Revisiting "Rocky"
02-13-11 | 09:19 PM
#76
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Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
Rocky V:
After the high sheen of Rocky IV, the more low key nature of Rocky V is something of a relief. Unfortunately, the film gets off to a poor start with a contrived plot point about Rocky's accountant swindling all of his money. This puts him back on the streets where he grew up, but even with bringing back the original film's director, Rocky V can't recapture the spirit of the first three films. Tommy Gunn is a totally uninteresting character, and watching him fight instead of Rocky isn't satisfying. Even more annoying is that Rocky's diagnosed with brain damage, and therefore he can't fight, but he ends up fighting a two-bit punk not worthy to tie his shoes, but this time for free. Also, despite being a professional boxer for a decade and a half, Rocky is suddenly a street fighter with all kinds of fancy moves. Lame.
The one bright spot in the film is Rocky's relationship with his son, which only gets a real resolution in the next film. For scaling back the excess Rocky V is marginally better than Rocky IV, but both feel superfluous to the first three. Thankfully Stallone visited the character one more time to give him a true send off, because Rocky V isn't it.
After the high sheen of Rocky IV, the more low key nature of Rocky V is something of a relief. Unfortunately, the film gets off to a poor start with a contrived plot point about Rocky's accountant swindling all of his money. This puts him back on the streets where he grew up, but even with bringing back the original film's director, Rocky V can't recapture the spirit of the first three films. Tommy Gunn is a totally uninteresting character, and watching him fight instead of Rocky isn't satisfying. Even more annoying is that Rocky's diagnosed with brain damage, and therefore he can't fight, but he ends up fighting a two-bit punk not worthy to tie his shoes, but this time for free. Also, despite being a professional boxer for a decade and a half, Rocky is suddenly a street fighter with all kinds of fancy moves. Lame.
The one bright spot in the film is Rocky's relationship with his son, which only gets a real resolution in the next film. For scaling back the excess Rocky V is marginally better than Rocky IV, but both feel superfluous to the first three. Thankfully Stallone visited the character one more time to give him a true send off, because Rocky V isn't it.
There was an interview Sly did on that UK guys talk show (can't remember his name but he's very entertaining) where he asked Sly to go down the list and rate the rocky films on a scale of 1-10 - you can see Stallone somewhat cringe when he gets to V. He also makes the same face in an interview I saw somewhere online when he gets to V. He wasn't too fond of IV either.
02-14-11 | 01:18 AM
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Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
Rocky V is actually still in my list as one of the worst films ever made - I think it's a horribly half-ass made flick that Stallone just got a big check for.
There was an interview Sly did on that UK guys talk show (can't remember his name but he's very entertaining) where he asked Sly to go down the list and rate the rocky films on a scale of 1-10 - you can see Stallone somewhat cringe when he gets to V. He also makes the same face in an interview I saw somewhere online when he gets to V. He wasn't too fond of IV either.
There was an interview Sly did on that UK guys talk show (can't remember his name but he's very entertaining) where he asked Sly to go down the list and rate the rocky films on a scale of 1-10 - you can see Stallone somewhat cringe when he gets to V. He also makes the same face in an interview I saw somewhere online when he gets to V. He wasn't too fond of IV either.
02-14-11 | 04:33 PM
#82
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
^ One could almost classify IV as a non-musical musical, or more accurately a big mish-mash of MTV videos with bits of a movie placed throughout.
02-14-11 | 05:13 PM
#83
Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
Has everybody here read Stallone's amazing 200 Q&A session with AICN from December 2006? Relevant to this thread, very candid, and is one of the best things I've read on the internet.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Rounds 9 & 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Round 18
Round 19
Round 20
Conclusion
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Rounds 9 & 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Round 18
Round 19
Round 20
Conclusion
02-14-11 | 05:19 PM
#84
02-14-11 | 10:34 PM
#85
Thread Starter
Banned by request
Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
Rocky Balboa:
Taking an extended break from Rocky and seeing his career slowly diminish, Stallone came back strong with this unexpected sixth film. Ties to the first movie are strong, and while it does feel that sometimes this movie coasts on nostalgia, Stallone gives a truly fantastic performance and directs the film with sensitivity. After so many movies of seeing Rocky win at any cost, it was nice to see one more film where winning or losing didn't matter, but going the distance and taking the punches and moving on did. In terms of film quality, Rocky Balboa is only second to the original.
Taking an extended break from Rocky and seeing his career slowly diminish, Stallone came back strong with this unexpected sixth film. Ties to the first movie are strong, and while it does feel that sometimes this movie coasts on nostalgia, Stallone gives a truly fantastic performance and directs the film with sensitivity. After so many movies of seeing Rocky win at any cost, it was nice to see one more film where winning or losing didn't matter, but going the distance and taking the punches and moving on did. In terms of film quality, Rocky Balboa is only second to the original.
02-14-11 | 11:40 PM
#86
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
I haven't seen RB seen it first came out in theaters. I thought it was like a cheap remake of the original, and a nonstop cornball fest. Not fun cornball. Cringy cornball.
