I trawl through the best and worst that modern entertainment has to offer, putting my health and my ...
I trawl through the best and worst that modern entertainment has to offer, putting my health and my santiy on the line, so you don't have to. Read more about my exploits in my reviews. I try to make them informative and fun at the same time.
Member since:13.10.2009
Reviews:42
Every franchise has a low point, 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 savings in a dodgy property deal and lost everything. He's unable to fight again after a brain scan reveals that years of blocking punches with his head have begun to take their 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 his brain damage. Rocky refuses, but its obvious Duke won't be put off that easily.
Not long after, Rocky meets a young fighter named Tommy Gunn - he's hungry and eager to prove himself, reminding Rocky of his own humble beginnings. Seeing Gunn's potential, Rocky agrees to train him and it's not long before the victories start to pile up. But Tommy is growing impatient - he wants fame and fortune, and believes Rocky can't get him the big fights he craves. Before long, he's jumped ship with Duke and won the heavyweight title. But still the fans don't respect him, believing he's never fought anyone of Rocky's caliber. Angry and resentful, Gunn confronts Rocky, leading to a street brawl between the two in which Rocky takes a beating, but manages to rally himself and emerge victorious one more time.
Dealing as it does with the waning days of Rocky's career, part five was never going to be a popular entry in the series. I can kind of see what Stallone was trying to do by taking Rocky back to his roots, but this just wasn't the right way to go about it. Rocky isn't the talented young fighter he was back in 1976 - he's been through so much since then that it seems unfair for him to end up back where he started with nothing to show for it. Word has it that Stallone felt the same way, and the poor showing of this movie was one of his major reasons for writing Rocky Balboa.
There's a palpable sense of melancholy about this whole movie. It's the polar opposite of the original Rocky, and that negtive vibe filters through to the viewer like an oil slick. This could have been an inspiring, uplifting film if done properly, but instead it's just dull and depressing. For sixteen long years this was the finale to the Rocky series, and I can only say that I'm very glad Rocky Balboa came along to give the guy a proper send off.
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The Italian Stallion rediscovers his roots in this exciting, thrill-packed drama that ... more
reunites Sylvester Stallone with the Oscar-winning director of the original Rocky. Upon returning home from his latest triumph, Rocky Balboa (Stallone) learns that al...
![Rocky 5 [DVD] [1990]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78037928.jpg "Rocky 5 [DVD] [1990]")
Oct 13th, 2009
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