Production Does Not Fix Reality

Rating: 3/10 (12 December 2007)

Loved this sequel when I was a child, however time has not been nice to this film, as it has become more riddled with flaws with each passing view. This is Sly's worst film, written or otherwise. Well, his acting is on par, but not great.
A major flaw, I believe, is how they minimized Ivan Drago to a mere caricature of himself with no personal history or character development. It did make it easier to hate the Russian and also made it easier to like Rocky. In fact, it's a ridiculous habit this series has throughout. I felt like there was history trying to be shown in Drago's character (new trainer in, old trainer out), but they wanted a cartoon instead of a movie with guts.
A cheap exploitation on over-ratcheted feelings during the end of the Cold War.
But it all gets so much worse...
It can not be forgiven that a boxer would throw a referee to the floor before the bell, keep hitting his opponent after the bell--and still win the fight! There has never been place in time where that is even remotely possible. Yet, it is written. How is this? How is it that Rocky just sat there like a baby and did not even get physical with Ivan Drago? That is not possible, for it is completely out of sync with the subtext of Rocky's rage "switch," as developed in the first three sequels. In life, it would have been a me-lay. In the case of Rocky, it needed to be as such. It was a must. All respect is lost for him after this.
By now, the characters are all clichés of themselves; the montages are all ridiculously cheesy and time consuming (for a reason; substance). It is just very bad. What is worse is how superficial and void this film is. When Rocky takes off in his Ferrari after Creed's death, the cinematographer has no problem stealing a few shots of the Ferrari's badge plate. So, they could not even do Apollo's death justice with a decent montage.
This stuff matters when millions of dollars are invested in a motion picture. To me it does, anyway. If they do not have the conviction of their own material, why should I respect it?
This movie was an excuse to show off Stallone's new nose job and body build.
Fails on most accounts.