02-14-11 | 11:47 PM
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Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
Rocky Balboa:
Taking an extended break from Rocky and seeing his career slowly diminish, Stallone came back strong with this unexpected sixth film. Ties to the first movie are strong, and while it does feel that sometimes this movie coasts on nostalgia, Stallone gives a truly fantastic performance and directs the film with sensitivity. After so many movies of seeing Rocky win at any cost, it was nice to see one more film where winning or losing didn't matter, but going the distance and taking the punches and moving on did. In terms of film quality, Rocky Balboa is only second to the original.
Taking an extended break from Rocky and seeing his career slowly diminish, Stallone came back strong with this unexpected sixth film. Ties to the first movie are strong, and while it does feel that sometimes this movie coasts on nostalgia, Stallone gives a truly fantastic performance and directs the film with sensitivity. After so many movies of seeing Rocky win at any cost, it was nice to see one more film where winning or losing didn't matter, but going the distance and taking the punches and moving on did. In terms of film quality, Rocky Balboa is only second to the original.
02-15-11 | 12:04 AM
#88
Thread Starter
Banned by request
Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
Well, if you want to be realistic Rocky should have been killed in a fight years ago for the amount of punishment he takes. Complaining about it only in the last film is kind of silly.
02-15-11 | 02:51 PM
#89
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
Has everybody here read Stallone's amazing 200 Q&A session with AICN from December 2006? Relevant to this thread, very candid, and is one of the best things I've read on the internet.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Rounds 9 & 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Round 18
Round 19
Round 20
Conclusion
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Rounds 9 & 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Round 18
Round 19
Round 20
Conclusion
02-15-11 | 05:01 PM
#90
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02-15-11 | 09:16 PM
#91
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
Hell, given the punching pressure allegedly possessed by Ivan Drago, one punch should have been enough to decapitate him and not only killed Apollo, but turned him into a bloody pulp with little identifying characteristics.
02-15-11 | 11:22 PM
#92
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From: Formerly known as "Solid Snake PAC"/Denton, Tx
Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
also...it's very surprising on hearing his open question about a Death Wish Remake and what people would think of it.
Last edited by Solid Snake; 02-15-11 at 11:56 PM.
02-16-11 | 03:34 AM
#93
Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
Apollo was a someone who you could relate to, even if he did kind of become the villain in part II. His pride was hurt when people accused him of "carrying that bum."
Clubber Lang seemed pretty one dimensional. And considering he was supposed to be what Rocky was, but only tougher, he just sounded like an angry guy. We never found out why he was like that.
Drago was portrayed that way to make him appear like an opponent who couldn't feel. So the part when Duke says, "See! You cut him. He is a man!" carries more weight. It was like Rocky was fighting the Grim Reaper, only to find out he's just a man as well.
02-16-11 | 03:44 AM
#94
Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
It was like 90s cheese especially with it's rap soundtrack. Unlike the humanized and flawed characters of the original, Rocky V had cartoon characters, from the Don King cipher, no-personality Tommy Gunn and his Budweiser model girlfriend.
The relationship between father and son was pretty good though.
02-16-11 | 04:30 AM
#95
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
I break you.
4, 6, 2, 1, 3, 5, in order of preference. I just love 4. My favorite part is the montage of nature vs. technology. And I love how Dolph Lundgren barely says a word and carries the movie. And he's hot
That's why I can't wait to watch The Expendables.
Six is one of those rare occurrences in which a reimagining actually works. It totally felt like a Rocky film and felt like yes, this is the way the film should have gone. I thought it was a perfect follow-up/ending.
4, 6, 2, 1, 3, 5, in order of preference. I just love 4. My favorite part is the montage of nature vs. technology. And I love how Dolph Lundgren barely says a word and carries the movie. And he's hot
That's why I can't wait to watch The Expendables. Six is one of those rare occurrences in which a reimagining actually works. It totally felt like a Rocky film and felt like yes, this is the way the film should have gone. I thought it was a perfect follow-up/ending.
12-26-11 | 05:38 PM
#96
Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
Since I guess this is the ROCKY thread, a heads up on Bio Channel's 2-Hour special for it's 35th Anniversary tomorrow
http://www.biography.com/tv/biochann...iew-2176383311
Since it's "All six films", I wonder if the cringe-look will continue when he reaches Part V
http://www.biography.com/tv/biochann...iew-2176383311
Since it's "All six films", I wonder if the cringe-look will continue when he reaches Part V
12-26-11 | 05:53 PM
#97
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
Jeez, I really can't be the only one who likes part 5, can I?
12-26-11 | 07:21 PM
#99
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Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
"Rocky V" has really benefited from no longer being the conclusion of the series since "Rocky Balboa" has been released. It's still the worst in the series but it's far from unwatchable.
12-26-11 | 07:29 PM
#100
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Revisiting "Rocky"
Rocky isn't sixty in the movie though...he's in his 50s. George Foreman was 45 when he won his last title, so when Stallone saw that in real life, he found a way to bring the character back and still have some sense of realism to it. Plus, Mason Dixon breaks his hand in the first round...that's how Rocky is able to keep competitive with him.