Rocky V (1990)

Rocky V is well-directed but there isn’t a major turning point in the story. The street brawl, instead of fighting in a boxing ring, is a turn off and didn’t do the Rocky image much good. All was forgiven, though.

In terms of what’s happening now for the Balboa family:

Rocky and his family lose everything and he gets brain damage from fighting. They go back to where it all started, on the streets of Philadelphia, and move into a humble house.

He’s hungry to rise above his circumstances, but his wife tells him to accept what has happened because family is more important. They have each other.

However, Rocky takes under his wing a promising fighter, as an image of himself when he was young, but neglects his son who loses respect for his Dad.

Despite an interesting story, this Rocky film just does not work like the others.

Rocky Balboa (2006)

-Sticking with life

Rocky is widowed, lives humbly in Philadelphia, and owns a modest restaurant.

A prediction using animation graphics of a match-up of former boxing hero Rocky and current heavyweight champion Mason Dixon lands in Rocky’s favor, but Rocky is considered an easy knock down for Dixon by his team. Rocky is lured back to the boxing ring, as an aging underdog, in an exhibition match in Las Vegas against Dixon.

The best part comes in Rocky’s speech about life to his son. Something like: no matter how often you get knocked down, it’s about how well you can stick with your life despite your knock-downs.

This inspirational and well-made film goes back to the style of the original—a slice of real life—and has Rocky as the underdog again, but no way down and out.

In closing

One of the skillfully written things about the Rocky franchise, and economical, is how the fighters, the boxing promoters, and family are clearly written and defined.

The fighters are about fighting in the ring no matter what, it’s about the ‘killer instinct’.

The boxing promoters are out to make a buck on their boxer’s instincts.

Family, including Rocky’s manager Mickey, are close-knit and supportive and with their own distinctive personalities. They rub each other the wrong way and stroke each other the right way, but not at the same time.

Yet Rocky transcends them all—as the archetypal pop culture hero and icon. We were inspired.