Rocky IV: Review By Vamp

This was definitely a step up from Rocky III. I really enjoyed this movie, too, but if you are a big fan of Rocky, like I am, it is to be expected that you'd like this movie as well.

Sylvester Stallone once again returns as the director and writer and star of his epic series that has pretty much become his baby. His vision for these movies is truly incredible, and he does a wonderful job with them.

The visuals in this movie are definitely intense, and incredible. The workouts in the snow are even more incredible, and most definitely the actor that was picked to play Ivan Drago. It felt like you felt Rocky's strain in this movie as he fights to avenge the death of Apollo Creed, who became one of his best friends after helping him to defeat Clubber Lang in Rocky III. The fights in this one were also very interesting to see. I enjoyed all the visuals in this movie very much.

The storyline of this movie is definitely another touching one, and you definitely feel for all of the characters. I really enjoyed all of the twists and turns, and I did like the whole Russian Soviet angle that it took for the fight. I also liked the idea that they had for his opponent, Ivan Drago, who is a very opposing person outside the ring, let alone as a boxer. I was definitely gripped and pulled into this story and it was definitely a very fast paced and thrilling ride.

Sylvester Stallone of course reprises his role as Rocky, who is once again driven to defeat an opponent to avenge the death of one of his most dear, and loved friends. His focus this time is on the one goal of bringing down Ivan Drago, after Drago defeats and kills Apollo Creed and doesn't even bat an eyelash. His goal becomes all that he can think of, and he even requests to go train in the frozen tundra that is infact Siberia, Russia, to toughen himself up even more for his upcoming fight with Drago. He takes almost no breaks, and allows nothing to get in his way. With him come Paulie and Duke, who was Apollo's old trainer, and they provide the support that he needs to defeat his opponent. No one, as I've said before, can replace Sylvester Stallone as Rocky, and in this one he is definitely very good at playing a purpose driven person bent on one thing, and one thing only, I was definitely impressed.

Talia Shire also returns as Rocky's wife Adrian, and she does brillantly as always. In this one she is bent on getting Rocky retired because the latest fight she witnessed, where Apollo Creed was killed by Ivan Drago, and when she finds out that Rocky plans on taking on Ivan Drago to avenge Apollo Creed's death, she does not want anything to do with it, she wants him to retire, and she tells him even that he can not win, and that he is committing suicide. This takes a toll on Rocky, but his goal becomes so strong, that it does little to affect him. Adrian is definitely a great motivational speaker to Rocky, and even though she can't stand to see him do this, she is still by his side completely, and she even travels to Siberia, Russia to be by his side while he fights his battle. Talia Shire is definitely a great actress, and she has definitely gotten used to this role, and she does incredible with it, I am definitely impressed with her as well.

Carl Weather's returns for the last time as Apollo Creed in this movie. He sees that the Russian known as Ivan Drago, is a boxer, and that he is planning on challenging Rocky Balboa to a fight, and something inside him snaps, he wants to challenge Drago, to prove a point. However, when the match happens, Drago is merciless and he kills Creed, in one of the most tear jerking moments in this series' history. I also shed a tear for Apollo Creed, as I did when Mickey Goldmill died in the last one, but Apollo was my favorite character in this series, and this death did more to me I think. Carl Weathers was definitely used to this role by now, and even though he was not in it too much, he did incredibly in this movie, and it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire movie to see if Rocky would indeed avenge Apollo Creed's death.

Dolph Lundgren stars in this movie, as the gigantic and opposing man that is Ivan Drago. Ivan Drago is a man who is constantly being used as a puppet of the Soviet Union, to prove a point. He goes through intense training, and steroid injections to become the most perfect boxer there is. He challenges Rocky Balboa to a fight, and before that he faces off against Apollo Creed in an exhibition match, in which he kills Apollo, and sparks Rocky's anger by saying, "If he dies, he dies," and just standing indifferently. He definitely is surprised when he finds out how much of a fighter that Rocky is. Dolph Lundgren is not an actor that I am incredibly familiar with, but I was deeply impressed with his ability to play a character that was almost robot like, it was a very convincing role, even though it was a little different than the usual opponent's that Rocky has to fight.

Burt Young returns again as Paulie who goes to Siberia, Russia to help Rocky out if he can, once again his role in this movie is not that big, and once again it is nice to see the drunken smart ass return, and he has a few good lines in this movie as well. I'm always very amuzed by Paulie's constant banter, and use of the phrase, "I don't sweat you," I'm glad they are still able to get him to return to this role.

Tony Burton, who has been a relatively small character throughout this entire series, stars in this movie as Duke, Apollo Creed's former trainer. Duke viewed Apollo Creed as his son almost, and when Ivan Drago defeats and kills Apollo, Duke decides to help Rocky out as much as he can in his training, to avenge Apollo's death. I really enjoyed his character becoming a more active member of the movies, and I think that Tony Burton did a very good job, impressing me as almost all of these characters do.

Bridgette Nielsen is another cast member that is new to this movie, and she plays Ludmilla Vobet Drago, who is Ivan Drago's wife. She does most of Drago's talking for him, and she is one of the one's who is mainly behind the strings that are pulled to keep Ivan Drago as the Ambassador Puppet of the Soviet Union to The United States of America. I am not familiar with Bridgette Nielsen, but I was very convinced by her performance as a behind the scenes villain if you will.

All in all this is another great Rocky movie, and I was very happy with it. If you are a Rocky fan, like me, then I'd tell you that you need to go out and buy this and save yourself the rental fee, but if you are not or are on the edge and were disappointed greatly by Rocky III, then I'd say that you should go rent it, and try it out, then buy it because you'll probably end up liking it anyway. Again, this was definitely another great Rocky movie!!!!!