Rocky IV | | Cast : | Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire | | Director : | Sylvester Stallone | | Studio : | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | November 27, 1985 | | DVD Released Date : | February 08, 2005 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed) | | Audience Rating : | PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 25, 2005 | | Summary | Oh, Sly, why, oh, why??? | Content
 | What this film really should have been called is:
"How to take the classic, academy-award winning best picture of 1976 and eventually end up with a campy, cartoonish movie with bad story, bad dialogue and bad acting...all so you can sell your soul for the box office bucks people will be stupid enough to pay to see this piece of crap!"
What? That didn't work for you?
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| Rating | | | Date | June 08, 2005 | | Summary | Another Rocky movie | Content
| This movie goes into madness and some craziness. Ivan Dragos kills Apollo in a fight. There is a cool training part where once they go to Rocky training and they go to the computer tested weirdo Ivan Dragos training. It shows you their different methods of training. This one was packed with action and drama. I mean now Rocky has two friends, Mickey and Apollo Creed. There sure was a bunch of slwo motion screaming and scary Russian music in this one. Buy this if you love the Rocky saga. God bless you and have a wonderful and exhilirating day. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 07, 2005 | | Summary | Rocky Meets Rambo, True...But for the Wrong Reasons | Content
| Well, how would you try to reach greater heights in a blockbuster boxing film where the star had already become champion and had even recaptured that title against a grueling foe? Sylvester Stallone answered that question by deciding to raise the stakes of the series to even higher emotional levels for ROCKY IV- he decided to pander to his audience's patriotism by putting Rocky against a fighter from the Soviet government and fighting for the honor of America.
An appealing plot, perhaps, but the problem is, Stallone sticks to the same constraints of the blockbuster formula he has been following since the second Rocky. But where those calculations were appealing without allowing the viewer to think twice about their reasoning (at least after the first watching of the films), here the cracks become noticeable as to show that the film is being painted by numbers. The opposing fighter kills a person Rocky cares about- again, Rocky declares a fight of revenge- again, Adrian tries to convince Rocky to not get back in the ring- again, Rocky's de rigeur training sequences are shown- again, Rocky does the unimaginable and defeats his foe- again.
But perhaps the biggest crime this film takes is the political stance it tries to incorporate. It never really works, as the hatred both the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. apparently have for each other hardly ever comes to the forefront (making the reason for Apollo's and Rocky's decision to fight the towering Ivan Drago all the more confusing), and when it does attempt to become explicit, what sputters out is pure mudslinging (i.e., the press conference discussing the Rocky-Drago matchup). It doesn't help, either, that instead of being a transcendent piece of work, like the first Rocky was, ROCKY IV practically screams 1985- not just through the pre-Gorbachev U.S.-U.S.S.R. relationship; the entire soundtrack is dated and almost as unaccomplished as the politics- and remains forever tied to that year. Also, if ROCKY IV was meant to be a just portrayal of a man from righteous America taking on the corrupt Soviet government, it's a very strange just portrayal, since it's the prejudices of the Americans that are shown more (namely through the American press) than the prejudices of the Soviets. So, perhaps a more accurate way of looking at ROCKY IV is to view it as two prejudiced sides fighting for each other without really knowing why, as confirmed by Rocky's decision to fight Drago "because I'm a fighter" and his delivery of a completely calculated speech at the end of his victory. These two events help illustrate why this film is arguably the weakest entry in the Rocky series.
And to add insult to injury, ROCKY IV here is given a very skimpy DVD treatment. Like the second and third films, the only benefits are a 1.85:1 widescreen transfer (plus an option to see the film in standard form, like the second, but strangely not the third) and a theatrical trailer. Again, the film has not been cleaned up. (DVD Features: 2 out of 5.) |
| Rating | | | Date | May 24, 2005 | | Summary | Stallone capable of unique achievement | Content
| Sly Stallone had an amazing ability to make an entirely watchable and even inspiring bad movie. One wonders how much was intentional in the Rocky films.
