View Poll Results: Which Part V Do You Believe the Superior Film and Contribution?
Rocky V
5
62.50%
Love on the Run
0
0%
Twikoff Part 6
3
37.50%
Voters: 8. You may not vote on this poll
The Better Part V: Rocky V or Love on the Run?
08-02-05 | 04:38 PM
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The Better Part V: Rocky V or Love on the Run?
We have here two epic pentalogies, though each is epic for different reasons. The fifth entry is largest considered the weakest effort in both of the respective series and is currently the final entry in both. It is also generally considered that each of the series could have ended favorably with the fourth episode.
The question is which is the superior film on its own merit and on its overall contribution to its respective series, not which series is better. I vote for Rocky V as the superior film and contribution, and I have to defend the position by actually saying that Doinel's adventures became too formulaic for the story's own good and not attributing that critique to the Rocky franchise.
Both films deal with returning to the beginning. Rocky is broke and must return to his own neighborhood. Doinel is still looking for the next woman after joyously divorcing his wife, never settling down, and never knowing when he has what he needs. Rocky's situation puts him in an old place but presents another challenge. Doinel's return to skirt-chasing is just too expected, and it detracted from the previous installments, because Doinel never really grew at all, but merely aged.
After watching the Doinel series back-to-back, the "clip-show" composition of Love on the Run was the exact opposite of the enjoyable viewing and intellectually stimulating experience I was hoping for. Rocky's stories were never particularly intellectually stimulating, to be fair, but there has always been a strong emotional connection with the character and his achievements, a connection that did not remain with Doinel after half-way through Stolen Kisses. That, and Rocky V used the "flashback" convention much more tastefully, in my opinion.
I've left a lot unsaid about both, but that is just part of what I'm thinking on the subject. Which do you prefer?
The question is which is the superior film on its own merit and on its overall contribution to its respective series, not which series is better. I vote for Rocky V as the superior film and contribution, and I have to defend the position by actually saying that Doinel's adventures became too formulaic for the story's own good and not attributing that critique to the Rocky franchise.
Both films deal with returning to the beginning. Rocky is broke and must return to his own neighborhood. Doinel is still looking for the next woman after joyously divorcing his wife, never settling down, and never knowing when he has what he needs. Rocky's situation puts him in an old place but presents another challenge. Doinel's return to skirt-chasing is just too expected, and it detracted from the previous installments, because Doinel never really grew at all, but merely aged.
After watching the Doinel series back-to-back, the "clip-show" composition of Love on the Run was the exact opposite of the enjoyable viewing and intellectually stimulating experience I was hoping for. Rocky's stories were never particularly intellectually stimulating, to be fair, but there has always been a strong emotional connection with the character and his achievements, a connection that did not remain with Doinel after half-way through Stolen Kisses. That, and Rocky V used the "flashback" convention much more tastefully, in my opinion.
I've left a lot unsaid about both, but that is just part of what I'm thinking on the subject. Which do you prefer?
