‘Rocky IV’-starring Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Talia Shire
9 out of 10

By Josh Spano ’18
THE ROUNDUP

By placing the underdog American versus the powerhouse Russian in the boxing ring, Rocky IV cultivates its audience even through many mundane scenes in the movie.

One of the best movies of the Rocky series, Rocky IV provides viewers with a great story of revenge and patriotism.

With the surging Ivan Drago becoming more and more recognized in the boxing world as the best fighter, Apollo Creed, decides to fight the mighty Russian.

To put it lightly, Ivan Drago beat Apollo Creed to death.

Feeling responsible for the death of his friend, Rocky Balboa decides to do the un-probable and come out of retirement to fight Ivan Drago in the U.S.S.R.

Now as highly absurd as this may seem, it truly does give the viewers a great story to follow.

While it is a little boring and mundane before the Apollo Creed and Ivan Drago fight, it gets very interesting after the fight.

Being made in 1985, this movie may seem cheesy to some people; however, it is quite the opposite.

The intense training scenes of both Rocky and Drago entertain people with their completely different types of training techniques.

“Rocky IV” offers two very interesting plot lines.

Firstly, it shows the tremendous rivalry between the United States and the U.S.S.R, which was actually happening during the time this movie was made.

Secondly, it is a revenge quest for Rocky.

He wants to beat Drago and avenge Apollo’s death.

To further escalate the tensions between the two powerhouses, Rocky comes out in the iconic stars and stripes shorts (which Apollo Creed wore when he fought) and Ivan Drago comes out in the iconic red and yellow shorts, which are associated with the Soviet Union.

Like any Rocky movie, the fight is the best part.

It will have the viewers on the edge of their seats as the two heavyweights go back and forth, trading blow for blow each round that passes by.

Personally, this movie has the most iconic scene of all time in the Rocky Series.

A victorious underdog, Rocky, in his stars and stripes shorts sits on the shoulders of his friends and coaches embraced in the American flag.

Nothing can be more memorable in the entire Rocky series.

Rocky IV is a great David versus Goliath film mixed in with a revenge plot, and lastly a rivalry between the two superpowers in the world.