Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago - Movie Review
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- čas přidán 21. 07. 2024
- Sylvester Stallone's Ultimate Director's Cut of Rocky IV played in theaters last week as part of a Fathom Event, and is now available on Video on Demand! As a huge fan of the series and Rocky IV, Brad checks out this new version to see if it's worth the watch!
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One thing I know is definitely better in this version is the fight scenes. When Apollo fights Drago, it’s 10 times more brutal and Apollo puts up more of a fight.
I also like that in this cut, Rocky actually was ready to throw in the towel, he was just too late rather than in the original where he hesitated.
I was an extra, I was a Russian Fight Fan. I was there when Drago lifted up his coach. We were all quite amused by it. I will let you in on the secret. Pataki had a harness under his suit, and he was lifted by a pulley. It was a great experience. The whole fight scene took a week to film. We got Churches Chicken and all the Pepsi we could drink. It spoiled me for other film shoots though. All we got to eat on The X-Files was a jar of Peanut Butter.
So you were in Vancouver?
@@TheWinstonSlip That's right. The Las Vegas scenes were filmed in Las Vegas after the Moscow scenes in Vancouver. Stallone filmed First Bood ( Rambo) in Hope BC, and he was impressed by our film crews. The outdoor winter scenes (DRAGO!!) were filmed in Jackson Hole Wyoming.
Thanks for sharing. :) That sucks regarding X-Files' shoot and only a jar of Peanut Butter. :/ The bread is out there.
we need director's cuts to other Stallone movies, like Nighthawks, Cobra, and Cliffhanger.
ESPECIALLY Cobra
at least the cut of nighthawks where rutger hauer's in the movie more.
@@charlottecorday8494 Yes!
@@austindolan7182 Agreed!
Cobra for sure because I remember reading that they were planning a 2 hour movie but the studio forced them to edit it down to 90 minutes or whatever.
When we were playing Creed 2 at my movie theater I would tell people that it's not as important to have seen Creed 1 as it was to have seen Rocky 4
Holy crap! Rocky IV causes The Day After!? No wonder John Lithgow's so pissed off at Stallone in Cliffhanger!
I must admit this version interests me some characters more fleshed out. This movie was my introduction to Rocky so i will always like Rocky 4.
Rocky V starts so promising with Rocky in the dressing room following the Drago fight and obviously suffering from the effects of being beaten in the head for 12 rounds. It's a vulnerable side of the character that was missing in the last several films as he became an indestructible robot. After the second film (my favourite) it got silly and drifted away from being a character study and more of a cartoon. I was hoping that from that opening scene it was going to return Rocky to his origins, but once Tommy Gunn was introduced the story gets very predictable. At least they had the common sense to remove that robot.
Rocky IV has always been my second favorite of the series, behind the first one. It is just so over the top and entertaining. It fits right alongside Rambo First Blood Part II in it's 80s nostalgia. The director's cut was a decent attempt to ground this episode, but I would stick with the original.
Stallone definitely wanted Rambo and Rocky to be part of the same universe that is why he wanted the Soviets to be pissed after his speech. So as a fan you should watch this cut and immediately after watch Rambo 3. Makes sense to me.
The directors cut of Rocky V is on CZcams, and it’s far superior to the theatrical version
That would not be hard. I mean I like V but damn if it's not a rough watch in places.
@@Amanda_Harper What’s most surprising is how solid of a film it is with those additional pieces, outlining what was missing from the theatrical cut that damned its appeal
@@wdfmidevil I'll have to check it out. I loved the idea behind V. I mean we had the faltering rise, the sustained champion, so the fall to relative obscurity makes for a compelling storyline. But the theatrical cut was so so flawed. Thanks for the referral, I think that's next weeks Friday night movie scheduled. ;-)
I actually commented on one of Stallone's IG posts about "can we get a producer's cut on Rocky V, but keep in the punch to George Washington Duke at the end?"
His account actually liked the comment. So, who knows.
Where? Can you please link it?
