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Rocky 4 [1986]
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Even more 1980s than ROCKY III, Rocky apparently has the answer on foreign policy between USSR and USA
Review date: 2007-11-02 Rating: 6 out of 10
ROCKY IV, billed as East meets West, is a pretty good action film from the 1980s. That doesn't mean it's a good Rocky movie as far as dramatic or Oscar worthy issues go, but it is one of those films you think of when you think of classic 1980s movies.
This time around, Rocky must fight Ivan Drago, a fighter from the USSR. Not only that, he must fight Drago in Russia itself for the climactic fight.
Ivan Drago comes to fight for the pride of Russia. He has an intense training schedule, and his charecteriation is over-the-top, catoonish, more fantasy than reality. Drago is unstoppable it appears. Apollo fights him (in attempts to regain something of a career) and is killed. So when Rocky decides to fight him, he must fight for not only his own national pride, but for his life and the honour of his friend as well.
The film very much focuses the differing contrast between Russia and America. Prime examples of this is the opening sequences for the two main fights that occur in the film.
The first fight features Apollo Creed, reprised again by Carl Weathers, against Drago. Now Creed is pretty desperate to get back into the spotlight, and he takes an exhibition match against Drago to help propel his fighting career and to get his name out there again among the fans. To start the fight, Drago is alone on the stage in an underground area. The stage is then raised up from the lower pit into the ground floor of the arena. Then James Brown (the king of soul) begins to sing an over-the-top number called "Living in America", and Apollo Creed enters the arena from high above. The whole sequence is an exercise in how gaudy and excessive Americans can get. There are backup singers, dancers, big lights, and Apollo in his rather tacky red, white, and blue themed suit with a large hat. The whole sequence leaves one with a bad taste of the worst of Las Vegas. Very tacky.
Now, contrast that too the fight in Russia, where every one is reserved, and the fight is before Russian national leaders who are in attendance, as wella s the general crowd. A large billboard or flag is unfurled with Drago's image, but everyone is respectiful. It's a totally different atmosphere.
The second is the training. Drago is treated like a machine. All of his training is closely monitored via machinery and state-of-the-art monitoring equipment. Rocky, on the other hand, trains naturally in the Russian mountains. The training montage in this film is probably my favorite of the six Rocky films, as Drago's training is just so over the top compared to Rocky's. Then we get the immortal scene in which Rocky climbs a mountain ridge, and in an impressive panoramic shot of him high up on this mountain change he yells "DRAGO!!!!!", like he's ready to fight right then and there.
I can understand why people who are fans of the first two films (which are quite similar enough to be regard as two halves, almost) express disappointment in ROCKY III and IV. III is classic 1980s cheese, especially the fight with "Thunderlips" Hulk Hogan. Still, there is some dramatic tension in III (most of these scenes, tellingly enough, involve Burgess Meredith as Mickey).
IV, however, is so far removed from the gritty street drama of the first two films as to be unrecognizable. The characters are not nearly as narrowly defined as they are here. There's a lot of character and heart in ROCKY. In ROCKY IV, Stallone changes Rocky from being a very real, good hearted guy to being little more than the latest action movie hero. The characterization isn't nearly as strong in this movie as in the other Rocky films, and they're much more simplified. It also has the whole aging question where Rocky questions if he's too old to fight (strangely enough this question has been debated by Rocky since the very first film). And the robot that Paulie gets is really over the top. Who the hell wrote that into the script, Stallone?
The worst part about ROCKY IV is the very end. Even though Drago is apparently unstoppable, a superhuman god, and even killed Apollo pretty easily, somehow he beats the hell out of Rocky but Rocky still comes out victorious.
And then we get to the most heinous, ridiculous moment in Stallone's career. The "We can change" speech.
Now remember, ROCKY IV came out in 1985, when Russina/US relationships were at a breaking point. There was trouble on the international front. And then we get this piece of tripe.
During the course of the fight, the Russian people go from actively hostile toward Rocky to chanting his name. Rather ridiculous, given the political climate of the time, but whatever. Then the Russian leaders give Rocky a standing ovation. Then we get to the most sentimental tripe Stallone ever had the bad graces to write.
