Rocky IV
Tags: comedy, cult, violence, flashback, action, tragedy, revenge

Plot synopsis:
Ivan Drago, a Russian Soviet boxer, arrives in the United States with his wife, Ludmilla, and a team of trainers from the USSR and Cuba. His manager, Nicolai Koloff, takes every opportunity to promote Drago's athleticism as a hallmark of Soviet superiority. Motivated by patriotism and an innate desire to prove himself, Apollo Creed challenges Drago to an exhibition bout. Rocky has reservations, but agrees to train Apollo despite his misgivings about the match. He asks Apollo whether the fight is against the Soviet, or "you against you?"
During a press conference regarding the match, hostility sparks between Apollo and Drago's respective camps. The boxing exhibition takes place at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Apollo enters the ring in an over-the-top patriotic entrance with James Brown performing "Living in America" complete with showgirls. The bout starts tamely with Apollo landing several punches that have no effect on Drago. It soon turns serious though, as Drago starts to retaliate with devastating effect. By the end of the first round, Rocky and Apollo's trainer, Duke, plead with him to give up, but Apollo refuses to do so, and tells Rocky not to stop the match no matter what. Drago continues to pummel him in the second round, Duke begs Rocky to throw in the towel. Eventually, Drago lands one final punch that knocks Apollo out and kills him. In the immediate aftermath, Drago displays no sense of remorse commenting to the assembled media: "If he dies, he dies."
Enraged by guilt and the Russians' cold indifference, Rocky challenges Drago himself. Drago's camp agrees to an unsanctioned 15-round fight in the Soviet Union on Christmas Day, an arrangement meant to protect Drago from the threats of violence he has been receiving in America. Rocky travels to the USSR without Adrian, setting up his training base in Krasnogourbinsk with only Duke and brother-in-law Paulie to accompany him. Duke opens up to Rocky, stating that he raised Apollo and that his death felt like a father losing his son. He expresses his love and faith in Balboa to prevail. To prepare for the match, Drago uses high-tech equipment, steroid enhancement, and a team of trainers and doctors monitoring his every movement. Rocky, on the other hand, lifts and throws heavy logs, chops down trees, pulls an overloaded snow sleigh with Paulie atop, jogs through heavy snow under treacherous icy conditions, and climbs the largest icy mountain. Adrian arrives unexpectedly to give Rocky her support after initially refusing to travel to the Soviet Union because of her worry that Rocky would be killed like Apollo.
Drago is introduced with an elaborate, patriotic ceremony and the home crowd is squarely on Drago's side and being hostile to Rocky the American as he approaches the ring. In contrast to his match with Apollo, Drago immediately goes on the offensive. Rocky takes a fierce pounding and is thrown and shoved across the ring but comes back toward the end of the second round and cuts Drago's left eye, stunning both the Russian and the crowd and prompting Rocky to continue punching even after the bell rings. While Duke and Paulie encourage Rocky, they remind him that Drago is not a machine, but a man. Drago ironically comments to his trainers that Rocky "is not human, he is like a piece of iron" after his trainers reprimand him for his performance against the "weak" American.
The two boxers continue their battle over the next dozen rounds, with Rocky managing to continually hold his ground despite Drago's powerful punches. His resilience rallies the previously hostile Soviet crowd to his side, which unsettles Drago to the point that he shoves Koloff off the ring for berating his performance. In the last round, Rocky attempts the Rope-a-dope tactic against Drago, a tactic that successfully worked against Clubber Lang. However, this tactic does not work with Drago. Rocky then goes toe to toe and lands rapid punches to the body of the Russian following shouted orders from Duke. Rocky follows up with punches to the face that daze Drago and finally cause him to fall to the canvas, winning by knockout to the shock of the Soviet politburo members watching the match. A bloody and battered Rocky gives a victory speech, acknowledging how the local crowd's disdain of him had turned to respect during the fight. He compares it to the animosity between Soviets and Americans, and says that seeing him and Drago fight was "better than 20 million," implying war between their two countries. Rocky finally declares, "If I can change, and you can change, then everybody can change!" The Soviet General Secretary stands and reluctantly applauds Rocky, and his aides follow suit. Rocky ends his speech by wishing his son watching the match on TV a Merry Christmas, and raises his arms into the air in victory as the crowd applauds.

Review: By now we are all aware of the story of how Stallone wrote the screenplay for Rocky in three days after watching a fight between an extreme underdog and a highly favoured champ.
I love that Rocky IV has some of the best training montages ever filmed.
Rocky IV starts fast and it ends hard and in between we are blessed with a great soundtrack and a beautiful montage of all the Rocky films to Robert Tepper's "There's No Easy Way Out"  And it is here that even though some will say that Stallone has substituted real human emotion with an MTV ersatz video, I think it works well.
