I realise that it defies all reason, but this is my favourite in the series... (SPOILERS)

Rating: 7/10 (28 September 2001)

Subtlety and plausibility are entirely absent here, but to me this film remains the most entertaining in the "Rocky" series. Whether it be the death of Apollo Creed in the exhibition match, the training sequence filled with great music, or the climactic final fight, the film is unashamedly bombastic and carries me through its running time on a tide of euphoria that makes me ignore the silliness of it all. Dolph Lundgren makes a great villain, and it's only the final five minutes of breast-beating from one of "America's favourite fictional sons" - TM - that becomes almost too hard to take. The very idea that a hostile Russian crowd could be won over by someone showing a little guts is preposterous. Much like the whole movie, in fact; but I don't care, I like it!