Rocky Movies..let's rate 'em..

[Captain Craig]

Love all of 'em, have the Blu Ray set. I voted IV my favorite. I agree that V is horribly underappreciated. The story of Rocky is one that all should be able to relate to at some point in their life. The series does that very well imo. The highs and lows of life, the acceptance of that which you can and can't affect.

Rocky IV
Rocky
RockyBalboa
Rocky III
Rocky V
Rocky II

 

[Kelthaz]

1. Rocky - The first. The best. A great underdog story. 1976's winner for Best Picture. Don't know if it truly was the best of that year, given the competition (Taxi Driver, Network and All The President's Men were all quite worthy), but its enduring legacy as one of the great sports films of all time keeps us all coming back for more.

2. Rocky Balboa - A more fitting bookend to this story could not have been found. I know, it seems a little outrageous for a man of Rocky's age to be stepping back into the ring, but hey... if George Foreman can win the World Heavyweight Title at 45, why can't Rocky have an exhibition fight at age.... Exactly how old were we to imagine he was at this point? Clearly had to be somewhere in the 50 to 60 range. Anyway, age issues aside, this seemed like the most heartfelt story that Stallone has told with this character since the original.

3. Rocky III - Used to be my favorite back in the day. I love the new dimension in the relationship between Rocky and Apollo most of all. Can it be possible, also, that this movie features some of Hulk Hogan's best acting? Seriously, take a look at his body of work and then tell me that Thunderlips isn't his best film role!

4. Rocky II - Movie #1 done again, only with more soap opera and a different outcome to the climactic bout. Other than the fight, a definite step down from the original, but still one I can watch as repeatedly as I, III and Balboa.

5. Rocky IV - I wanted to rank this one dead last. I hate the montages with the cheesy rock music. I hate the death of Apollo Creed. I hate that stupid robot. I hate the cardboard cutout Russian villains. Seems like 1985 was the year when Stallone was at his most uber-patriotic.... and it shows. I could not, however, rank this in last place. For all of the things I find wrong with this movie, I love the brutal final fight. I can give Rocky IV that much.

6. Rocky V - No. Just no. Shoehorning Rocky back into poverty? Stupid. Tommy Morrison? Great boxer in real life, laughably bad overactor. Sage Stallone as Rocky Jr.? Despite the fact that he's obviously way older than he should be following the events of Rocky IV, I strangely have no problems with Sage's casting. In the midst of the dark cloud of shit this movie casts over our heads, what more could an inexperienced Sage Stallone do to fuck it up? Even the final (street) fight is just boring, aside from Creighton Duke getting punched after proclaiming, "Touch me and I'll sue!" Stallone himself rated this turd a "Zero"! If there's any positive to be drawn from Rocky V, it's that Stallone might never have been motivated to do Rocky Balboa 16 years later, giving the series the conclusion it deserved.

Did I type this? I've never seen someone so perfectly express my opinions before. I completely agree with every word you said.

 

[the G-man]

As an aside, reading this thread reminds of something I've touched on before:

The "Rocky" series is a very good example of the fact that loads of crappy sequels can, in fact, "ruin" the original film in the minds of the public.

The original film was a classic and won a number of well-deserved awards, including for Stallone's writing.

But for most people (not necessarily the posters here but we're all basically film buffs), the word "Rocky" conjures up a series of hokey films made by a marginally talented steroid case.

This is something to consider when pondering whether bad sequels can, in fact, tarnish an original work.

 

[Harvey]

Rocky is, of course, the best film of the series. Rocky Balboa, although a lesser film by far, is really the only other one with any kind of artistic ambition. The other four just go through the motions of the formula, to diminishing returns.

 

[Agent Richard07]

I've only seen V. I'd like to sit down and watch them all at some point.

 

[Captain Mike]

As an aside, reading this thread reminds of something I've touched on before:

The "Rocky" series is a very good example of the fact that loads of crappy sequels can, in fact, "ruin" the original film in the minds of the public.

The original film was a classic and won a number of well-deserved awards, including for Stallone's writing.

But for most people (not necessarily the posters here but we're all basically film buffs), the word "Rocky" conjures up a series of hokey films made by a marginally talented steroid case.

This is something to consider when pondering whether bad sequels can, in fact, tarnish an original work.