Instead Of "Apollo Creed" or "Mr. T.," we now have "Ivan Drago,"(Dolph Lundgren) a giant Russian who is more like a machine.
He has the latest in technology, nutrition, etc., but you just know the much-smaller disadvantaged hero "Rocky Balboa" (Sylvester Stallone) will somehow find a way to chop this "Goliath" down.Minute-for-minute, this might be the most entertaining of all the Rocky films, and looks good on DVD despite some graininess in the first five minutes.
The sheer effort Dolph (Ivan Drago), Sylvester (Rocky Balboa) and Carl (Apollo Creed) must have gone into training for this film must have been truly awesome.
I must have been through at least 10 copies on video & one DVD.Obviously, the death of Apollo was heartbreaking to me, but Drago just seemed like a monster and I was eagerly awaiting the East Meets West clash in Russia, as Rocky avenges his friends death.Such an amazing film and way better than Rocky 5 (and, in my opinion, the other films as well) so please check this out - I don't think it's dated well, but to those around in the 80's you should definitely watch this film as soon as possible!.
I do not understand how this film can have such a low rating, this is undoubtedly the best movie in the saga "Rocky" so far.
Yes, this is a silly movie, but Ivan Drago is an intimidating opponent, and I think we all shed a tear or two when Apollo died.
Rocky IV has a fantastic villain and a great fight and will keep you entertained throughout the entire movie it may not be the best rocky but it sure is entertaining!.
I'm not too interested in boxing but even I know that punches don't sound like that, and no one gets hit as heavily and over such a long period of time as Dolph and Sly get during their bout and actually live.
He does get one of the best lines in the movie, and virtually his only line when he introduces himself to Rocky in the ring with "I must break you!"The little plot that the movie has is padded out with sequences of bad 80's music that play like music videos.
It is probally the most inspirational Rocky movie because of the way he trains for the fight and he is also attempting to avenge the death of his best friend.
I was a huge fan of his first three Rocky movies (which I consider to be great/classic) and "First Blood" (the first of the "Rambo" movies).In Rocky IV, Stallone turns the inspiring story of a no-name boxer who becomes world champion into part of the Cold War culture battle between the USA and USSR.
It was still a very silly movie (no doubt the next worst film in this series), but I'm curious now to see the latest in the franchise, "Rocky Balboa".
Sly Stallone (Rocky) does an excellent job in writing this movie in that he takes into account the monetary aspect of a successful fighters life, the world-weary syndrome of 'losing your edge', and finally redemption of a *personal* ideal.Rocky in this movie is a man who is *societally* successful-- he has a loving supportive wife, a maldisformed child, enough money to need everything he may want, and a supportive friends structure.
If you watch the movie, you realize that when the Russian crowd 'turns' on Drago and roots for Rocky-- that they too change.
This is the basis of the film, which begins with an exhibition bout between Apollo Creed and Russian fighter Ivan Drago.
Apollo dies in the ring, so Rocky must set things right with the free world by fighting Drago in Russia.
2) The new score is used to make a series of MTV-like videos poorly disguised as human drama.I guess a movie that runs about 90 minutes and features a 5-minute flashback sequence can't be very fresh or good anyway..
Part IV of the Rocky saga has Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) battling the intimidating Soviet athlete Drago (Dolph Lundgren), after he defeated Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) in an exhibition match.
Therefore, is a revenge match for Rocky in the heart of Russia.Like Rocky III, this is one of those movies I saw once when I was a little kid.
Dolph Lundgren is a formidable opponent as Drago to Rocky, and, throw in the two in the ring and you would get another epic fight of the century.Overall, it's another nice piece of sport drama movie and one of Stallone's best.Grade B+.
Rocky IV (1985, Dir. Sylvester Stallone) Rocky Balboa accompanies his friend Apollo Creed to the rings in a boxing match against a Russian Boxers named Ivan Drago.
He gains the help of Creed's former manager, Duke and travels to U.S.S.R to take on Drago.'Rocky IV' is unfortunately not as good as the previous three films.
The Rocky saga is just among the best ever however a lot of people consider Stallone as an idiot without talent and those sequel movies as just repetitive stupid fights !!
The soundtrack is incredible with hits like « burning heart », « no easy way out », « living in America » It's filled with essential values about family, friendship, life and there are plenty of very moving moments The directing and acting are wonderful, with great fights choreography and over the top newcomers !!
Rocky IV is the highest grossing sports movie of all-time World Wide, having made a whopping $300+ MILLION at the Box Office.This film also has got to be one of the most inspirational films I have ever seen!
It's a very emotional movie, I think it is the best of the Rocky series, with 3 coming in close behind..
