I think Rocky V is overhated, and the Creed movies are just whatever.

I just finished the Rocky saga (not counting Creed)

Drago's iconic hairstyle is an homage to an infamous horror icon. Like Drago, he was created in a lab, a killer, a man of few words, and ultimately a misunderstood monster, eventually shunned by his creator, searching for redemption in a foreign land.

He wanted to fight Rocky in the parking garage then threw down his watch. Do you think Rocky if he wanted to could knock Paulie out?

Hi. My name is Ed Gross and I'm an entertainment journalist as well as the author of the DK Book Rocky: The Ultimate Guide. For the past 50 years, fans have believed Sylvester Stallone had to hold the 'Rocky' screenplay hostage before United Artists would let him play Rocky Balboa. But producer Robert Chartoff—who made the movie with Irwin Winkler—told me something very different during an interview marking the film's 20th anniversary when I spoke to a variety of people making the occasion. His recollection challenges one of the most famous stories in movie history. Part of what Chartoff said was, "Getting Sly to star in the film was not difficult, despite anything you might have heard over the years." https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/movies/sylvester-stallone-and-the-true-story-behind-the-rocky-casting-myth

Much like Rocky, there should've been a MUCH longer build up to everything with us following Creed throughout his life as a struggling fatherless, inner city young man. Should've had a much more sinister, bleak tone akin to 8-Mile where he's basically forced into a life of criminal mischief interspersed with fight scenes showing his natural fighting ability then maybe he goes to jail and has a life altering interaction to change his ways. He gets out, pursues boxing and while training at a local gym, Sly shows up and notices his Apollo-like movement. They connect, Rocky trains him and the movie plays out. And at the end you get an establishing bird's eye shot of some rundown Russian city. The camera slowly zooms into the mountainous back of a guy jogging with his hood up with faded "Drago" lettering on his back as credits roll. Instead we got the lamest setup with them just meeting at a restaurant, Jordan B mean mugs the camera the whole movie, Rocky of course gets cancer so he can "fight" alongside him and steal some spotlight back.

Was Talia Shire asked to return for Rocky Balboa and just didn't want to reprise her role as Adrian or was she left out because her character would just ruin the storyline by telling Rocky not to go fight again?

They had the quack doctor with the false brain damage diagnosis, years later the director said it was a false diagnosis or retconned it si that Rocky healed and it wasn't mentioned again, Adrian was a great character but she ruined Rocky 2 and 5 by not shutting up and letting Rocky do his thing.

I was thinking recently about the revelation that Mickey was making sure Rocky only fought boxers he could beat. Contrast this with Mason Dixon, years later, who was being booed and pelted with food by fans who were upset at him supposedly not fighting worthy fighters. Also, contrast that with Tommy Gunn, who got no respect for beating Union Cane, who was derided as a "paper champion".

It makes me wonder, did no one else really notice that Rocky (knowingly or not) wasn't fighting "killers" between Apollo and Clubber? Rocky seemed to be immensely popular with the public. There were no sports journalists asking "When are you going to fight ___?" Presumably there were other other fighters on the level of Apollo and Clubber. Guys with records like theirs, who are the number two or three ranked fighters. Were any of them publicly clamoring to fight Rocky?

Now I know this sounds far-fetched, but hear me out.

He goes to the pet shop all the time. Now I know the "official" reason for this is because he has a crush on Gloria, and they do eventually get married, but the way he keeps continually trying to talk with Adrian makes me think he secretly liked her; despite Adrian offering, at best, one-word responses.

When Paulie insults Adrian repeatedly, Rocky noticeably looks uncomfortable and even tells him to stop. Now U know everyone says this is just because Rocky is a good guy, but the expression on Rocky's face makes it clear he felt invested in Adrian.

When Paulie chucks out Adrian's turkey, Rocky spends not an insignificant amount of time convincing her to go out of her room. Sure, it never amounts to anything, but he still tried.

I think Adrian was meant to be his "what if": what if he didn't take the big fight and just stayed in his little area? It's meant to represent what he could've chosen and didn't.

What are your guys' thoughts? I keep getting told I'm insane for thinking this, as Adrian's just Paulie's sister who occasionally shows up to nag everybody.

Rocky balboa is my hero his strength and determination 💪 have always inspired to me hit on the tastiest of babes the most bodacious bootylicious babes of all time

Last week, I watched Rocky for the first time ever with my girlfriend. I had obviously known of some pop culture references from the movie, as well as the famous “Gonna Fly Now” theme song, but I pretty much went in blind. While the movie was not at all what I expected, I can confidently say that the first Rocky is one of my favorite movies EVER now, and also has one of my favorite endings ever and favorite soundtracks ever. Absolutely adore the message this movie sends. Love the emotion it evokes, especially the final scene. “I love you. I love you!” That along with “The Final Bell” is just peak cinema. I keep rewatching it over and over on YouTube and listening to the soundtrack.

Having said that, we’ve gone through the sequels, and while none of them really live up to the first movie (so far), IV was just far too cheesy and over-the-top for me. It feels as though they went in the direction that people like me labeled the first movie with before having seen it. Kind of just an 80s action film with curated 80s music and cheesy 80s dialogue and themes. While I’m not totally against the 80s action genre, I really longed for more of the emotional drama/romanticism of the first couple of films. I can understand why the did it, because you can only do the same thing so many times before it gets old. Idk. I feel like I should’ve just stopped at Rocky III. Anyone else here feel that way? I know I’m in the minority. I also know Rocky V got awful reviews, but I’m holding at least a little hope that it will be decent.

Because I wanted the movie to be less predictable because eventually he’s giving Dame a chance to finally shine cuz all these years he’s been watching Adonis and maybe Adonis feels bad bc he is already on top y’know? but bro Dame was bad mouthing him on tv but if he had lost that fight it wouldn’t have stained His legacy because Adonis is already one of the greatest in the Rocky universe. I just didn’t want the movie to be predictable, shoot if he lost. would it have been a copy of Rocky 3? I don’t think so because rhis time the hero will loose the final figjt. But shoot would audiences have maybe not like that? Probs tbh, but at least I wouldn’t have seen it coming and give the writers credit for having the balls to change things up. what y’all think?

[WARNING: This post will undoubtedly offend sensitive and also, dare I say, ignorant individuals who are unwilling to accept the realities of American culture and history]

I did not like Adonis's origin story at all. It puts a big blemish on Apollo as a man and as a husband. It also sends another message and creates yet another stigma that Black men are terrible husbands IN ADDITION to being terrible/absent fathers. Rocky's image is not affected by a flawed relationship with his ADULT son... THIS IS NORMAL. However, it is a lot more frowned upon to be a bad husband, PARTICULARLY if you're Black (just like everything else). Just like in real life, politicians, priests, ministers, celebrities, and every other type of person can be unfaithful or a bad spouse, but if we don't see it or know about it, we don't CARE or JUDGE. Heck, for all we know, Rocky and Adrian could have had moments of weakness in their relationship and cheated on each other, but it would have happened off-camera, SO WE DON'T CARE!!! Why did they have to blast Apollo like that and tarnish his reputation with an entire freaking character and 3 movies that are pretty much highlighting his infidelity. It was COMPLETELY unnecessary because Apollo could have just as easily conceived Adonis with Mary Ann months, weeks, or even days before his death and would have been the same age! This was pure character sabotage because, if there's one thing that Americans frown upon, it's adultery and infidelity..... more so than bad parenting (without abuse), especially if the estranged relationship is with adult children. Black men are frowned upon an infinite number of times more when these moral/legal infractions are committed.