Rocky IV is probably my favourite of the series. It can get pretty goofy but it also has the wonderfully brutal fight of attrition between Rocky and Drago where both go to their limits and beyond. I also like the theatrical end better with the Russian president clapping because it very much shows the spirit of sportsmanship that bridges the ideological gap.
I like the Rocky movies. They have been like growing with Rocky, watching his development from the start. Seeing Rocky at the beginning with little money, training local as an amateur boxer. The films have a reality about them that we can relate to whatever career move you choose. Rocky is also very loyal to his his wife, family and friends. Even when he becomes the champion, rich and successful he is devoted to Adrian and his son. This is what makes Rocky 3 so painful to watch is his hurt when Micky dies. Rocky Balboa just comes across as a likeable character who remains grounded. Even when he tries to retire he knows that he is always going to be challenged. Rocky IV I really enjoy watching. It is just so powerful you really gauge with Rocky. The music, the excitement. My partner would disagree as he prefers the first 2 movies. Unfortunately I watched 3 first so 3 and IV are my favourites. I don't even mind the one where he trains Tommy (which got slated).
I became a fan of Stallone with Rocky IV when I was 12. I still listen to the OST. I'm excited to see this new cut and I must say I'm happy the robot is out! 😁
Absolutely love Rock IV.... Well the franchise in general means so much to my family and I... It's almost as of Rocky is a relative in my household or something lol
Same! Totally agree :)
Im not gonnanlie thats beautiful and actually quite a testament to Stallone and what he brought to the character.
Rocky IV is my all time favorite Rocky movie because it was over the top fun, this however is a more serious take and I liked it but the theatrical version is still the perfect version and a product of his time
Hang on, Vince DiCola did the score for Rocky IV? As in "The Transformers: The Movie" Vince DiCola? What???
Yup.
They should have added a scene where a digitally de-aged Sylvester Stallone smashes the robot as part of his training.
As far as story wise I would say Rocky 4 ranks 5th in the series with 1, 2, 3, and Balboa being better.
As far as my personal favorite in the series it is Rocky 4 without a doubt. I love part 4 better than any other Rocky movie.
Rocky IV is the only Rocky movie I’ve ever seen, and I love it.
Looking at the boxes in the back, I saw Victory. Any chance you'll do that one as a review? I remember watching it on cable all the time when it came out, because 'Hey! We have to run movies 24/7 now!" Same thing with "Under the Rainbow," but at least it had half naked Carrie Fisher in it for a good portion of that movie!
I'll say right out that I haven't actually seen any of the Rocky films. I'm too young to have been part of the phenomenon at the time, and my household was commanded by one parent who doesn't like Stallone and the other who doesn't like boxing. (Funny enough though she's the one that came with me to see this, ha.) I do know the reputation of Rocky IV, though, and I did see the Nostalgia Critic episode on it when that came out, so I knew what to expect.
So as someone who saw the director's cut before the theatrical, I don't really get what you mean about it feeling jumbled. The transitions were abrupt, I'll give it that; you want time to breathe after Apollo's death? Too bad we're at the funeral now! But it still felt coherent enough to keep up with. It might have been jarring but I still understood why we were suddenly over here now.
I dunno. I'll probably pick it up to add to my collection, alongside my boxset of the series. The insights from Stallone where super cool, at least, I'm really glad I got to see those!
It’s so odd how you can go from the wackiness of Rocky IV and go to the character driven Creed II as a follow up.
By the way, my family and I had a double feature of Rocky IV and Rocky Horror because it somewhat rhymed.
There's an alternate version of Rocky V too. It is a fan-cut using deleted scenes, etc. But it does show that there is stuff from the film that could be used.
I think it would be interesting if Sly went back and recut Rocky V too. Though it might be a bit raw for him to do what what with Sage and all.
Over The Top has the best Kenny Loggins song as its theme, "Meet Me Halfway"
Everyone knows the best Loggins song is "Danger Zone".
My biggest gripe with this new cut was that they didn’t just add the new scenes and make some slight editing adjustments. Keeping it at 90 minutes with the new footage interrupted the flow of the original cut. So what if it’s a 2 hour movie.