What makes the film even funnier, is that we find out in Rocky five, that when Rocky went to Russia, his accountant took all of his money, and the fight with Drago damaged his eye so much that he can't make any more real money as a boxer, so its back to having nothing, like he started.
'Rocky IV' is no different - however, the movie came out like this: one part music video; one part flashback; and one part, the same old story.
Most financially successful entry in the ROCKY series follows Stallone as the titular character—as well as his pals Apollo Creed (Weathers), Adrian Balboa (Shire), Duke Evers (Burton), Paulie Pennino (Young) and Paulie's robot—as he gives support to formal rival and current best friend Creed, who has decided to take on an immensely muscular 6½ foot 260+ pounder named Ivan Drago (Lundgren) from the Soviet Union.
After Drago, an intimidating 6-foot-5, 261-pound Soviet boxer, literally destroys Creed in an exhibition match, Rocky goes to the heart of Russia for 15 pile-driving boxing rounds of revenge.
This movie came out before I was born, but I have been a great fan of Rocky's ever since I saw the first one, and this one is my favourite.Just watched it again tonight, and it's still as good as I remember!
The Russian hits 2000psi, making him a super human capable of blowing holes through peoples heads, therefore this is the best rocky movie sofar and i highly recommend you buy it!
Rocky's great incentive to beat the almost unbeatable and overcome his own personal battles shines through in his fighting, making this, in my opinion, the best Rocky movie made..
Putting that aside, what made Rocky IV so enjoyable for me was the great training montages, the in your face machoism, and when it came time for the final fight i was licking at the chops for Rocky to open up a can on Drago.
he looks v nice!!!i think this is the best  of the rocky movies although 1 and 3 are also pretty cool.
That's what makes the movie is so good, while it may be unbelievable to most people it still is a great film..
Rocky knew his challenge at hand and despite all the odds, (including that his best friend Apollo Creed got killed), was able to overcome them all.
STALLONE TAKES ROCKY TO HELL AND BACK AND DELIVERS ONE HECK OF A GOOD MOVIE..
I think this is the best of the ROCKY series, it is entertaining from beginning to end.
The end fight is the best boxing match filmed in the history of movies.
And even with all the montage, this may be the shortest Rocky film to date at just an hour and 32 minutes.Rocky's support system - wife Adrian (Talia Shire, looking the best she's looked in this series), comedy relief brother in law Paulie (Burt Young), corner man Duke (Tony Burton) - continue to supply goodwill for the viewers.
from the Awesome Training Sequences showing the Contrasting Styles from both Rocky and Drago to the Ending Fight..
Stallone once said that he ran out of ideas for the movie that explains the long training scenes.The fight itself is Very good as Rocky battles Drago.
the final fight is hands down the best in the series, and rocky 4 is one of my favorite movies of all time.
Sylvester Stallone returns as Rocky Balboa the prize fighter who this time takes on a Soviet superman named Ivan Drago(Dolph Lundgren) who punches really hard, seems Apollo Creed(Carl Weathers) made a very stupid move and picked the wrong opponent to come out of retirement to fight because Drago destroys him (Literally) and Rocky trains to get even for this deed.
Rocky 4 is a decent movie with an alright storyline that definitely has some enjoyable parts,but takes a lot of bad turns throughout.The movies cast is still great but I don't feel like their hearts were really in it as much this time around and that they were just doing it for the sake of making more money.I won't spoil it for anyone that hasn't seen this movie,but the decision they make for Appollo Creed,played by Carl Weathers,was a very bad decision,it was dark and really unexpected from this film series,and was definitely the biggest mistake made in this movie.I also really did not like the character Drago,he was suppose to be intimidating competition for Rocky,but I just found him irritating.Rocky 4 certainly has it moments but fans of the previous films will definitely be disappointed.A now retired Rocky faces a challenge from from the Soviet Union's top boxer,that soon becomes personal..
She even left things to be desired in "The Godfather," and here she speaks in a bizarre hush that sounds like she's back in the pet shop again.Fortunately, Sly wins us over with his best turn yet as Balboa, and the very nearly mute Dolph Lundgren does more than plod through the film going through the motions-- he provides the kind of opponent that we (the people who stuck with this series even in its doldrum days) have always desperately sought.As for the music, it's still not great, but James Brown's "Living in America" is, as is "No Easy Way Out." I'll take it any day over "Eye of the Tiger" or that nauseating "Gonna Fly Now." Shame on you, Bill Conti!Anyway, enjoy "Rocky IV"-- it's the closest to greatness this series ever came..
Rocky, on the verge of stupidity (which he achieves in the next film) over comes adversity (yet again) to fight a muscled bounded, steroid fueled monster Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren).
At the end of the fight, Rocky takes the mike, something he had no interest in for the first film.