Basically, Rocky says that he's changed, and so did the Russians in their attitude toward him. Then, in one big feel good moment, he yells "We can all change!" Yeah, like a single fight between Rocky and Drago will change international politics forever.
As gaudy and tacky as the Las Vegas intro of Apollo Creed is in comparison to the Russian fight at the end of the movie, the same analogy could be said of ROCKY IV in comparison to ROCKY. ROCKY deserves an Oscar. ROCKY IV is nothing but an action flick with cartoon fighters.
That being said, don't think I don't like the movie. It's a great movie. Lots of fun, very 1980s. Watching it just takes you back to earlier times in your life. It's not nearly dramatically compelling or nearly good as the original ROCKY. But then again, it doesn't have to be. It's a much different film from the first. It can get cheesy at times, but it's one of those essential movies anyone who grew up in the 1980s must see.
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Reviews
The best
Review date: 2007-05-16 Rating: 10 out of 10
Anyone who says this is the worst is wrong wrong wrong. What a film, the training is superb and the fight is a master piece. The music is brilliant and the emotions of the fighters is superb. What a film the best of them all.
Decline of the Rocky Empire
Review date: 2007-05-13 Rating: 4 out of 10
By far, the worst in the series; Rocky 4 could well have been labelled Rambo boxes the Commies. The genuine affable working class hero is missing in this film. Here, he seems more like Borat;totally ignorant about Russians.
Dolph Lundgren's portrayal of Drago seems very proper to the American perception of the Soviets during the 1980's. Emotionless, robotic, and viewed as a menace, he doesn't have much to do. He is a far stronger boxer than Rocky and Appollo Creed put together. I can only see Mr T's Clubber Lang providing him with a few tough rounds. Can you imagine Rocky being jabbed in the face so many times and still having a chance...Only in Hollywood !!!
A sad case when an entire film score carries the film
Review date: 2007-02-28 Rating: 4 out of 10
Stallone once stated, in 1979, "that there wouldn't be a Rocky IV, i can guarantee that". Rocky IV was made after all, due to the continuing strength of the franchise, they were all bring huge buckets of money and this one reached the peak with the largest at the opening weekend of release in the States.
Following Rocky's win over Clubber Lang in Rocky III, his popularity is rekindled. Rocky is forced to come to terms to fight the new Soviet diposed boxer, the stone faced Ivon Drago, after his once enemy now best friend Apollo Creed falls victim to his strong punches.....
However, the story by this stage was running dry, aided by what some people call an entire music video comprising of Rocky's and Drago's fighting sequences in full, during this time. The story seems very sketchy and phony, a tad ridiculous in a way, would the Soviet's really go out to annoy America? It also looks rather embarrasing with the stilted cardboard cut out characters, ever proud, but never amusing to anyone but themselves, racist perhaps.
If you do enjoy Rocky, watch at your own pleasure, this should only be viewed by enthuastic Rocky fans.
masterpiece
Review date: 2007-02-02 Rating: 10 out of 10
i have the rocky boxset and thats great but its nice to review the films individually as well and rocky four is a masterpiece,now i hear some cry,did that guy just say masterpiece but there are circumstances that make rocky four a masterpiece.Firstly i have watched this film countless times,since i was a child and beyond and have never ever tired of it,secondly i know i will watch this hundreds of more times,thirdly the film is simple and easy to watch,its never a challenge,its a straightforward revenge movie,apollo creed is killed by ivan drago so rocky challenges him knowing that his own mortality is hanging in the balance.
The film flies by like concorde and is always over too soon,we get the usual training montages along with a brilliant soundtrack that always sends shivers racing up and down my spine,the ending is a little cheesy but i wouldnt have it any other way,perfection isnt easy but trust me when i say that rocky part four is a world class film.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Brigitte Nielsen
Burt Young
Dolph Lundgren
Sylvester Stallone
Talia Shire
Creators:
Sylvester Stallone (Primary Contributor)
Talia Shire (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: MGM Entertainment
Manufacturer: MGM Entertainment
EAN: 5039036029803
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2007-01-15
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 88 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1986
Language: English (Original Language)