I feel like this was recut specifically so that it feels a little more similar in tone to Creed 2. It was weird watching the Creed movies and thinking that those movies take place in the same universe as the later Rocky films.
They also seem to cut out a lot of Brigitte Nielsen's lines and I can't help but feel like that's a spite move on Stallone's part due to their bad marriage. I counted and I think she has like two lines and one of them they cut the visual for.
If it ends up showing near me Im gonna watch the theatrical cut first to refresh my memory and then see the nee cut to compare
Wonder this makes sense to the creed films afterwards?
Rocky 1 and 2 are the best made movies in the franchise. Rocky 4 is the fan favorite for a reason, It's the most fun, I watched it the most growing up, The DC was well done and I would watch it again but the TC will always rule.
As an Expat, Rocky IV is my go to movie for the 4th of July!
Rocky IV is like the fifth best Rocky movie, as a film to me, but it's easily my favorite Rocky movie as it's always unbelievably entertaining!!
I remember Gene Siskel (RIP) loved the hell out of this movie.
Oh yeah this was most definitely a cold war movie. And then we see it's sort of conclusion in Creed 2.
Is Creed 2 technically Rocky 8?
If there is a recut of part 5, it’d be nice if there was a line thrown in that Totally Not Don King’s fighter actually beat Clubber Lang to win the title. Movie takes place in the weeks after part 4, and didn’t Rocky vacate the title by going to Russia when the boxing commission told him not to? So fill in that while he was away, Clubber won it and then lost to Don King’s dude. In 3, Clubber felt like Stallone was predicting Mike Tyson, so it’s far fetched that he’d retire after losing just one time. Plus, it’d be a nice nod to Mr. T.
They should give Rocky V the same treatment considering how they originally wanted that movie to end. Might be hard to do now since Tommy Morrison passed away but hey a guy can dream.
Fun fact: Sly wanted Dolph (a traditionally trained Karate martial artist) to hit him for realz. Dolph did and Sly'd heart swelled up and he had to be air lifted to America for a hosptial. Dolph also has his PhD from MIT for some nerdy shit.
I really missed the stare down in the ring between Rocky and Drago after Apollo dies.
You should do a second rocky podcast with Spoony if you can talk about this and the Creed movies
We need a director’s cut of Demolition Man that shows White Castle winning the Franchise Wars.
Watch the European version, then you'll get Pizza Hut winning the franchise wars.
i rank them basically in order, except i like 4 a bit more than 3
Rocky I might be the best, but Rocky IV is by far my favorite. I was an usher when this movie came out, and when everyone left the theater I'd dance to the end credit music. "Hearts on Fire" baby!!!
Okay so I have a weird memory of Drago being juiced during the training montage, the implication being "Those darn cheatin' Ruskies!"
However I have a weird memory of it from seeing that shot once. It was a bootleg Betamax copy from the US (yes I'm old); that I watched in the kids room of a wedding...yes fists ended up being thrown...yes there was a bollocking given to the muppet who put that on for kids aged 4-10.
I've never seen that shot since, it just hasn't been in any copy I've seen. I did see a hypodermic in this review...so I didn't imagine it? It's a real thing like the Jamaican bobsled being sabotaged in one version of Cool Runnings?
I definitely remember Drago being given an injection in the training montage before the end. Granted the version I’ve seen the most was a version taped off of network tv that was on a vhs I had when I was a kid. So maybe it was a deleted scene from the theatrical version restored for television
@@DashingPunkSamurai You do see him get an injection during his training. Its always been there.
There is a shot of him getting an injection. It's even in the trailer. It has always been in the film too.
Well I also grew up watching Rocky 4 the most. But as I got older and watched them all back to back I have to say part 4 for is only better than 5 for me. It goes 1,2,3,6,4,5 for me now. Love the two creeds but won’t add them to the Rocky count. I’ll watch this when I can but the blu Ray.
Fingers crossed for a director's cut of "Cobra"!
Seeing a version of Rocky 5 that isn't (IMO) terrible, now that is a challenge
As silly as it is, Rocky IV was the one I watched the most too. It's just fun. It's also my go-to workout soundtrack. This could be interesting, and I certainly expected Paulie's robot to be cut entirely. Kinda feel bad for him, lol.