1st watched 5/11/2002 - 2 out of 10(Dir-Sylvester Stallone): Badly made, weak entry in the series places the "Italion Stallion" against a supposedly invicible Russian fighter "Ivan Drago" after he kills Rocky's best friend(Apollo Creed) in an exhibition match.
He attempts to show that even Russians can route for the wonderful good American who never stops, by having the crowd change their chanting for Drago to Rocky midway in their match.
After iron man Drago (Dolph Lundgren), a highly intimidating 6-foot-5, 261-pound Soviet athlete, kills Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) in an exhibition match, Rocky comes to the heart of Russia for fifteen pile-driving boxing rounds of revenge.This is one of the shortest entries in the series.
Not that this is a bad movie, but it is a little light in the plot (even for a "Rocky" film) and seems to have been made purely to cash in on Cold War fervor.
The story this time has the Russians introducing a new fighter, drug-enhanced giant Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), to challenge Rocky.
After Drago kills Apollo in what was supposed to be an exhibition match, Rocky travels to Russia to avenge his friend in a match televised across the world on Christmas.Such a fun movie with great characters, memorable lines, and wonderful scenes.
Dolph Lundgren is absolutely phenomenal as the Russsian Boxer Ivan Drago and I think should have been given an Oscar for his performance.Stallone looks more physically built up than we saw him earlier in Rocky 3.
The fight at the end of the film is not that pacey as the one we saw in Rocky 3 against Mr. T.The great blockbuster music is the highlight.
"Hearts On Fire" by John Cafferty and "No Easy Way Out" by Robert Tepper are the best ones.The training sequences showing both Rocky's and Drago's at the same time was Sly's genius.
The best dialogue in the film was when Rocky tells his some that "when you can go one more round when you don't think you can makes all the difference in your life".
Its a boxing match lads come on.Ivan Drago has to be up there with Vader for movie villains.There's no conceivable way Rocky could ever win.Drago is stronger younger healthier quicker taller bigger and probably smarter!(and he's on steroids!) And man for a short haired woman Dragos wife is hot.The killing of Apollo is a brave move and a justifiable reason for Rocky to don the gloves one more time.Oh ya it was clearly murder the ref tries to split them up and Drago pushes the REF away!I know it sounds like I'm insulting the movie but its all these things that make it so good.Rocky buys Pauli a robot in 1985 and the artificial intelligence of it is still beyond anything today its absolutely ridiculous.The move to Russia for training was a great idea and feels fresh.I loved the contrasts in the fighters training methods although it looked like Drago was training harder.Tony,Apollos trainer does a great job of hyping Rocky and the audience up.He's not a machine he's a man with tears in his eyes and spit from his mouth.The fight I think is the best in the series.No human could ever survive it.One or two of the 10000 punches they each get would kill a man.It goes the distance of course.I only wish they got the usual 2 commentators for the fight.Don't know why because they do the Drago Apollo fight earlier but the new guys do a decent job as well.
Granted, it is probably the most painful Rocky movie to watch, but this is only pathos--not flaws in the film..
Rocky IV is a very good film with excellent acting by Sylvester Stallone as Rocky, Talia Shire as Adrian, Burt Young as Paulie, Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed, Dolph Lundgren as Ivan Drago and Brigitte Nielsen as Ludmilla.
I believe that this film is great for a 10 year old who will believe in a boxing match ending the Cold War (like I did when I was younger) However it clearly does not have the same character depth and plot that makes it a compelling and serious story..
Unfortunately, his friend and rival, "Apollo Creed" (Carl Weathers) doesn't share that same feeling and as a result he jumps at the chance to fight a new boxer from the Soviet Union named "Drago" (Dolph Lundgren).
Sylvester Stallone is back as rocky and he does a good job in this film selling the personal anguish in his character and you understand why he needs this fight.
This film was Dolph lundgrens break out role as Ivan drago and he was great as the robotic giant and it really worked.
Sylvester Stallone once again steps up as star, writer and director of this patriotic sequel as Rocky agrees to an exhibition match against cold-hearted(and genetically enhanced) Russian fighter Ivan Drago(Dolph Lundgren, well cast) who had dealt him a personal loss after brutally knocking out his friend Apollo Creed(Carl Weathers).
The movie starts off with Apollo Creed fighting an exhibition match against a Russian named Drago,, played by Dolph Lundgren.
****SPOILERS**** Saved for the great fight scenes the movie Rocky IV is just a retread of the previous four Rocky films with Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone, bucking the odds and winning against monstrous odds against an opponent who in real life would have made quick work of him in the two ever battered it out for real.
This time Rocky goes out of USA to fight a Russian boxer, Ivan Drago.
I especially like hearts on fire and War. This movie is very entertaining, but is probably the weakest film in the series.
Rocky 4 doesn't add much to the story except for Apollo Creed's death, and the movie doesn't take itself very seriously at times.