Cold War,Patriotism And Revenge

Rating: 7/10 (23 October 2011)

The fourth installment of Rocky provides unusual themes from the first three films such as the Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union,American patriotism and revenge towards the death of a friend.This time around,star/writer/director Sylvester Stallone puts them all together in Rocky IV.The movie stars Stallone together with Talia Shire,Burt Young,Carl Weathers,Tony Burton - all whom have reprise their roles,together with Dolph Lundgren as Rocky's new opponent,Ivan Drago and Brigette Nielsen as Drago's wife.
Rocky IV has the story this time with Rocky Balboa,the heavyweight champion of the world.Also,he is now a good friend of his one-time nemesis, Apollo Creed.Rocky Balboa plans to retire from boxing after regaining his title from Clubber Lang.Motivated by patriotism and an innate desire to prove himself,Creed challenges Ivan Drago,an unknown amateur boxer from the Soviet Union who wants to make a bid to enter professional boxing to an exhibition bout. During the ensuing press conference, Apollo is accused of being a "has been" by Drago's manager. Livid, Apollo loses his temper, and a mêlée ensues. It is broken up and Apollo leaves the press conference abruptly vowing to "finish this in the ring".
Unfortunately,Apollo Creed is brutally slaughtered in the boxing ring during a lop-sided exhibition match against the Russian,an event that Rocky takes personally. Vowing revenge against Drago in the name of Creed and the United States, Rocky is invited to the Soviet Union for a match-up and hires Creed's former manager to get him in shape. While Drago trains using the latest technology,Rocky's ascetic preparations are a low-key affair of carrying logs up hills through knee-deep Russian snow.As everyone knew,the end of the movie has Rocky winning the match.
I consider Rocky IV definitely is considered has the most action-packed as compared to the first three films.Aside from that,it is enjoyable and entertaining in the sense the American patriotism was brought into the picture as one of its themes.Unfortunately,it has become shallow just and has leveled itself with Rambo,the other movie franchise of Stallone.It was also in this movie wherein Rocky has lost its punch and character development were set aside especially when a robot-like opponent was presented and revenge for a death of a friend was brought into the story.
Despite of its commercial success at the box office,I consider it the second worst Rocky installments behind Rocky,Rocky Balboa,Rocky II and Rocky III in that order.