MovieChat Forums > Rocky IV (1985) Discussion > Russian crowd cheering for Rocky.

Russian crowd cheering for Rocky.

posted 8 years ago by metsrus
16 replies | jump to latest

One of the biggest criticisms I often hear about this movie is that it's unrealistic for the Russian crowd to cheer for Rocky over Drago. However, upon further review I think it's not only realistic, but likely, considering how the fight unfolded. Let's first consider the status of both boxers. Rocky was the current HW boxing champ at that time, there's a good chance that a lot of the Russian boxing fans knew and respected him. During the press conference Ludmilla said even Apollo was well known and respected in Russia. Drago, being an amateur and a prospect, probably wasn't well known even by his countrymen, but the people just cheered on the their hometown boy out of national pride. However once Rocky displayed some heart, the fans finally saw why Rocky is a true champion and rooted for him.

[–] Balboasaurus 8 years ago

It's a good thing they remembered they were there for a boxing match and not a rally.

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You'll Never Walk Alone

[–] kytem2 8 years ago

Russia had internetss for all its peoples in 1982 much before American capitalists. Of course Russians knew and loved who Rickey Balboni is. He great at boxing, Rusiian love boxing.

Good movie. Russians like it most of the time well maybe 80 or 90 % of the time its shown. Some times.

Also, Rusisnas love KISS...especially Stevee Simmons, rock on Steeve ! Rokc them casbah rkock then cashbar !

[–] super-joey 7 years ago

Russia had internetss for all its peoples in 1982

For ALL its peoples? No. It did not. The internet did exist, however. You're correct about that. But we had it here too. They even made a 1983 movie about it (Wargames). It just wasn't very popular. (The internet, I mean. Wargames WAS popular.) At that time, it wasn't thought of as "user friendly" enough for the average person. Eh. I had a friend who did have it, though. It seemed magical at that time, huh?

[–] MaximRecoil (4058) 7 years ago

No, the internet didn't exist in 1982, though things which could be considered precursors to, or analogous to, the internet, existed in 1982 and earlier. The official "birthday" of the internet is January 1, 1983, which is the date that the first TCP/IP-based WAN was operational, and it was an American invention, so obviously the Russians didn't have it first.

[–] Rolltide (964) 3 years ago

What were you smoking when you wrote that post?

[–] imustkillthequeen 7 years ago

It's not remotely believable.

This match was fought in the Soviet Union when Cold War tension were at a high point. It would be akin to English football fans cheering the German national team at Wembley.

[–] A-zone 7 years ago

But the Americans were cheering for Drago during the Drago-Creed match.

"I'm the dude, playing a dude that's disguised as another dude".

[–] MaximRecoil (4058) 4 years ago

No, they weren't. They were shouting "Apollo," not "Drago."

[–] tunejukebox 7 years ago

Everybody loves a winner. Creed was an undefeated champ who had 2 bonanza bouts with Balboa, so safe to say Creed was a very popular fighter. Yet during the Creed-Drago fight, once Drago started to pummel Creed the crowd chanted Drago Drago! Drago hasn't fought anybody and if he was able to garner American cheers from the ever popular Creed then it only makes sense that the world famous Rocky with a suitable performance would be able get the Soviet Union crowd behind him.

[–] antonasmodeus 7 years ago

Remember when the Russian leaders stood and cheered? Well they did the same thing when Trump won the presidential election.

[–] arkayenether 7 years ago

Remember when the Russian leaders stood and cheered? Well they did the same thing when Trump won the presidential election.

Don't do that. Don't be that guy. Can't we just talk movies here? I come here to get away from the political circlejerk going on right now.

I thought I could paint it red, but I couldn't find enough goats.

[–] Rolltide (964) 3 years ago

That did not age well did it? Democrats actually colluded with Russia.

[–] Sandman81 (1501) 6 years ago

They were chanting "Apollo, Apollo, Apollo!!!"

[–] houstonhobby 7 years ago

It is very realistic because Russians, the people who mostly had serbs ancestors, live with a feeling of being the constant underdog. They were impressed that this smaller American was able to come back and beat the odds and triumphed over a much stronger and younger opponent. The Russian people aren't the Communist regime but must live under its influence and power.

[–] arkayenether 7 years ago

People will cheer a good fight. All one has to do is watch a WWE match to get that. Wrestling fans are some of the most fickle a-hole fans in the world, if not THE MOST fickle a-hole fans in the world, but they'll cheer a guy they attempted to boo out of the building if a match is good enough. A good recent example was the PPV that just happened. People booed the ever loving Christ out of John Cena as he came out, but the match was so good that when he won, they were all standing and cheering. So no, it's not unrealistic that a hostile crowd would be won over by an impressive bout. Probably moreso in boxing, where nobody actually KNOWS how the fight is going to end, unlike pro-wrestling, where there's quite a few people who know the end of the match before it happens, and sometimes even the crowd does. Hell with Cena, you can be damn sure he's going to win if he comes out wearing new merchandise.

I thought I could paint it red, but I couldn't find enough goats.

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 4 years ago

I have a lot of criticisms of Rocky IV, it was a bad movie for multiple reasons and yes the Russians turning on Drago in favor of Rocky was really really dumb moment. That stupid speech Rocky gave about world peace which rings incredibly hollow after what we just watched is another one.