Rocky IV

One of the best Rocky movies, primarily because it features five fights like in the third installment, but this time they are brilliantly balanced with human stories. The change in Rocky's relationship with Apollo reached its peak here, but the star of this film is simply the great Dolph Lundgren, who begins his career with a truly significant role. An unforgettable installment with a great finale and a message that might sound silly today but had its justification at the time. (18/03/2014)

The clash of East and West in a thrilling performance. Dolph Lundgren is truly demonic and hardly anyone could have done this role better. Of course, there's no shortage of ideology, revenge on a friend, and the fact that an honest workout is worth twenty steroid injections. Rocky IV is an immortal classic and a brilliant example of 1980s cinema, where we didn't mind a simple, even plain, story. With the passing of the years, we can reminisce with nostalgia and let ourselves be carried away by the haunting atmosphere and incredible feeling that this film has without a doubt...... “to beat me he's gonna have to kill me” (24/12/2005)

Probably the best installment of the entire series—the essence of Rocky. Ivan Drago is unorthodox, ruthless, and intense. The 80s vibe is spot-on, and the soundtrack is genius—every track is an absolute hit. The plot is incredibly straightforward, yet it maximizes its impact, setting the stage for the following films. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. "If he dies, he dies." (07/05/2021)

Rocky IV concentrates, dramatically and explosively, almost everything that adorned and defined the 80s B-movies. Although this fairy tale with its classic "good vs. evil" boxing structure (or the Cold War is far from over) reeks of over-the-top platitudes and superhuman heroism, everything is put together in just the right way to entertain generations far beyond the Italian Stallion. After all, good looks so likeable, honest and humble, while evil is cold, heartless and greedy, and the final battle is so emotionally gripping that every time I watch it I stand by the screen cursing at the vile comrades who sent that doped-up beast after poor Rocky, which was likely the intent... :)) 80% (18/03/2014)

The only quality episode, with the exception of the first movie. Although we see the same thing here for the fourth time, it’s only the second time it’s worked. But if this wasn’t enough for movie-goers in the Czech Republic, we get extra delight in the form of Czech dubbing that rightly has a cult following. The Czech language voice-over of “No Easy Way Out" is particularly satisfying! A hot candidate for the worldwide most laughable dubbing award. As an added bonus we get “artsy" editing and the seriously excellent training sequence. But don’t go looking for any logic in Rocky VI. It’s simply a cult movie and a perfect guilty pleasure. One of my most favorite ever. (21/04/2022)