In John G. Avildsen's ROCKY V, times are different for boxing champion Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). A lifetime of taking shots has terminated his career, and a crooked... more
Rocky V (5) DVD
Upon returning home from his latest triumph Rocky (Stallone) learns that all of his money ... more
has been lost by an unscrupulous financial advisor. To make matters worse his fight related injuries force his retirement from the ring. So Rocky his wife Adr...
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A review by welshwickedone on Rocky 5 (DVD) October 17th, 2006
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Indifferent to it
Story
Very ordinary
Characters / Performances
Good
Special Effects
Standard
Soundtrack
Average
Advantages:
Not that many .
Disadvantages:
A Rocky to far .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Rocky V (Film Review Only). ===========================
The Plot. ------------------------- Rocky returns from Russia after his fight with Ivan Drago only to be confronted with more than the hero's welcome. Health and financial problems lead to Rocky becoming a trainer at the gym Mighty Mick's which was left to him by his friend and former trainer Mickey Goldmill, where he soon discovers a new and talented boxer Tommy Gunn.
The Storyline. ------------------------- This film is directly continuing from Rocky IV with us joining Rocky in his hotel suite after the fight. After the party is over, they head back to America to face the waiting media. Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) and Adrian (Talia Shire) are greeted at the airport by there son Rocky Jnr (Sage Stallone) and they head of to give there long awaited press conference. There is a surprise in store for Rocky as he answers the media's questions when unexpected George Washington Duke (Richard Gant) a top boxing promoter lays down a challenge on Rocky's title. Adrian jumps in and tells all the press Rocky has retired (again) and Rocky is left speechless. Soon after a visit to the doctors brings bad news Rocky's way and soon more is to follow when he discovers that Paulie has signed over power of attorney to Rocky's less than legal attorney.
Rocky is left to face the fact that the entire Balboa fortune is gone as is any chance of him being licensed to box again due to a serious medical condition he has incurred due to all his fights. The Balboa's are forced to return to living in downtown Philadelphia and Adrian is back working at the pet shop where Rocky first met her, Rocky has only Mighty Mick's boxing club that Mickey left him to turn to and he re-opens it to earn some money. Rocky Jnr has it tough as well as he is now in a downtown Philadelphia school instead of a posh private school and the locals soon take advantage of him.
George Washington Duke will not take no for an answer to Rocky's fight refusal and continues to try to change his mind but with no joy. During training at the gym, one day Rocky is introduced to Tommy 'Machine' Gunn (Tommy Morrison) an up and coming want to be boxer from Oklahoma who admires Rocky and desperately want Rocky to train him. After some consideration, Rocky finally agrees to take on Tommy and whilst he begins to devote all his attention to Tommy, he starts to ignore his son Rocky Jnr who needs him knows more than ever. After many fights as Tommy hits, the big time he turns on Rocky and soon is under the wing of George Washington Duke, but what Tommy doesn't realise id that Washington Duke is just using him to try and get Rocky back in the ring.
Tommy Turns on Rocky and so does his son Rocky Jnr and poor Rocky is left once again not knowing which way to turn, until one day Tommy comes looking for Rocky to try and provoke him into a boxing match for his title. Rocky snaps and the fight begins, but this time in the street with street rules rather than the ring. Will this be the one fight to many for Rocky, will he defeat the young Gunn he trained, and will he ever make peace with his son. All will be revealed when you watch it.
Yes, here we go again Rocky Balboa is back again and the story continues with this man of iron who has retired more times then I have had cooked dinners. Do not get me wrong I love the first four Rocky films and I was really hoping to say the same for this film, but sadly, I cannot lie. This film does take a slightly different turn to the rest during the storyline but it still always ends in the same place with Rocky using his fists again even after he has supposedly retired.
Sylvester Stallone does not take on the role of director in this film, probably because he knew when he wrote this film that he might be pushing his luck with this story a little to far and how right he was. Instead, he has called back on the director of the original Rocky movie John G Avildsen in the hope that as he won an Oscar for his directing in Rocky one he could pull this film into more than what it really was. Although he tried his hardest, though even John Avildsen could not perform that miracle and this film must now haunt him, as it will always dwell sadly in the list of directed films as 'The Nightmare'. This poor man must sit down giving a long list of fantastic films he has directed for us in his interviews and then cough and murmurs the horrible words Rocky V, using his fingers to abbreviate the V.
Stallone does give a good Balboa character, but then again he has played it that often he probable screams 'Adrian' in his sleep these days, his let down though is the fact that he has had wonders done with his speech problems and now has to fake the Rocky accent making it horrible and very hard to understand in some places. What strikes me as funny though, is when he is in the Balboa mansion talking his speech is very much improved then suddenly they move back downtown and he is dull as ditchwater again. No, no, no, no, no, that is not how to act Mr Stallone.