Although they weren't critically acclaimed masterpieces, they still made a helluva lot at the box office when they premiered all the way up to the point they were pulled from the theaters.
http://boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=rocky.htm

The one I enjoy rewatching the most is Rocky III. I mean, you have Mr T, the Eye of the Tiger training montage, and a brilliant ending... what more do you want from a movie?!

Or the scene between Rock and Adrian..."How'd you get so tough?"..." I live with a fighter."
WHAT??? Are you mentally irregular?

Rocky is the best movie, on a structural and narrative level. Rocky II is a decent sequel. IV has some wonderfully cheesy montages and the final fight is brilliant (one of the best, IMO). V has the Don King character... "touch me, and I'll sue!"

"Sue me for what??..

I still haven't got round to seeing Rocky Balboa (or at least, I can't remember seeing it)...

I think this is the one I have only seen once or twice. Hopefully I can view it in the future.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Here's my order and a brief explanation:

Rocky - The original is the best. It does everything right. It set the scene for the rest. It also has heart rather than cheese at its core.

Rocky III - This one is cheesy, but it's fun. The highlights are the Rocky/Creed moments. It is less Philly than the first two because they're training Creed's style. I give this a slight edge over Rocky Balboa, but that might be the benefit of time. It's more fluff than Balboa.

Rocky Balboa - This movie does a lot right. It's the closest to the original. It does a good job of a "more things change, more they stay the same." I think it's no coincidence that the movie starts by holding the camera on a building that didn't exist when the first Rocky came out. It ends the same way the series began, with Rocky having his pride but not the victory.

Rocky II - It wasn't quite as over the top as III and IV. However, although I want to appreciate their attempts to show Rocky as a struggling celebrity, it's fairly slow and boring. Everyone watching just wants to see Rocky fight Apollo and the rest feels like filler. I like the Apollo scenes the best. He's unlikable in the first, but the more sympathetic character in this movie.

Rocky IV - There's a lot I just can't buy about this movie. But Ivan Drago was cool, so it's not all bad. I'd say it's tied with II, though.

Rocky V - Yeah, this movie is bad and awkward. I'm glad they eventually made a new movie to not end on this. I appreciate what they were trying to do, I just don't think it worked.

 

[Argus Skyhawk]

It has been more than twenty years since I saw any of the Rocky movies, but I remember respecting the fact that Rocky V at least tried to present a new plot instead of rehashing the formula used in all of the previous sequels. That alone put it miles ahead of Rocky IV for me, which felt 100% calculated and soulless.

Of course, I didn't like it enough to ever rewatch it, but I'm not a big sports movie fan anyway.

 

[Captain Craig]

It has been more than twenty years since I saw any of the Rocky movies, but I remember respecting the fact that Rocky V at least tried to present a new plot instead of rehashing the formula used in all of the previous sequels. That alone put it miles ahead of Rocky IV for me, which felt 100% calculated and soulless.

If you watch the commentary it's said that Sly wanted to take Rocky back to his roots. That pt2-4 had made Rocky so famous and well off financially that he wanted to explore what happens when all that is taken away. Back to square one.
So what he did was make Rocky essentially poor working class again, just not as extreme as the "leg breaker for hire" we initially see in Rocky I. Toss in having a child and how does your kid view you and I appreciate what Stallone was aiming for from an artistic standpoint. So those championing the artistry of the first and diss this one's artistic merits causes me to scratch my head.
Rocky V isn't perfect, there was a lot being said though if you're paying attention to the soul of the film and it's character.

 

[the G-man]

Although they weren't critically acclaimed masterpieces, they still made a helluva lot at the box office when they premiered all the way up to the point they were pulled from the theaters.

...and shitty movies never, ever, make a ton of money.

 

[the G-man]

Although they weren't critically acclaimed masterpieces, they still made a helluva lot at the box office when they premiered all the way up to the point they were pulled from the theaters.

...and shitty movies never, ever, make a ton of money. (rolls eyes)

My point was that the shitty, but commercially successful, sequels have made a lot of people think the entire series-including the first one-was comprised of nothing but mindless popcorn flicks.

 

[Brikar99]

As an aside, reading this thread reminds of something I've touched on before:

The "Rocky" series is a very good example of the fact that loads of crappy sequels can, in fact, "ruin" the original film in the minds of the public.

The original film was a classic and won a number of well-deserved awards, including for Stallone's writing.

But for most people (not necessarily the posters here but we're all basically film buffs), the word "Rocky" conjures up a series of hokey films made by a marginally talented steroid case.