Rocky 4 will always be my favorite. I know it's obviously not the best, but it will always be my favorite. The only thing I never liked about Rocky 4 was that damn robot, so I'm glad it's gone. I'm probably going to love this movie even more now.
Cute sweatshirt where can I get that?
They took out the robot? Noooooooo!
But, I'd like to see them try something with the 1st draft of the script for Rocky V; the one that became PREDATOR. Or finally give us what The Simpsons predicted: Rocky VII: Adrian's Revenge!
All the affection Brad holds for Rocky IV, I hold for Rocky III. The plot beats are similar (Mickey dies /Apollo dies, Rocky's opponent is unbeatable) I like "Eye of the Tiger" better than "Burning Heart" and prefer Clubber Lang to Ivan Drago.
It's still my favorite movie soundtrack. No Easy Way Out!
This is my most watched Of the Rocky movies. I can wait to watch the directors cut
Vince DiCola back for this?
I though it was gonna be like Godfather 3 cut with meaningless changes...But it was actually quite emotional. I wished we'd seen a bit more of Mary Ann Creed, but i feel Apollo's funeral was quite devastating. Duke has 2 scenes in here, and they really add something.
Some lame dialogue is still here, but i think this works for me as an 80s time capsule in the same way...Space Jam is a 90s time capsule.
There is nothing you could do to make Godfather 3 "good". It was such a pointless sequel
@@lutherheggs451 You don't have to try. It was always a great movie.
This is the first Rocky I remember seeing, and then only because some guy beats up He-man.
I watched this in theaters one night only
Great job, Sly! Now get busy on re-editing "COBRA" and "NIGHT HAWKS!" We want 80s gore galore!
The best in my mind like you said, definitely Rocky 4. I also think the best Rambo was 2.
Number one. Rocky IV is the best Rocky Ever. 80's perfection.
This cut needs more Brian Griffen. Also, I want a crossover between , Sico and Johnny 5.
I'm commenting before watching. I swear to Kirk Cameron, you better not spoil the ending. If you spoil it for me, I must break you.
Edit: Now that I've watched the review, I will not break you. Even though you technically spoiled the end.
I have it ranked, well, fourth in the series. Just slightly ahead of Balboa. I just thought part VI was a little too slow paced for my liking(at least in the first act).
On a side note, this my Dad's favorite non-John Wayne movie(so probably ranking it somewhere around 56th overall). And Over the Top is my step-dad's favorite movie. The best part is, my Mom isn't much of a Stallone fan.
My Rocky movie favorite list goes like this::
Rocky 1
Rocky Balboa
Rocky 3
Rocky 4
Rocky 2
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Rocky 5
If Stallone did a recut of 5, I would be extremely interested.
Avildsen is dead. It would be disrespectful, frankly.
Let's have a Rocky timeline where we retcon 5. And just go straight from IV to Rocky Balboa.
Definitely an improvement.more dramatic acting.better fight scenes.go see it.
Rocky 1, 3/4 tied for second. Then 6, 5 but just for the last fight and 2. Rocky turned into a super hero in 4. Much like how Rambo turned into one in 2.
I give Rocky IV a solid A. I _would_ give it an A+, but Paulie stole my last beer.
Oh, finally, I know if I should watch Rocky 4
They took out the ROBOT?!! Ok... that's all I need to know. #JusticeForSico!
You know how people developed tasks to pass the time during Lockdown? This was Stallone's.
Rocky IV is like drinking a Red Bull. It didn't feel as meaningful as its predecessors, but it provides you with a sugar high and adrenaline rush that makes you feel like you could run up a mountain. This re-edit is okay, I suppose. But having watched the original countless times, it feels weird to me. The re-edit's ending does feel a bit more subdued. I like that Rocky does go over to Drago to congratulate him on a good fight after the match is over, because it's so characteristic of Rocky to show respect to his opponent even after brutally beating the shit outta each other. But I wouldn't have gone with Eye Of The Tiger as the end song. I would've picked an orchestral version of Gonna Fly Now with heavy strings. Eye Of The Tiger is such a macho song of testosterone, but that ended needed something more emotionally poignant than Survivor's fist-pumping guitar riffs after Rocky speaks about losing his best friend because he couldn't let go of his need to fight.
