Young; Carl Weathers

Director: Sylvester Stallone

As mentioned, Sylvester Stallone took a big gamble with his original concept for Rocky but it also paid off big time. Though it was made with a budget of less than a million dollars, it grossed in the region of $120million. So, when it came to making the first sequel, the budget grew to a more respectable seven million dollars. The film made that back in the first week of screening in the USA and went on totaling over $200million. The success of this movie franchise was further cemented when it received the People's Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture in 1980.

Rocky II opens up with the dying moments of the fight between Rocky Bilboa (Sylvester Stallone) and Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) from the first movie which ends in a split decision, awarding the win narrowly on points in favor of Creed. However, the reigning champ sees this as a insult and challenges Rocky to a rematch. But with everything going on in Rocky's life since the big fight, will he accept?

Even though this follow-up did not receive the same rave reviews as the original, it is still good in every aspect (even despite Stallone's often mumbling dialogue).

I rate it 3 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAtnLcXEZ_E

Rocky, the family man

ROCKY (1976)

Featuring: Sylverster Stallone; Talia Shire; Burt Young

Director: John G. Avildsen

With this year's Academy Awards ceremony (blunder and all!) still fresh in our memories, let's look at another Best Picture Award winner film. Interestingly enough, in all its years of existence, the Academy only ever awarded this accolade to three sports-themed movies: Million Dollar Baby in 2005, Chariots Of Fire in 1982 and, of cause, Rocky in 1977.

Rocky Bilboa (Sylverster Stallone) is a second rate boxer who never amounted to much in his chosen profession. So far the only thing he earned from it is the somewhat ironic moniker: 'Italian Stallion'. Therefor, and to make ends meet, he also has to work as enforcer for a local loan shark; something he is not very good at either. So, when the- once-in-a-lifetime opportunity arises to contend for the World Heavy Weight Title, he naturally and against all odds jumps at it. And so the saga begins...

The story was written by Sylvester Stallone himself. The film was produced and made with a puny budget (by today's standards anyhow). Everything was actually one big gamble. But, boy, did it pay off! Not only did it propel Stallone to super stardom and made a killing at the box office to boot (not even to mention the three Oscars it earned) it also lead to becoming one of the most successful movie franchises in Hollywood history resulting in no less than five sequels!

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link:   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfGTfBCSMkU

 The original cast.