A disappointing 5th Rocky film (Rocky V (DVD))

Member Name: pmcds

Product:	Rocky V (DVD)
Date:	05/12/08 (22 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some good elements, but not many

Disadvantages: Way below par for the Rocky films

Five years on from successfully beating the Russian Ivan Drago in the ring despite being hailed as the underdog in Rocky 4, Sylvester Stallone returns to our screens in the guise of Rocky Balboa for another bash at boxing glory. This is the most slated of all the Rocky films, and I have to say I'm on this wagon.

Balboa's (Sly Stallone) career has stalled to a standstill, and instead of competing, he is now training the latest protege for the ring, Tommy 'Machine' Gunn (Tommy Morrison). A talent scout with an eye for big bucks persuades Gunn he is wasting his time with Balboa and that the big bucks are to be had in the ring straight away. However, Rocky tells Tommy he's making a mistake, and the two fall out, leading to a fight being set up between the two of them. However, Rocky's not as young or quick as he once was, and Tommy is young and full of fire. Is this perhaps one that Rocky can't win, or will we see him come through yet again?

Sadly, the brilliant feel good nature of the first couple of Rocky film is long gone. Stallone looks tired and a lot older, and the acting hasn't really improved that much. Rocky's wife Adrian, played by Talia Shire, hasn't seemed to have developed a great deal personally, although the pair of them now have a son, played by Sage Stallone.

The more recent Rocky film, entitled Rocky Balboa, intended to provide a bit of closure on the Rocky saga as this 5th film was such a disappointment, and the lack of a feel good soundtrack and the feeling of making another sequel merely for the sake of making it, as opposed to having a solid tale to tell, unfortunately comes through. Morrison is less than impressive, and the physical side of Stallone's performance isn't up to his previous efforts.

If you liked the previous four Rocky films, they you might like this one, but similarly it may just annoy you, as it did me. There are some good elements, and it did hold my attention all the way through, but was just a disappointment in comparison to the previous four Rocky films.

The DVD is available from amazon.co.uk for around the £5 mark if you want to get a copy. The DVD I have doesn't have any extras.

Summary: A disappointing end to the 5 original Rocky films