Rocky IV

Rating: 3/10 (2 April 2011)

The first film was brilliant, the second film wasn't bad, and the third film I think is a little underrated, but this is to me where the series started to sag, from the leading actor also directing, and winning a Razzie for doing so, Sylvester Stallone. Basically the film continues once again from where it left off, where Rocky Balboa (Razzie winning Stallone) had defeated Clubber Lang with the help and training of once opponent now good friend Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). Rocky is still bathing in the glory of being the Heavyweight Champion of the World, and then he hears of a new big star boxer from Russia, scientifically trained, with high tech equipment, the seemingly unbeatable Cpt. Ivan Drago (introducing Dolph Lundgren). Despite being out of the boxing ring for a few years, Apollo tells a fearful Rocky he will taking on the Russian adversary, and there was good reason to fear as Apollo is beaten to death in the match. Rocky blames himself for the death of his friend, and when he slowly starts to get himself back together he promises to avenge his death in the ring with Drago, but to do this he has to go to his home country. So he, Adrian (Razzie nominated Talia Shire) and Paulie (Razzie nominated Burt Young) travel to the USSR, and it seems for quite a while spend most of their time in the snow contemplating and stuff, while Drago and his wife Ludmilla Vobet (twice Razzie winning Brigitte Nielsen) promote themselves. After the usual montage of Rocky running and training, not once but twice or three times, too much, help from Apollo's former manager Duke (Tony Burton), and an argument and make-up with Adrian, he seems ready to fight. Finally it comes to the boxing match in this new country, Rocky is seemingly defending his title as well as being intent on destroying Drago, and obviously the fight goes on for over ten rounds, but when it looks hopeless he triumphs in the end. Also starring Michael Pataki as Nicoli Koloff, James Brown as Himself - The Godfather of Soul and Rocky Krakoff as Rocky Jr. Stallone is still reasonable as the up and down boxer, Shire is still okay as his concerned, and Weathers while he was on was alright too, there is a little something missing with the absence of Burgess Meredith. Well, the whole film has something missing, zing, it just feels all the same thing to the point where it is tiresome, especially the montage bits with different music, and the ridiculous long scenes in the snow are boring as hell, in fact, almost the whole is boring as hell, a pretty lacklustre boxing drama sequel. It won the Razzie for Worst Musical Score for Vince DiCola, and it was nominated for Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay. Adequate!