Rocky 5

I think this was the only Rocky film I never saw at the theater. I guess I'd had enough by then. However, I did catch this on VHS and, despite all the negative opinions I had read concerning it, I was glad I saw it. It was typical Rocky entertainment: hokey but satisfying and generally enjoyable.

Richard Gant did a nice job impersonating Don King and Tommy Morrison, a real-life fighter, turned out to be a pretty good actor. Again, we see the familiar characters of Rocky, still sounding stupid; wife Adrian, older-looking but still faithful to her husband, and Paulie, still a slob and a low-life.

The final scene provides the usual over-done fight with.....well, if you've seen the others and enjoyed them - the fights and the stories - you should like this, too.

This movies which has to come in its title number is the fifth best of the Rocky films. It has not got the same power as the first 2 but is still very emotionally tought and strong and sends across a message like the other movies. Stallone like he always has been is great with the part. The script really does have its moments of splendour and with sadness. Scenes such as Balboas recolections on the past and his time with his friend and coach Mickey. Extremely emotional movie but of course only in scene such as that and also when his wife tries to pur across he devoted love for the boxer. Its powerfuls and tought like the whole series is.

The films are the most realistic film series based on true life. True griet. True feelings and love. Now, Rocky loses his money plus gets brain damage, just how bad can a life get. Now not been able to box becomes a coach but soon gets betrayed by his student as another promoter with more money and power takes control of him and leaves Rocky all alone with nowhere to go.

Although there is no ring fight, do not worry as there is a more personel than ever with more strenght and skill in a tough and rough and mean street fight. Definatley the least best in the series but still not bad and not as bad as what people say as it does contain all life based aspects. Very good and absolutley worth a watch more times than the very bad Star Wars.

Often slated as the worst of the bunch, "Rocky V" is actually superior to the two films that preceded it. Unlike the glossy third and fourth entries, this one tries to be down-to-earth. Rocky loses his money, and is forced to go back to his old neighborhood. Back in the grime of his past. That's where he belongs, not in a mansion!

Granted, there is some cheese on display here. The music is dated and some of the dialogue is just too obvious - the reporters at the press conference pressure Rocky in all kinds of ridiculous ways. I also don't understand the patriotic references; why is the villain "George Washington" Duke and why does he say "only in America" at the end? (only in America can Rocky prove his superiority in a street brawl?) It's also silly that the film is set right after "Rocky IV," since all of the actors have visibly aged.

Nevertheless, there's good stuff here. Paulie finally redeems himself, and Tommy's corruption is an interesting counterpoint to how Rocky's career developed. The final battle is very satisfying, particularly the visions of Mickey which inspire Rocky to get up for "one more round!!!" Ah, how I love the moment when he rises to kick Tommy's butt. Dah-dah-dum-dum-dum-dee-dah-dah-dah! (etc.)

I also love the last line - a great summary of what Rocky's character is all about.

For some reason or another, certain movies achieve a reputation as being worse than they actually are. Rocky V is one such film that is affected by the – as I call it – Phantom Menace syndrome. This refers to Movies that are interesting in their own way but fail to live up to the hype or expectation of previous instalments, or simply do not follow the formula that everyone derided for being too predictable anyway. For me, Rocky V is the best of the sequels to the 1976 original, as it does not follow in the Rocky tradition of simply having a bigger guy to fight than in the previous film. Rocky IV was a great spectacle but it was more comical than anything to think that an entire Russian government could be funding one over-sized boxer who could kill a man with one flurry of punches, not to mention turn a blind eye to illegal doping. The fifth instalment in the anthology goes back to the more personal story of the character, and deals much more realistically with the aftermath of loss and the twisted nature of professional prize fighting.

Stallone recruited his own son for the role of Robert (Rocky's son) and the result is one of the best father son relationships ever committed to celluloid. The scene where Rocky realises that he has been a negligent father and must make his peace with the boy is affectionate and heartfelt and could never been as realistic without the real life history behind these two people.

OK, there are some flaws and I am not too naive to suggest this movie is worthy of an Oscar. The casting of Tommy 'The Machine' Gunn could have been better as real life boxer Tommy Morrison sometimes appears wooden and is never really threatening enough to Rocky for the final fight to have any tangible tension. Similarly, aside from the final tune of Elton John's 'The measure of a man' the music does not measure up to the awesome and inspirational anthems that have accompanied previous instalments. Any Flick in the early nineties that used rap music as its primary soundtrack has ultimately dated for a modern audience.

My advice would be to watch this movie in full before you judge it. There are some sad moments in this fall from grace story as well as few goofs in terms of weak acting. But it's not as bad as people say and as the sixth instalment nears completion it's about time everyone got back into the Rocky spirit for one more round.

A good film. 7/10

I'm absolutely amazed at the awful reviews people have given this film. I thought it was great!! Ok, I did have the advantage of seeing it on tv last night just after Van Damme's DREADFUL "A.W.O.L" but i still reckon Rocky 5 is a gem of a movie. Forget his voice (which CAN be irritating at times), Sylvester Stallone has the sharpest mind in Hollywood and he's highly accomplished in every field of movie-making. Boxers are the roughest and toughest of people but they're still human with the same feelings and vulnerabilities as everyone else & I think Stallone deserves MEGA respect for the compassion and understanding which shines through all 5 of the Rocky series. I don't think there's an emotion or a situation a boxer could face that Sly hasn't covered - and covered convincingly. The problem this film has always faced is that it appeals to a different, more thoughtful audience than the first 4. It's much more of a 'drama' than an 'action' movie. Take it as it is, and dramas don't come much better. The 'sugary' scenes between Rocky & his son are always particularly savaged in listings magazines. But what do they know! I found them genuinely touching. Here's a guy with a limited intellect desperately trying to reach out to his son and not really knowing how to express himself. Stallone CAN act! Talia Shire was electrifying & Richard Gant deliciously horrible as the thinly disguised Don King. "Touch me & I'll sue!" I remember seeing Rocky 4 at the cinema in 1986. At the time it seemed wonderful, but, all these years later the "isn't America wonderful" theme has aged badly and the flag-draped ending is just embarrassing. Rocky 5 hasn't aged a bit and remember Stallone was FORTY FOUR when 5 was made. He looked pretty damn good. The fight sequence near the end is as good as anything in the first 4. Yes! People were standing up in the theatre and yelling, every bit as much as a real fight, and this wasn't even "in the ring". I always remember the muffled roar of the audience when Stallone looks to camera just for a couple of seconds and we all knew Tommy Gunn was finally going to get his arse kicked. Sheer entertainment. I've heard Stallone is fond of saying to newcomers: "Forget the art. It's a business." Maybe it's because he thinks like that, that he produces such wonderful art. For me, Rocky 5 has to be 8 out of 10.