Adrian goes from the well dressed Mrs Balboa to the Adrian in the woolly boots we really hoped we had lost, although I must give her great credit as her acting does her great credit yet again, but even she has that certain aroma in her tone as if to say here we go again, I think we might be flogging a dead horse her Sly. Burt Young does have a little larger role in this film as he is now Rocky's side kick in the Gym but that is about all as he is yet again made out to be the one who messed it all up and gets yelled at all the time.
Sage Stallone final gets a chance to star in one of his fathers films at last, but I bet he wishes he was in Rocky IV not Rocky V. He is a great actor and shows excellent potential even at his young age with his excellent performance. To be honest it is lucky that his character is given such a good and full role in this film, as this is one of the only characters who keep you watching in this film. You find yourself more concerned as to the Rocky Jnr storyline than even caring what happens to Rocky, or at least I did. He really is a great asset to the acting industry and his father Sly should be extremely proud of him, it is no wonder that he has had such great success since in his career when you watch his brilliant performance in this film.
Richard Gant, what can I say? He gives the most horrible and annoying performance I have had to suffer in a long time in this film and he should hold his head in shame for it. If I were Balboa and someone slobbered abuse and insults at me in an over dramatic way such as he did, I would have hit him to he was seeing rings not just stand there like a doped up puppy taking the bait. Somebody should tell M r Gant there is no law against speaking your lines in a film you do not need to shout all of them and add six layers of spit to everyone's face when you do. Tommy Morrison, ah yes, Mr Gunn. What a pathetic performance which gives us a good insight in how to stand a look like a dummy pumped up on steroids, who reads his lines and sounds as flat as a pancake when he does. The one good thing about his appearance in this whole film is when he actually gets the smack in the gob he really deserves for his performance if nothing else.
We get several flashbacks in this film of the great Burgess Meredith, but some of these are also voice overs by the man himself and it is lovely to remember his performances in the previous films, and although it is credited that Tony Burton 'Trainer Duke' is in all the Rocky films, he is but sadly only for a few minutes in this one. Shame rally a bit more from him may have helped the entertainment value of this film.
Technical Information. ------------------------------------- Rocky Balboa Sylvester Stallone Adrian Balboa Talia Shire Paulie Pennino Burt Young Rocky Jnr Sage Stallone Duke (Trainer) Tony Burton Tommy 'Machine' Gunn Tommy Morrison George Washington Duke Richard Gant Mickey Goldmill Burgess Meredith. Union Cane Michael Williams Dolph Lundgren Ivan Drago (archive footage) (uncredited)
Director John G Avildsen Written By Sylvester Stallone.
Language English Certificate PG Run Time 104 mins approx
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Fact File. --------------------
Ok that's my review of the five Rocky films and as you can see the Rocky V in my opinion was one Rocky too many for me. However, if you think that is it, the Rocky Horror is over then I am afraid I am the bearer of bad tidings. Rocky Balboa (Rocky VI) is to be released on DVD in 2007 and yes Rocky is coming out of retirement again. This match will see him fight a young fighter in what I can only imagine to be a disaster if nothing else. We may have a bit of comedy in this one though as he throws a left-hander with his pension book and watch out for the Right with the walking stick. The opponent wants to watch that his punches do not bounce off Rocky's wrinkles too, Lol. .....Sorry could not resist.
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The Verdict. ---------------------- One Rocky to any and a poor rating of only 6/10, 5 of them for just Sage Stallone's performance and one for the rest.
Advantages: fairly good acting, finished off the story, great soundtrack Disadvantages: weaker than the previous ones, lack of fighting with Rocky, Pauley was annoying
Rocky has the good life now he defeated his last opponent and is now living life to the full in his big house and mounds of money, that is until they loose it all! Pauley signed over power of attorney to their accountant who has lost the money and now Rocky and family are forced to move back to their old house and lifestyle. Rocky is challenged to fight but as he is ill from all his beatings he is in retirement and unable to fight on medical grounds. ... ...Tommy turns up and asks Rocky to train him. Unsure at first Rocky sends him on his way but soon he agrees to the job and Tommy is soon part of the family. Tommy does well and soon he feels ready for the title fight but Rocky thinks he needs more experience. Tommy is getting a taste of the good life from a boxing promoter who offers him what Rocky wont. Will Tommy betray Rocky and go with the promoter and just what consequences will Tommy’s role in ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: more action from Balboa Disadvantages: a bit slow compared to it redecessors.
