Rocky is back, AGAIN !!!! (Rocky V (DVD))

Member Name: welshwickedone

Product:	Rocky V (DVD)
Date:	17/10/06 (601 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Not many

Disadvantages: A Rocky to far

Rocky V (Film Review Only).
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The Plot.
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Rocky returns from Russia after his fight with Ivan Drago only to be confronted with more than the hero's welcome. Health and financial problems lead to Rocky becoming a trainer at the gym Mighty Mick's which was left to him by his friend and former trainer Mickey Goldmill, where he soon discovers a new and talented boxer Tommy Gunn.

The Storyline.
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This film is directly continuing from Rocky IV with us joining Rocky in his hotel suite after the fight. After the party is over, they head back to America to face the waiting media. Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) and Adrian (Talia Shire) are greeted at the airport by there son Rocky Jnr (Sage Stallone) and they head of to give there long awaited press conference. There is a surprise in store for Rocky as he answers the media's questions when unexpected George Washington Duke (Richard Gant) a top boxing promoter lays down a challenge on Rocky's title. Adrian jumps in and tells all the press Rocky has retired (again) and Rocky is left speechless. Soon after a visit to the doctors brings bad news Rocky's way and soon more is to follow when he discovers that Paulie has signed over power of attorney to Rocky's less than legal attorney.

Rocky is left to face the fact that the entire Balboa fortune is gone as is any chance of him being licensed to box again due to a serious medical condition he has incurred due to all his fights. The Balboa's are forced to return to living in downtown Philadelphia and Adrian is back working at the pet shop where Rocky first met her, Rocky has only Mighty Mick's boxing club that Mickey left him to turn to and he re-opens it to earn some money. Rocky Jnr has it tough as well as he is now in a downtown Philadelphia school instead of a posh private school and the locals soon take advantage of him.

George Washington Duke will not take no for an answer to Rocky's fight refusal and continues to try to change his mind but with no joy. During training at the gym, one day Rocky is introduced to Tommy 'Machine' Gunn (Tommy Morrison) an up and coming want to be boxer from Oklahoma who admires Rocky and desperately want Rocky to train him. After some consideration, Rocky finally agrees to take on Tommy and whilst he begins to devote all his attention to Tommy, he starts to ignore his son Rocky Jnr who needs him knows more than ever. After many fights as Tommy hits, the big time he turns on Rocky and soon is under the wing of George Washington Duke, but what Tommy doesn't realise id that Washington Duke is just using him to try and get Rocky back in the ring.

Tommy Turns on Rocky and so does his son Rocky Jnr and poor Rocky is left once again not knowing which way to turn, until one day Tommy comes looking for Rocky to try and provoke him into a boxing match for his title. Rocky snaps and the fight begins, but this time in the street with street rules rather than the ring. Will this be the one fight to many for Rocky, will he defeat the young Gunn he trained, and will he ever make peace with his son. All will be revealed when you watch it.


My Opinion.
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Yes, here we go again Rocky Balboa is back again and the story continues with this man of iron who has retired more times then I have had cooked dinners. Do not get me wrong I love the first four Rocky films and I was really hoping to say the same for this film, but sadly, I cannot lie. This film does take a slightly different turn to the rest during the storyline but it still always ends in the same place with Rocky using his fists again even after he has supposedly retired.

Sylvester Stallone does not take on the role of director in this film, probably because he knew when he wrote this film that he might be pushing his luck with this story a little to far and how right he was. Instead, he has called back on the director of the original Rocky movie John G Avildsen in the hope that as he won an Oscar for his directing in Rocky one he could pull this film into more than what it really was. Although he tried his hardest, though even John Avildsen could not perform that miracle and this film must now haunt him, as it will always dwell sadly in the list of directed films as 'The Nightmare'. This poor man must sit down giving a long list of fantastic films he has directed for us in his interviews and then cough and murmurs the horrible words Rocky V, using his fingers to abbreviate the V.

