Best Rocky Sequel

It will come as a surprise to nobody that 4 is my favorite sequel. Hell, I'm not ashamed to say that it's my favorite of the series. I know that the original is better written and acted but nothing gets the adrenaline pumping like 4. In terms of matching music to a film, it does as good a job as any other movie. I also love that Drago really wins in this movie. He doesn't win the fight but just like Rocky in the original, he can claim it as a personal win for ending Balboa's career in the ring.

"If he dies, he dies."

4 has always been my personal favourite too, ever since i was little. The only thing i have never really liked was that damn robot Uncle Paulie got for his birthday.
But it's got the music (Apollo's entrance to "livin' in america" is awesome), it's got the action, humour and to be honest whilst it's not exactly the atlantic gorge it is trying to say something (i'm talking more WHY Apollo feels compelled to fight more than the cold war message the thing had).
Plus Drago, even though he said all of 3 lines was an awesome "bad guy", he was very intimidating and just did everything that you need from a Rocky opponent!

And besides, any movie that has Rocky single handedly ending the cold war will always get my vote!

I think 3 is the best. It had MR T! AND Hulk Hogan... seriously, you don't get better then that... well if they would have had 3 and 4 as a huge 3 hour movie... then yeah, way better

I find 3 also to be reflective of Stallones carreer. He struggled to get to the top only to have 'rigged' movies and when it came down to it he couldn't cut it against real acting competiton (copland and the dreg after that with the exception of Demolition Man). I just want to know who's going to be his trainer for his acting comeback, cause Carl Weathers certainly isn't much better.

Good point about Apollo, beyond all the music and robot stuff Carl Weathers gave a great performance in part 4. I completely bought him as a fighter who had no idea when to hang it up. That little nod he gives his wife before the 2nd round with Drago is a nice moment in an otherwise "bash you over the head" type film.

Definitely 4.
GREATEST MUSIC VIDEO EVER.

Then 3, 2, and 5.

With the exception of Shatner screaming "KHAAAAAAN!" in STAR TREK 2 there is no better hero yelling his enemy's name better than Stallone on that mountain crying out "DRAGO! DRAGO!."

In terms of boxing realism, the fight between Creed and Drago is ridiculous. But for pure one-sided ass kicking cinema it is brilliant. That little twitch Creed does after he falls to the canvas always makes me wince. Then you have Stu Nahan, who was the commentator in some of the other ROCKY films and played himself opposite Sean Penn in FAST TIMES, saying this after Creed is knocked out, "What started out as a joke has turned out to be a disaster!"

The genius of this movie is the Montages. And the robot.

During the ROCKY DRIVES TO RUSSIA montage, i think they show that shot of Apollo hitting the mat 28 times. Then there's the training montage, where Rocky does things that probably won't help improve his boxing abilities at all.

I think Rocky 2 is the strongest all around as a sequel. Especially key is Balboa's journey through illiteracy, making a living off the streets working a blue collar job and dealing with Adrian's coma. Its a very strong followup to a great original.

Part 4 I also absolutely love for all the reasons already stated. Part 3 comes behind and Part 5 well better to say nothing about that turd. I hope 6 never happens.

If we're going for drama, 2's the better one. If we're going for the most fun, 4. 3's (obvious, for those who can count) is right in the middle of the spectrum.

I like pretending 5 never happened.

And the soundtrack to 4 is probably my favorite soundtrack from the 80s, period.

I voted 3. A hero is as only as good as his villian, and Clubber was a lot more entertaining than Drago. Plus, Rocky 4 pounds you over the head at the end with Russians accepting Rocky. I prefer my social commentary more subtle, and with zombies.

I love Balboa's speech at the end of 4. In a movie containing a boxer dying in the ring, James Brown performing, and a robot with a sexy voice you might as well end it with Rocky beginning the fall of communism.

"If I can change and you can change, then everybody can change."

"He's not gettin' killed.. he's gettin' mad!!"

I'd go in the order they were released. You just can't beat that moment in II where, after their son is born, Adrienne asks Rocky to do one more thing for her. He leans in, she says, "Win" and the bell on the soundtrack rings. Still gives me chills.

Part IV without any hesitation.

Shock Treatment, IMHO, was better than Rocky.


Just a snip snip snip.....