In this one, Rocky, somehow still alive after the beatings of Rocky I-III, and a Hulk Hogan backbreaker thrown in, survives to retire and live comfortably in his mansion. His old buddy, superior boxer Apollo Creed, comes out of retirement to fight the new terror of the heavyweight scene: Ivan Drago, a Soviet superhuman evil Communist monster that must be defeated.
This film is the pinnical of the absurdity that began the moment Stallone just sold Rocky out and made a series of moronic, violent movies with Rocky II. In this one, needless to say, Stallone will kill off a key character to milk his emotional Rocky moments, before orchestrating a masterful training sequence that will literally inspire every beer belly to do situps for at least a night or two.
While some may even despise Stallone's films for being racist, idiotic, etc, it can't be denied that he knew what he was doing. Rocky III was thought to be the end, but it didn't stop him. Rocky's insane beating by the Russian didn't kill him, no. Rocky's brain damage in part V apparently won't stop the Great Man from making Rocky VI. Apparently the continuing saga of a dim, short white heavyweight boxer who somehow beats superior opponents and is not on the take is of the utmost importance to America. Perhaps in Rocky VI scientists will disover what Rocky's cranium is composed of and synthesize that material for use as tank armor.
Stallone himself is also in ridiculous shape for this film, literally living the message of the film that if you can train hard enough, you'll be a star, too, if you persevere. He literally looks like he could go out on the circuit himself. And Dolph Lundgren does a superb job of basically not speaking and beating Rocky into hamburger with what sounds like a sledgehammer for a good half hour before yes, folks, I'm going to spoil the ending, Rocky then defeats 'the Russian' and saves the world from global thermonuclear war.
Yes, this film is highly recommended. It is a unique thing to make a totally watchable, obliviously ridiculous film over and over and still succeed. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 18, 2005 | | Summary | Red, White & Stallone, "IV" Glastnost Smackdown | Content
| "I must break you." - Ivan Drago informs Rocky Balboa his health insurance might not cover the beating he will get from him, but, Rocky gives as good a smackdown as he gets in "Rocky IV"
The fourth installment in the "Rocky" saga has the 2 Super Powers, the U.S. & the former U.S.S.R, going head-to-head in the boxing ring.
With the tragic death of Apollo Creed during an exhibition bout, "Rocky IV" has "The Italian Stallion" going up against Ivan Drago, a seven foot tall, Russian freak of nature, who is responsible for Apollo's death & has a punch in the 2000 PSI range.
Rocky looking for payback and healing America's hurt pride trys to get permission from the American Boxing Commission to sanction the fight. The Commission refuses to have Drago in another fight, especially going up against the heavyweight champ (this scene was cut from the film, but, can be glimpsed in the trailer with the Commissioner stating that Drago has had one professional fight with one man dead). The Commission also warns Rocky that if he fights Drago he will lose the Championship Belt.
The Russians step in & offer Rocky to fight Drago in their own country, as their guest, in a non-sanctioned bout on Christmas Day in Moscow. Rocky accepts the challenge & prepares to train for the next fight of his life.
Released during the Thanksgiving Day Weekend of 1985, "Rocky IV" went on to be the big hit of the holiday season and joined a list of propaganda style films that were released throughout '85 these included "Rambo", "White Nights", & "Spies Like Us".
The film itself gets the blood pumping. The scene when Rocky cuts Drago open under the eye, during the fight, had so many people leaping out of their seats & cheering in the theatres that I couldn't hear the movie for at least 2 minutes. Drago is the classic villian you love to hate, no matter what country he is from (he is basically a greedy, powerhungry jerk telling the Russian Premier, near the end of the film, he fights to win for himself and not his country. Major Jerkstore).
Unfortunately, MGM, once again, screws the fans again with this DVD release. "Rocky IV" is presented in the widescreen format, with Dolby Digital surround, and a trailer for a special feature. The new release also has DTS 5.1 surround, minus the trailer. |
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