"Nothing is real if you don't believe in who you are".

Rating: 8/10 (14 March 2010)

You can't fault the Rocky films for being so similar to each other. They had a tried and true successful formula with a likable protagonist in a setting where the underdog had to overcome long odds to come out a winner. It's no different here, and Stallone manages to get it all done in under two hours. The fresh aspect offered in this film involve the Hulk Hogan appearance as a pro wrestling heel, and the presence of Mr.T in the flick that would propel him to 'Pity the Fool' stardom. I would have liked to see Burgess Meredith carry on as Mickey, but death in movies isn't always what it seems. You've got "Rocky V" to attest to that.
So this is the Rocky film in which Stallone is really ripped due to a personal training regimen, and perhaps owing somewhat to that 'Eye of the Tiger' theme song that we hear repeatedly. It's overly done in my estimation, but it worked for this entry in the series. I know that by this time a lot of folks were panning the series and Stallone personally, but there must be something to it as the Rocky films are a ubiquitous presence today on a variety of cable channels. My favorite would still be the original "Rocky", but in sequels, the franchise has enough to offer for viewers if taken one at a time, each with it's own message of hope and inspiration.