Rocky IV can be used to teach future generations all about the 80's in the space of 90 minutes. It lacks ninjas but that's about it.

I have to go with 3. It was the first one I saw, and you just can't beat Clubber Lang.

2 I've never seen all the way through, but I suspect it's more serious than the others.

I enjoy 4 to some extent, but it's completely ridiculous. I'm a great fan of Carl Weathers (went to school with his nephew), but after that obnoxious James Brown number I thoroughly enjoyed watching Drago beat the stuffing out of him. Good soundtrack though.

5 is utter garbage. Looks like DTV film.

I dunno about the love for four here... that montage alone at the third film's beginning, with the added bonus of Paulie shattering the ROCKY arcade game, has to be tops. Showing Rocky chilling out, making commercials and kissing his wife in the grass as Clubber Lang demolishes his way up the heavyweight ranks, it's totally like Success made him soft, pussy made him weak. I think it's excellent storytelling.

Or is the Paulie scene from part four? It's been awhile I do know that Mickey's death in three is not better, but more emotionally affecting than Apollo's death.

Oh, and has anyone played that ROCKY game that has you fighting through all the movies in order? I don't play video games, but that sounded like something I'd enjoy greatly, provided Hulk Hogan was in it.

the paulie thing is in Rocky III. He throws some booze at a Rocky pinball machine.
Also, if you don't have time to watch these movies, I recommend the trailers. Each trailer literally goes through every movie from beginning to end. It's like watching five movies in 10 minutes.

http://www.movie-list.net/classics/rocky.mov
http://www.movie-list.net/classics/rocky2.mov
http://www.movie-list.net/classics/rocky3.mov
http://www.movie-list.net/classics/rocky4.mov
http://www.movie-list.net/classics/rocky5.mov

Yeah 3 is also great but I was more devastated by Apollo's death. Just heartbreaking to watch.

Also I agree with Rich about the win line and then the Rocky bells chiming in. Such a fantastic transition.

II is best because of the previously mentioned "win" line followed by the best training sequence of all time.

then it goes III, IV, and last and definitely least V.

III is great because Mickey's death got me right there, plus Mr T was simply the most formidable Rocky villain ever (T actually had an EDGE back then before the A-Team people got to him. also just watch his facial transition from trash talking Rocky to propositioning Adrian... that's the kind of calculated opponent psyche-out that would make Cassius proud). also love the last bit with the friendly matchup in an empty gymnasium... a nice, different beat on which to end a Rocky movie. Apollo's imaginary "ding ding" gesture = icing on the cake.

IV was pretty great. enough has already been said about the training sequences in that one. I think it was a classy move keeping Tony "nobody said nuthin about the cholo!" Burton in play even after Apollo died. and Burning Heart was classic Survivor gorgonzola (but still no Eye of the Tiger... I think it basically comes down to who is the better lead singer, and in my mind Baywatch theme tune guy could never measure up to slightly androgenous beret guy).

V was poor. though it was kinda fun trying to spot Fulci posters in Sage Stallone's room.

Voted IV. Rocky shifting his car about 10,000 times is classic. I love that movie to death. I even did a report in social studies of how this movie defined the cold war era. Needless to say, I got an A.

Thank you for my next .sig.

I'm a sucker for AOP13 lines. <Bud Light mode " I love you man! ">

I have my moments.

another thing about IV- I don't agree that it has the best training montage (that honour goes to II), but IV definitely has the best SOUL-SEARCHING MONTAGE. the montage teaches us that sometimes in life, there's no easy way out... and there is quite literally no shortcut home.

... [screeching solo]

The "No Easy Way Out" song is the most underrated of all the ROCKY songs. If I ever feel the need to contemplate my entire life in 5 minutes you best believe it'll be to that tune. I enjoy "Eye of the Tiger" as much as the next guy but you get that one at the start of part 4 so nothing is really being missed.

Don't forget disciple, somethings are worth fighting for.

I love this movie more now.

God bless you man.

Don't forget about the rap remix of Eye of the Tiger in V. "Go for it!"

That's my favorite part of Rocky V.

GO
GO
G-GO FOR IT!

That, and the fight club-like SHAKY EARTHQUAKE CAM shots of Sage Stallone yelling at the end.

GO FOR IT DAD!!!!!!!!!!!

III should have been the last one. When Mickey dies, you know it's the end for T.

