MovieChat Forums > Rocky IV (1985) Discussion > Stupid to kill off Apollo

Stupid to kill off Apollo


He stole the show in 2,3 and 4. Lost me as a fan of the rocky movies as well.....which makes no difference to anyone, I know.

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1. As much as you may like him, these moves are NOT titled "Apollo" or "Apollo and Rocky". Rocky is the main character and he is the ONLY character that is not expendable.

2. In the Van Damme movie Kickboxer his brother was paralyzed. Are you saying he should just have been really badly hurt but not killed? If he was badly brain damaged he would hardly be the same character you like so much.

3. Rocky 5 failed hard compared to the first 4 Rocky's. That was the first Rocky movie without Apollo (Since in Rocky 4 we got to enjoy his "personality" for the first part of the movie.

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It's been said that Stallone started writing Rocky III shortly after Rocky II wrapped, and really didn't envision Rocky and Apollo's story going further than a trilogy.

So, had Stallone not ventured into further sequels, aside from Mick, all the characters would've gone on to a somewhat happy ending.

I liked Rocky IV regardless but I think the franchise would have kept its respectability by leaving it with Rocky and Apollo in their private match.

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I can understand your love for Apollo. I like the character as well. But I think it was the right decision for Stallone to kill off Apollo as there was nothing more for the character to do.

He was already retired in Rocky III, and if it wasn't for training Rocky he wouldn't have had anything to do. So even if he hadn't been killed in Rocky IV (maybe ended up being severely injured at the hands of Drago as some fans have suggested) what would he have done for the rest of the movie? Just lay in a bed?

Then what purpose would he serve in Rocky V? I can't think of anything useful for him to do which wouldn't be a repeat of Rocky III.

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

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You're SUPPOSED to be upset he died.... thats the whole point. thats why Mickey died too. The downtrodden feeling you felt at his death is overcome by Rocky's eventual victory. You can't have a really high, high, without a really low, low.

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wow, a lot of passionate heated responses just for wanting a cast member remaining. well, not as a stupid of a decision as killing off "mickey" (during the story of rocky 3), not only was the veteran actor portraying him a blessing to this franchise, he was also playing a very entertaining role and brought the best parts / lines to this franchise, seems stallone had a problem letting go of him as well since he returned in "rocky 5" and even flashbacks in the 21st century.



🥊




when evenin sun went down,
briefly you stopped by,
memory of hours you used to hang around,
when i crawled into some tempting lure mystic and hot,
now from a distance hang my head as those times are gone.

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What If Apollo Creed Had Survived In Rocky IV?

https://screenrant.com/apollo-creed-survive-rocky-4-alive-changes/

If Apollo Creed had survived his exhibition with Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, the franchise's future would have been altered by his continued presence.

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We needed to see just how evil Drago was

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It seems like Sly's only idea was to kill off characters after 2. Mickey, Apollo, Adrian. I agree with you that it would have been better to have not killed off Apollo. It seemed a little overkill, perhaps a coma or left in shambles after the fight. There is never just one way to write something, people who suggest it was the only way must explain Rocky 5 and 6.

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