Action & Adventure > Avildsen, John G. Action & Adventure

Not as brainless as punch drunk as you'd think

Advantages: Inspring action and sharp dialogue in places
Disadvantages: Shouldve skipped from IV to VI in my opinion

The Rocky films are surprisingly a sharp set of stories which are not the '80s action movie hero with boxing gloves on' that you'd expect. They have the power to inspire the mind, make you chuckle and pull on the heart strings, unlike any of his action rivals of the time. This is the reason I rate them so highly. A couple of years before the (probably) final installment of the Rocky series came in, Warner Brothers released a slick box set entitled ...
...rash, doesn't it? The Rocky Anthology consists of Rockys 1 through 5: from the gritty opener in 1976 which made Stallone his name, to the uneccessary 'V' in 1990. That makes me wonder: is there a single film out there with the roman numeral 'V' ending the title which is any good??? Rocky V is certainly no exception to the rule. However, there is some real gold amongst the 6 disks here. Especially in the early installments before the Rocky franchise ...

runningman77 16.11.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Rocky Anthology (Ultimate Edition) (DVD)

The weak link in the series

Advantages: Burgess Meredith
Disadvantages: Depressing. A downbeat ending to the series

...and in this case it's Rocky V. Picking up immediately after the big fight at the end of the previous movie, Rocky is in the midst of celebrating his victory over Ivan Drago. But wait, all is not well. His hands start shaking uncontrollably, and he becomes confused and disoriented, apparently confusing Adrian with his dead manager Mickey. Returning to the States, things only get worse when Rocky finds out his double-dealing attorney has invested his ...
...toll. With no other option, Rocky and his family are forced to move back to their old neighbourhood in Philadelphia. Everything in Rocky's life is going backwards. He reopens Mickey's gym, moves into his old house, and even starts wearing his old clothes. His boxing days seem to be behind him, until one day he's approached by flamboyant boxing promoter George Washington Duke (clearly a parody of Don King) who wants to get him back in the ring despite ...

Dr-Jones 13.10.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Rocky 5 (DVD)

Rocky Yes

Advantages: The Whole Film
Disadvantages: -

...said in my review of Rocky Six (Rocky Balboa) there is nothing better than Rocky on Blu-Ray. Having the first Rocky on Blu-Ray really works. Right the run down. The World Heavyweight Championship Apollo Creed comes up with the idea of fighting a local Philadelphia underdog, Rocky. Creed does not initially take the fight seriously, but Rocky unexpectedly knocks him down in the first round and the match turns intense. And when I say intense I mean ...
...all of us, but without Rocky starting it. Do you think it would have court on? The training in this one I have to say is the best out of them all purely for its 'wow' factor, and it was the first time we heard the song which would be burned into our minds forever. Also because the film is so popular, Philadelphia Museum of Art has become a cultural icon amongst fans of the films. The soundtrack, I cant find a fault in it. All the songs were put into ...

t0mm 11.12.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Rocky Balboa (Blu-Ray)

Round two, and still going strong

Advantages: A solid follow-up, good performances, exciting fight scenes
Disadvantages: Doesn't quite live up to its predecessor

...of the movies in the Rocky series essentially represents Stallone's career at the time, charting his rise from obscurity (Rocky), his struggles to stay at the top (Rocky III and IV), his decline from the glory days (Rocky V), and his efforts to make a comeback (Rocky Balboa). Following this analogy, Rocky II is about his attempts to deal with his new-found fame and make his way in the world. Picking up immediately after the iconic fight that climaxed ...
...back his respect, he challenges Rocky to a rematch. Rocky declines, but as his financial problems continue to mount, he eventually relents and agrees to the rematch against Adrian's wishes. Mickey, his old trainer, initially advises him against it, but after witnessing Creed publicly insult Rocky, he agrees to train him again. Unlike last time, Creed takes this fight seriously, training with far greater intensity and determination. When they meet ...

Dr-Jones 13.10.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Rocky 2 (DVD)

Classics of '80s cinema

Advantages: classics
Disadvantages: acting

...in this 1970s classic as Rocky Balboa, a down and out low level boxer who gets a shot at the world championship as part of a PR exercise from the champ Appollo Creed. To Creed, it's just a bit of fun, but Rocky's got other ideas. In the film that started a series spanning twenty years, Stallone writes, directs and stars in this heart-warming action drama. IS IT ANY GOOD: I am somewhat ashamed to say that I only saw the Rocky films a few years back. ...
...is hard to rival, as Rocky does things we can really get behind, making his mark for the common man. The fight scenes are really well choreographed (as good as any in modern cinema) and add an authenticity to the movie that is lacking from Stallone's almost disabled performance. All in all, a feel good film, with basic acting and a basic storyline, but one that couldn't be less presumptuous, and therefore wins the hearts of all who see it. Quite ...

bruffyboy 15.05.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Rocky (Definitive Edition) (DVD)