A worthy entry in the series - really!

Rating: 7/10 (12 April 2008)

I just watched Rocky V again for the first time in a few years. I have always maintained it is a better film than many give it credit for and wasn't disappointed. Okay, there are a few flaws such as the way in which Rocky loses his fortune is unconvincing; a few scenes such as the press conference following Rocky's return from Moscow could have been tighter; the fight scene at the end is a little anti-climatic.
However, there are some great things about the film too: the opening & closing credits for one; the references to earlier films including the Mickey flashbacks; the whole 'back to the streets' scenario. 'Rocky Balboa' picks up on some of the threads from Rocky 5, notably the father-son relationship. I can see why people found Rocky 5 a disappointing ending to the series (as it appeared to be in 1990) but in the light of Rocky Balboa, it becomes a worthy addition to a great series!