Stallone does give a good Balboa character, but then again he has played it that often he probable screams 'Adrian' in his sleep these days, his let down though is the fact that he has had wonders done with his speech problems and now has to fake the Rocky accent making it horrible and very hard to understand in some places. What strikes me as funny though, is when he is in the Balboa mansion talking his speech is very much improved then suddenly they move back downtown and he is dull as ditchwater again. No, no, no, no, no, that is not how to act Mr Stallone.

Adrian goes from the well dressed Mrs Balboa to the Adrian in the woolly boots we really hoped we had lost, although I must give her great credit as her acting does her great credit yet again, but even she has that certain aroma in her tone as if to say here we go again, I think we might be flogging a dead horse her Sly. Burt Young does have a little larger role in this film as he is now Rocky's side kick in the Gym but that is about all as he is yet again made out to be the one who messed it all up and gets yelled at all the time.

Sage Stallone final gets a chance to star in one of his fathers films at last, but I bet he wishes he was in Rocky IV not Rocky V. He is a great actor and shows excellent potential even at his young age with his excellent performance. To be honest it is lucky that his character is given such a good and full role in this film, as this is one of the only characters who keep you watching in this film. You find yourself more concerned as to the Rocky Jnr storyline than even caring what happens to Rocky, or at least I did. He really is a great asset to the acting industry and his father Sly should be extremely proud of him, it is no wonder that he has had such great success since in his career when you watch his brilliant performance in this film.

Richard Gant, what can I say? He gives the most horrible and annoying performance I have had to suffer in a long time in this film and he should hold his head in shame for it. If I were Balboa and someone slobbered abuse and insults at me in an over dramatic way such as he did, I would have hit him to he was seeing rings not just stand there like a doped up puppy taking the bait. Somebody should tell M r Gant there is no law against speaking your lines in a film you do not need to shout all of them and add six layers of spit to everyone's face when you do. Tommy Morrison, ah yes, Mr Gunn. What a pathetic performance which gives us a good insight in how to stand a look like a dummy pumped up on steroids, who reads his lines and sounds as flat as a pancake when he does. The one good thing about his appearance in this whole film is when he actually gets the smack in the gob he really deserves for his performance if nothing else.

We get several flashbacks in this film of the great Burgess Meredith, but some of these are also voice overs by the man himself and it is lovely to remember his performances in the previous films, and although it is credited that Tony Burton 'Trainer Duke' is in all the Rocky films, he is but sadly only for a few minutes in this one. Shame rally a bit more from him may have helped the entertainment value of this film.


Technical Information.
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Rocky Balboa Sylvester Stallone
Adrian Balboa Talia Shire
Paulie Pennino Burt Young
Rocky Jnr Sage Stallone
Duke (Trainer) Tony Burton
Tommy 'Machine' Gunn Tommy Morrison
George Washington Duke Richard Gant
Mickey Goldmill Burgess Meredith.
Union Cane Michael Williams
Dolph Lundgren Ivan Drago (archive footage) (uncredited)


Director John G Avildsen
Written By Sylvester Stallone.

Language English
Certificate PG
Run Time 104 mins approx


Fact File.
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Ok that’s my review of the five Rocky films and as you can see the Rocky V in my opinion was one Rocky too many for me. However, if you think that is it, the Rocky Horror is over then I am afraid I am the bearer of bad tidings. Rocky Balboa (Rocky VI) is to be released on DVD in 2007 and yes Rocky is coming out of retirement again. This match will see him fight a young fighter in what I can only imagine to be a disaster if nothing else. We may have a bit of comedy in this one though as he throws a left-hander with his pension book and watch out for the Right with the walking stick. The opponent wants to watch that his punches do not bounce off Rocky's wrinkles too, Lol.
.....Sorry could not resist.




The Verdict.
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One Rocky to any and a poor rating of only 6/10, 5 of them for just Sage Stallone's performance and one for the rest.

Welshwickedone ©

Summary: Ok Sly we have had enough of Rocky now.