...(14 years after starting the Rocky format), this 5th in line sees Rocky finally retire from boxing due to some severe hammerings from previous fights… **BRIEF PLOT**
With Rocky, (played by Sylvester Stallone) becoming Bankrupt, due to some very unfortunate dealings from his accountant, he and his wife Adrian, (played by Talia Shire) and there son, Robert, (played by Stallones real life son, Sage), are forced to move back to the slums they came from ... ...(played by Richard Gant) offers Rocky a chance to fight an up and coming new star called Union Cane, (played by Michael Williams), but due to bad health, after many severe beatings during his career, Rocky finally retires and gives up the world title…only his ego has other ideas…..
When Rocky visits his old stomping ground, the gymnasium where he trained and the streets he ran around, he spots a future for himself in the form of a young fighter ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
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 ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Out of all the Rocky sequels, Rocky 5 is one
of the best ones, and it's the last one in the series. Even more surprising is that the film has good acting, great scenes, and it's very realistic too.
Sylvester Stallone even wrote the story for it. After his last fight,with the Russian Drago, Balboa (Stallone) starts to feel pain, which turns out to be a concussion to his brain which has left him in pain.
As added damaged Balboa, finds out that Uncle ... ...whose number 1.
Rocky 5 is more intense than the horrible Rocky 4
movie and has better acting.
In another scene, Balbao starts having flashbacks to his glory years with his manager Micki (Burgess Meredith) , it's a very sentimental moment.
In another scene I like, is when Adrian talks to
Rocky about how much she loves him and how no matter tough things get, she will always stick by him. This is actually in all the Rocky movies, Rocky gets hurt, ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: good film Disadvantages: american propaganda
...the TV Guide and realised Rocky 5 was on, I felt this sudden urge to write a review about it. I have watched Rocky so many times, but what came to my mind was one of my History lessons a couple of years a go. I hope you will find the new spin on Rocky 5 interesting. I could write about the film, which I am sure most of you have watched. Yes, it’s very good, Stallone is very good and after a long and traumatic road come up triumph. But, I just ... ...emotions. Where as Rocky is a man who has triumphed and will triumph again after he conquers the ‘bad’ Russian and the country. It’s a one man crusade against Russia and of course Sly is triumphant.
At the end when Sly wins, it is a sign of the Americans winning and bowing into the Russians. Subconsciously, people watched this film all around the world and took in the view of the Russians surely people weren’t that naïve ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: great storyline, brilliant features, loadsa humour Disadvantages: None that i can think of right now
...the Princess.
I won't spoil the rest for you!
Mike Myers is fabulous as Shrek, with a dry wit, and a great voice for it. Not an obvious choice, I'll admit, but definitely the right one!
Eddie Murphy, what can you say about him? He is just perfect for the donkey!
John Lithgow, the ex-Shakespearian actor, manages to bring big voice to little Farquaad, and Cameron Diaz plays the Princess beautifully.
The special effects, well, all you need to know is that this film took 5 years to make! That says it all, and it's flawless.
The soundtrack is groovy, funky and rocky. It's got bits and pieces everywhere, and on the DVD is a Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke party at the end!
You do get quite a few extras with this, including:
Shrek's revoice studio (DVD Rom only)
Interactive Games
Character interviews (these are brilliant)
Filmmaker...
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Plot: Times are hard for Rocky Balboa. A lifetime of taking punches has terminated his boxing career and a crooked accountant has left him in financial difficulties. The Balboa family moves back to its roots in a downtown neighbourhood where an aspiring boxer turns to the champ for training....
Release details
DVD Region: DVD
Studio(s): MGM ENTERTAINMENT; 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT, BOULEVARD ENTERTAIMENT; D3 DIRECT
Release date: 15/01/2007
No of Discs: 1
Catalogue No: 2017201000
Barcode: 5039036029810
Languages
Main Language: English
DVD Description
In John G. Avildsen's ROCKY V, times are different for boxing champion Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). A lifetime of taking shots has terminated his career, and a crooked accountant has left him bankrupt. In this final chapter of the ROCKY series, the Balboa family is forced to return to their gritty beginnings in the old neighbourhood, attempting to start their lives anew. Life in Philadelphia means a lot of adjustment for the once-wealthy Balboa family--Adrian (Talia Shire) has to return to her job at the pet store, Rocky Jr. (Sage Stallone) struggles to endure a punishingly tough high school, and Rocky is forced to face that his championship career is finally over. Soon, though, Rocky returns to what he knows best--boxing. He becomes a manager for Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison), an up-and-coming boxer, teaching him all of the tricks of the trade. Inspired by the memory of his own trainer, Mickey (Burgess Meredith), Rocky is able to find glory in training. However, Tommy leaves his tutelage for George W. Duke (Richard Gant), a flashy Don King-like promoter, and Rocky's rage and sense of betrayal inspire him to fight one final grudge match. Young Tommy and Rocky duke it out in a bloody street fight that recalls the brutal glory and hard-knocks finale of the original ROCKY.
Technical information
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Wide Screen
Sound: Dolby Digital
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