Always loved Mickey's pep talk in Part II.


Mickey: "Hey Rock. It's three in the morning. I went up to your house there and they told me you was here. It's a 3:00am kid. You know that Adrian, she's a good girl. Me, you know I'm sorry for both of ya. There's nothing I can do about it. Except uh I wanna tell you this once and then uh I ain't gonna say it again. But Rock you got another shot. This is the second shot. At uh I don't know the biggest title in the world, and you're gonna be swappin' punches with, with the most dangerous fighter in the world. And just in case you know your brain ain't workin' so good. All this happens pretty soon and you ain't ready. You know you're no where near in shape. So I say for God's sake. Why don't you stand up and fight this guy HARD? Like you done before that was beautiful! But don't lay down like this! Like uh I don't know like some kind of mongrel or something. Cause he's gonna kick your face in pieces! That's right! This guy doesn't just wanna win you know, he wants to bury ya, he wants to humiliate ya, he wants to prove to the whole world that you was nothin but some kind of freak the first time out. He said you were a one time lucky bum! Well now I don't wanna get mad in a biblical place like this. But I think you're a hell of a lot more than that kid! A hell of a lot! But now wait a minute if you wanna blow this thing if you wanna blow it then damn it I'm gonna blow it with ya. If you wanna stay here I'll stay with ya. I stay with ya. I'll stay and pray. What do I got to lose?"



I go with the order of release. 4 & 5 don't work for me.

The only things I liked in V were the Don King wannabe and the scene where Rocky slugs it out with a punching bag while watching Tommy fight on television. Everything else is a disaster. Tony Burton got screwed in that one. They finally gave him a couple of nice scenes in IV and then in V he gets off the plane with Rocky and Paulie and that's all she wrote for him. And that Burgess Meredith cameo, what the hell was that?

Paul Winfield used to do a much better King than that guy in V.

That's true, Winfield did the Don King wannabe on "The Simpsons" but I thought Richard Gant made the best of a bad situation in ROCKY V. Both of them were better than Samuel L. Jackson in THE GREAT WHITE HYPE.

Winfield actually played King in the Tyson movie with Michael Jai White (on top of the Simpsons stuff)

Ving Rhames had a swing at it too but I haven't seen that one.

I forgot about the Tyson movie. The Ving Rhames film is quite good, and a great chance to see what Jeremy Piven would have looked like in the 60's. Mykelti Williamson didn't do much for me in ALI.

I'm still holding out for a respectful biopic starring Dennis Haysbert.

somewhat back on topic, who would you rather do: mousy pet store Adrian, or glammed up post-Lasik Adrian?

I guess I'd go with the glam Adrian. What about Apollo's wife? I think I was 20 before I stopped believing that was Dionne Warwick.

2's probably the best sequel, 3's the one I enjoy the most, and 4's just ridiculous. I thought 5 was a bold direction and idea which was horribly executed. I mean really, after that fight with Drago, realistically, his brain should be oatmeal, and I thought dealing with that issue was a bold step from the filmmakers.

Anyway, T yelling, "Hey woman!" at Adrian is the best part of the series. By far.

the next logical step would be for Rocky to get Parkinsons in a low key drama. it would be Sly's chance at the Oscar.

2, without a doubt. And I'll tell ya why . . .

Any of you motherfuckers ever tried to catch a chicken?!

4 . . ."Hearts on Fire," "Burning Heart," Rocky/Drago training montage, "I must break you," "If he dies, he dies.", "Hit the one in the middle," "DRAGOOOOOOOO" . . . what more could one ask for?

4's the best precisely because it's a cartoon. And encapsulates everything the 80's was about. Plus it's just plain fun to watch... no plot to follow, just kick ass montages and geektastic lines.

It was like in 1-3 they were trying to make great movies, make them respectable and realistic... then when they got to 4 it was like "aw fuck it, let's just make a God damn music video, that's all these films have become any way." They didn't try to make the movie anything but what it really was, and that's why 4 is so great.

IV is my fave and gets the most viewing out of me.

I wanna see this teaser trailer someone took a quote from for imdb.......

Definitely IV. I love that movie. The montage during "No Easy Way Out" is perhaps my favorite movie montage ever.

Rocky IV.

God bless it. Everything mentioned above fills my heart.
"Whatever he hits...he destroys!"