This is something to consider when pondering whether bad sequels can, in fact, tarnish an original work.

I'd say the same about Stallone's 'First Blood'/'Rambo' series.

 

[Holdfast]

The one I enjoy rewatching the most is Rocky III. I mean, you have Mr T, the Eye of the Tiger training montage, and a brilliant ending... what more do you want from a movie?!

Or the scene between Rock and Adrian..."How'd you get so tough?"..." I live with a fighter."
WHAT??? Are you mentally irregular?

The final scene with Rocky & Apollo in the ring is great:

Apollo: I'm still young enough to whip your butt Stallion.
Rocky: Oh yeah? How are you going to do that? You taught me everything you know.
Apollo: Almost everything. You got to remember now, you fight great, but I'm a great fighter. You ready?
Rocky: Absolutely.
Apollo: You know, Stallion? It's too bad we gotta get old huh?
Rocky: Just keep punching, Apollo...

 

[Kirkman1987]

The one I enjoy rewatching the most is Rocky III. I mean, you have Mr T, the Eye of the Tiger training montage, and a brilliant ending... what more do you want from a movie?!

Or the scene between Rock and Adrian..."How'd you get so tough?"..." I live with a fighter."
WHAT??? Are you mentally irregular?

The final scene with Rocky & Apollo in the ring is great:

Apollo: I'm still young enough to whip your butt Stallion.
Rocky: Oh yeah? How are you going to do that? You taught me everything you know.
Apollo: Almost everything. You got to remember now, you fight great, but I'm a great fighter. You ready?
Rocky: Absolutely.
Apollo: You know, Stallion? It's too bad we gotta get old huh?
Rocky: Just keep punching, Apollo...

And then they punched eachother so hard they turned into paintings

I'm suprised so many people dislike III and IV. I wish there were more movies today that could be even half that much fun.

 

[MacLeod]

It's been a while since I saw some of them, but I'll go with the first one.

 

[DarKush]

Rocky III
Rocky IV
Rocky Balboa
Rocky
Rocky II
Rocky V

To fair it's been a long while since I have seen them, but III was always my favorite and IV was just good fun. I was surprised by how much I liked Balboa and thought it a fitting end to the series. I can recall very little from Rocky and II, though the last time I saw Rocky I thought it was a bit too slow. As for V, I remember it pretty well, though I don't want to. A lot of wasted potential there though I did like some of the songs, "Go for It" and "Measure of a Man".

 

[Captain Mike]

The final scene with Rocky & Apollo in the ring is great:

Apollo: I'm still young enough to whip your butt Stallion.
Rocky: Oh yeah? How are you going to do that? You taught me everything you know.
Apollo: Almost everything. You got to remember now, you fight great, but I'm a great fighter. You ready?
Rocky: Absolutely.
Apollo: You know, Stallion? It's too bad we gotta get old huh?
Rocky: Just keep punching, Apollo...

APOLLO: "Can he swim?"
PAULIE: "With a name like "Rock"?"

 

[the G-man]

As an aside, reading this thread reminds of something I've touched on before:

The "Rocky" series is a very good example of the fact that loads of crappy sequels can, in fact, "ruin" the original film in the minds of the public.

The original film was a classic and won a number of well-deserved awards, including for Stallone's writing.

But for most people (not necessarily the posters here but we're all basically film buffs), the word "Rocky" conjures up a series of hokey films made by a marginally talented steroid case.

This is something to consider when pondering whether bad sequels can, in fact, tarnish an original work.

I'd say the same about Stallone's 'First Blood'/'Rambo' series.

Yes. Stallone is a guy with some great creative instincts but he lets his ego and/or commercial desires override those instincts waaay too often.

 

[Harvey]

The Rambo series fell apart when Stallone decided to make it a series. Looking at his writing credits, it's not hard to conclude that Rocky and First Blood were anomalies, helped by directors that were not Stallone and, in the case of First Blood, several other writers.

Although, honestly, I'd rather sit down for a sequel in either of those franchises than any of Stallone's standalone work, which includes such bewilderingly awful films as Driven, Cobra, and Over the Top.

 

[Balrog]

Rocky
Rocky Balboa
Rocky III
Rocky II
Rocky IV
Rocky Mountain High
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
Rocky V

I've only seen V. I'd like to sit down and watch them all at some point.

My God! That's like trying to judge the Star Wars franchise based solely on seeing the Star Wars Holiday Special!