Review of Rocky V (1990) by Timothy O — 19 May 2009

Warning: This review contains spoilers: I'm recommending it on what they were trying to get out of it, and for the most part, it works. There are faults in the picture, but the themes of it are significant, and it succeeds thanks to the characterization and performances.

For the first time since the first film, the characters feel human again, unlike the other sequels where they felt linear. The problems with it are that the movie moves too quickly without a good balance.

It begins with Rocky returning home from Russia, with Rocky Jr. running out and hugging his mom and dad. It appears that he's much older, but it's never clarified to whether this is taking place right after the fight in IV, or whether he spent a few years in Russia.

It is then brought in that Rocky didn't pay his taxes or mortgage and he has to move out of his house and back to his hometown, which turns to his doctors telling him he has brain damage and can't box anymore.

He soon meets Tommy Gunn, a young newcomer who wants Rocky to train him to box, so Rocky accepts. While there is still time to see the training process, the montage of Tommy's matches goes by too fast, and soon, the promoter George Washington Duke, seen throughout the picture, tries to manipulate Tommy into taking boxing for the fame and money.

The quick pacing in the story can irritate some, but if you stay tuned into it, you really will see something great come out of it. These faults can be put aside for the significant themes thanks to John G.

Avildsen's direction; he is able to direct the actors into giving great, real performances again, allowing the charm of the first film to be seen again. Throughout the film, we see Adrian, finally getting more screen time, trying to help Rocky get through his problems.

We also see the relationship grow between Rocky and his son, Rocky Jr., and thanks to the performance of Stallone's real life son, Sage, as Rocky Jr., their relationship in the picture is strengthened even more.

We see Rocky Jr. going to school, meeting a girl, and getting bullied. While Rocky is training Tommy, Rocky Jr. can be seen working out as well. This leads to the scene where Jr. hits the bully back and gets his jacket and lunch money back.

Viewers complained that this gave a pro-violence message, but it should be seen as a way of saying that "you're only a preteen. Just hit him now. You'll laugh it off in the future." Later, the quick cutting comes back again when G.

W. Duke the promoter succeeds in manipulating Tommy, as Tommy betrays Rocky for a title shot and wins it, upsetting Rocky and many spectators. The next day, Tommy, with Duke and a news team and audience, come into the restaurant where Rocky and Paulie are and challenges Rocky to a fight, where Rocky says he wants the fight outside.

This street fight that takes place may be awry considering that real punches with no gloves would break their hands and no one watching, not even the news team or the police, is doing anything about the fight, but it makes sense because this is Rocky's way of saying, "the doctors told me I can't fight in the ring no more, so why don't I take the fight outside then.

At least outside there are no rules, so I can't hit however I want." The street fight is awesome, and it gets more intense when Rocky gets his visions of Mickey in his head, which gives off a new metaphor.

This is not a fight between Rocky and Tommy, it's a fight between Mickey and Duke, a fight between the right path to success and the wrong path to success. In the screenwriting process, Stallone said he wanted to create how a man can have everything and lose it all, and while Rocky had it all in the beginning and lost it, Tommy goes down the same path, coming close to having it all and losing it because he went down the path of fame and money.

Throughout the picture, Rocky is seen comparing Tommy to himself, and with that comparison comes Tommy's downfall. These themes and metaphors are what strengthens Rocky V enough to get out of the faulty areas that hurt the other sequels and succeed as a legitimate sequel to the classic that is Rocky.

In the end, Rocky doesn't get his riches back, but realizes he doesn't need it; he has love. Love was the subject of the first film and it is again in this film. Go for it!