Alright, so it's been a very busy week & a half. New phone, bills, work, & a couple dates. I haven't had a chance to sit down and type. However, I did finally finish the series.
For the most part, I do agree with Antony on how the series plays out...
However... I do have some other things to say about it.
I. It is a great movie, however it did NOT age well. Cinimaticly, it really can't be compared to today's films or even later films in the series. One of the biggest reasons for me why it ends up being one of the best in the series is because it is the original. To be honest, Paulie was a huge dick, the romance between Rocky & Adrian didn't seem all that believable, & I was slightly thrown off by Rocky starting out as a bookie's enforcer.
II. I actually felt this one was a bit tighter than the first. A lot more story, a lot more complex, and yet still tied in firmly with the first.
III. Yeah... definately unintentionally funny at times. Some of it was intentional, and I did like it. I feel this is when the series started taking a kind of bad turn towards using pop culture. I was kind of glad at this point that I didn't have to hear Gonna Fly Now all the time since it was now replaced with Eye of the Tiger; however after the third time or so hearing it I realised just how bad the eighties were. Both music & fassion. The cut off shirts Rocky & Apollo wore during training? Yeah... Just say no. Overall, including the story, not bad when you take out the over-the-top tendencies of the 80's. Oh yeah... And Paulie's still a dick.
IV. I disagree with your "so bad it's good" review. There were plenty of bad things... The giant robot, the music (Eye of the Tiger just with new words), & the acting from the kid playing Rocky's son... but I actually think it's still kind of iconic. It plays out rather well. Had the series ended here it might have been a fitting end but then again, we wouldn't have had Balboa (which I shall get to soon).
V. The most redeeming thing about this was that it sent Rocky back to the basics. The family is back in Philly, Rocky has his hat back & his attitude, and it sets up the final film (which of course they didn't know they would even be making). The fact that this is supposed to take place right after IV, when Rocky's kid is still a kid, and when he comes back from Russia he's a teen is rather off putting. It really is the worst in the series, however, worst in the Rocky series still isn't all that bad. I liked it, but too many things about it just don't fit with the rest. Did I mention Paulie's still a dick?
Balboa. One of my favorite, if not my favorite, of the entire series. Although the premise for the fight is weak, and Rocky's loyalty to the woman is very questionable... over all it is the most down to earth & human, right beside the first one. Rocky's humble again (partly due to the set up of V, thank you), and the entire movie has the feeling of finality through all of it. Also, Paulie finally has a heart. It really is a great film that I could go on about. Alas, this post has gone on long enough & I need to get things done before work.
"Hello one day ban." ~ Baconfish
>Liberius when he's not on Massassi<
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