Rocky V (Go For It)

Rating: 10/10 (17 April 2007)

This movie is about Rocky's life after boxing, and his fight with Ivan Drago. Rocky loses everything from his bank account, to his boxing career, but what makes this movie so special is the fact that he didn't lose his heart. Rocky as I'm sure any would begins to struggle with his new life, and has a hard time accepting his life as it now is. So Rocky begins to train boxers at Mighty Mick's Gynasium for a way to pastime and deal with his own personal pain. A young fighter Tommy Gunn begins to beg Rocky to take him under his wing, and manage him. Rocky to start off with is very reluctant to this idea, but with his heart and charisma he decides to but Tommy after gaining the fame and popularity that comes with sports signs with a unpopular very rude promoter George Washington Duke who was pro-positing Rocky to fight Union Cane the new heavyweight champ who won the belt after Rocky left it vacant to fight Ivan Drago to revenge Apollo Creed's death. This taunts Rocky because his wife Adrian won't let him fight due to brain damage, and wanting to keep him safe. After Rocky begins to train, and grow a relationship with Tommy his relationship with his family (Adrian, Paulie, Rocky Jr), begins to diminish as Rocky puts all his focus on Tommy. When Tommy turns on Rocky, Rocky knows he must fight once more to stop the taunting, so he can gain not the title back, but his family and self respect in a street fight showdown. Tommy won the belt in what I believe was a fixed fight by Duke because Union Cane showed no want, or desire to fight in a title defense. Sports writers taunt Tommy to fight a real fighter, and that Cane is just a paper champion which really angers him. I love this movie because it really brought by the character everyone came to love in the first two. Three and four just revolve around fighting, and not the character. I love how Rocky comes to realize what is important, and establishes a close bond with his son Rocky Jr(Sage Stallone). I love how Adrian shows her true love for Rocky by protecting him, all Duke wanted to do was make money off Rocky's popularity, mock him, and get him the reputation of a sellout just like he did with Tommy to get to Rocky if not for her this would of happened. The soundtrack was definitely no where near the heart felt original themes of Bill Conit. It does include to good songs though in Joey B. Ellis theme of the movie Go For It, and Elton John's Measure of a man which are both wonderful entertaining songs. They should have played Conti's Going the Distance, or Conquest during the street fight to better capture the heart of a Rocky fight. This movie in my mind goes the distance with heart, family, and passion. Rocky Balboa is a much better movie, but I'm glad they were both made as Rocky Balboa finishes the series on a high note, and restores the original magic of the first, something this entertaining thriller (ROCKY V) failed to do.