Rocky 5, in my opinion, is the best Rocky film since the original. Sure theres Rocky 2, the film where Rocky becomes champion of the world. And sure there's Rocky 3 where Mick dies and Rocky has to fight a monster opponent to win back the champion ship he lost. Rocky looses Apollo and defeats the strongest opponent possible in part 4. And Balboa was great, especially coming out in 2007 after plans for a 6th film were denied repeatedly. But Rocky 5 is a film that surpasses the action flick direction that the series had pointed in, with films like Rocky 3 and 4. After those two films, it was clear that the series was becoming more well known as an action series about Rocky, the boxer who punches people's faces in rather then the under dog, street bum character that one Rocky the award for best picture in 78. It is also for this reason that people hated Rocky 5 so much. After seeing Rocky fight Mr. T and beat Ivan Drago, a Steroid pumped, Russian monster, getting back to where it all started, attempting to end the series on, not another crazy action flick, but a movie that reminds you of who Rocky is and makes you remember the original was a hard turn I guess. The series came full circle taking the character back to the streets of Philadelphia after he looses all his money. Now it's a cheap plot to get Rocky back to his roots but I can't see how els it would of been done. The other problem with this film and the #1 reason why it is hated is Rocky did not fight Tommy Gunn (The bad guy in this film) in the ring. Instead this battle was settled on the streets of Phillie in a good, old fashion, street brawl. It gets pretty scruffy. Just another way of showing the character getting back to where it all started for him.
For me, the film is not about the fighting, it's about this Rocky character and also the memories of this powerful series. It's a pretty sad movie and it gets you thinking, feeling sorry for the character and also reflecting on your own Rocky memories. It's one of those movies that makes you think back to an earlier time in your life where the movie was included. And all though I am only 13, I still think back to living in my old town and the family I once had that I no longer do, watching this. I first saw it when I was about 9. It's strange but it makes sense of you are on of those people that thinks that way and is reminded of thing through film, television or music.
Rocky is really the story of, not a boxer, but a fighter. A man who became the champion of the world, only to loose everything and everybody that he loved. Rocky 5 captured this perfectly and was a perfect end to this amazing series that played a big part in my 13 years as well as many people's lives. As for the 6th film, all though we really did not need it, it topped Rocky 5 and ended the series on a higher note then the 5th film. And what surprises me the most is that Stallone made Rocky Balboa to end the series on a high not and make up for 5, as he puts it. I never understood why Stallone himself let people turn him against his film, that he wrote. You don't write an idea you hate, he did love it, but fake Rocky fans that hated this film because it was not an action flick like 3 and 4 turned him against his own work. Well, Sly, I think it's great!
Rocky will forever be one of the greatest movie series of all time, and with the 7th film on the way, it does not look like the series is quite over.
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