Livin in America
Rocky 4 was so good.
I love the Rocky movies but Rocky IV is easily the worst in my opinion I just can't take it seriously after the robot enters the room and says "Happy Birthday Paulie!"
Rocky 4 is perfection. Why mess with it? Next Stallone will do a director's cut of Staying Alive. LOL
I'm wondering which cut pairs best with "Creed II". I would guess probably this one, but I haven't seen it yet.
Rocky rankings best to worst
Rocky 4: My personal favorite
Rocky
Rocky 3: How can you not like a movie with Mr. T and Hulk Hogan
Rocky 2
Rocky Balboa
Rocky 5
I feel like RvD does a better job of presenting the story and themes than the theatrical cut, which I felt almost abandoned Rocky's reason for doing the fight in the first place by the end of it. His speech in the TC was a bit eyerolling with Russian officials applauding. Was it about Apollo, or himself? RvD brings it back into focus. It also gives the drama and tragedy more weight. That alternate funeral scene was far more impactful and effective.
Having said that, I think he could have used the birthday party, the "almost anniversary" scene, and the car washing scene to keep the familial heart and humor intact. He could have used the robot from a different context because if you remember the prior films, Rocky is terrible with money even if he had butt loads of it. The robot was a ridiculous gift for Paulie, therefore funny in that respect. Stallone didn't need to have such shame for that robot, Rocky IV was indeed a product of the 80's. Embrace it. What I would have kept out was the weird love affair that Paulie had with the robot, lol. Not needed and is wicked goofy and awkward. Wisely cut.
What those scenes also served was more breathing room that the new cut needed. At 90 minutes, it's so fast-paced and abbreviated. Keeping those scenes I mentioned would have calmed it down a bit and added a more substantial running time, at least to 100 minutes.
The opening recap was a bit slapdash. It coulda used more clean-up and condensing. 7 minutes of recap is unnecessary.
I dunno, I woulda loved a conversation with Stallone as a sort of second opinion about what the new cut needed in order to work.
1-rocky/2-rocky balboa/3-rocky 2/4-rocky 3/5-rocky 4/6- rocky 5
The title should have been...I must rate you.
The best rocky!!!
i was suprised by this well miss the robot thy need to do a redo of rocky 5like change that bs takingin it tothestreets crap put it in the ring
A movie makes likes 10 formulaic sequels and half of them are actually good somehow
A director’s cut that actually changes enough stuff to justify itself
dragos wife....and rockys son almost completely cut out also
Rocky: you know folks.....if did throw in the towel it wouldve make no difference.....yeaaaaah.
sounds like superman 2 donner cut.....cool to see but does not flow !!!
Rocky IV: Round 2.
1
3
4
2
5
More Rocky 4 isn't a bad thing
Rocky 4 is the best followed by 3 than 1
Rocky is the only franchise for me that got weaker in each installment. But only by a notch or 2. My ranking for it is exactly the way they were released.
Why are you here and not at your church listening to Senor T?
geeeeek.. geeeek...
Shame. The natural progression should have had Rocky V in space.
Hopefully Rocky Vs Drago airs on Netflix or Prime next year.
rocky 4s the best. rocky 1's boring as shit to me.
curious now to see the director's cut. Where do I rate Rocky IV, the theatrical release? Well
Rocky I and II will always be tied for first because they tell a complete story arc
Then in third is Rocky IV, yeah it's a lot of cheese, montages, and cold war crap but what can I say it's some very good cheese.
in 4th is Balboa, it's the ending the franchise needed.
Rocky V stays in 5th, I appreciate what they were trying to do, but they failed so miserably at it.
Then is the worst one, Rocky III. It's the film that turned Rocky into a comic book series.
You look like you're getting ready to go blow up a building or something like the Unabomber😂😂😂😂
You are too cool to be a geek.