a hard review to write

Rating: 5/10 (3 March 2016)

Just for the record (because of my firm belief this database will survive to the 22nd century) before writing this review I watched all the Rockies one more time in sequence, including Rocky Balboa and Creed.
I can't be any fairer than that.
And this one is the "Rocky from Hell." It reminds me of the kids show where they show you a bunch of stuff and ask, "which one is not like the others?" Well, that's easy, this Rocky is not like the others.
The script is terrible, the direction is terrible, the pacing is terrible, the acting is weak (except for Talia Shire who ironically does her best work ever!), Tommy Morrison has no ability to connect the audience, he is not empathetic, and the final fight scene, which has about three false climaxes, is also terrible.
It is as if Stallone -- one of the people in Hollywood I admire most -- forgot everything he ever knew about film-making, and yet still did not trust anyone well enough to get a second opinion before he started shooting.