MovieChat Forums > Licence to Kill (1989) Discussion > This kind of took the Rocky 4 approach

This kind of took the Rocky 4 approach

posted 4 years ago by MovieChatUser497 (18943)
17 replies | jump to latest

As in the first part of the movie seems to focus more on the hero's (Rocky, Bond) friend (Apollo, Leiter) and the hero almost becomes a sidekick for this small section of the film. Then the villain (Drago, Sanchez) brutalizes the friend and puts him out of commission and at this point the main character takes over and goes after the villain for revenge, in both films the hero even travels to the villains home country (Russia, Isthmus). On top of both Apollo and Leiter had a friend (Duke, Sharkey) who joined forces with the hero to help carry out the revenge.

Now keep in mind Licence To Kill is a far better film than Rocky 4 but it's just a similarity I noticed.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

It would have been funny if the movie ended with Bond telling the people of Colombia "If I can change, and you can change, maybe we can all change."

[–] millsey72 (9557) 3 years ago

Bond is not a boxer, nor are there any boxing matches in this film. These movies are not connected at all.

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 3 years ago

Read what I said genius

[–] millsey72 (9557) 3 years ago

Yes our hero in both films travelled to the villains home country but Drago did not run Russia nor was he that rich. Sanchez was a billionaire on the other hand with high level connections. And the ending of one film was on a mountainous road with tractor trailer trucks, and the other ending was in a boxing ring. Stop watching FOX news and smarten up

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 3 years ago

Again I clearly explained the similarities and they all come down to the story structure, I never once asserted that every minor detail was the same. Scarface also has a similar story structure to MacBeth but that doesn't mean I am asserting that MacBeth snorted cocaine in the finale like Tony did. Your premise is nonsense. Stop watching FAKE news and smarten up

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 3 years ago

You kidding? LTK is one of the better Bond films and it's a great movie on its own.

Rocky IV is a complete and utter piece of trash. It's one of those movies that is painful to watch and it only gets worse every time you watch it.

[–] Ripkens25 (1901) 3 years ago

sivagish...I agree,

Except it doesn't have any of the gloss or production values of Miami Vice.
I'm a HUGE Bond fan....and I can find the good in any of the films. But LTK is way down near the bottom of my list.

1) Stuffy Dalton as Bond.

2) Cheap-looking production values and soundstages.

3) Robert Davi (the go-to guy throughout the 80's if you need a villian in a B-Level movie)

4) Teri...from Three's Company...as Leiter's wife? (Seriously?)

5) Bland, ho-hum Bond girls.

6) Stupid, dopey villains like Killifer and Krest (Dennis Hopper with a hangover)

7) Silly stunts, like the 18-wheeler doing a perfectly-timed wheelie....

8) Wayne effing Newton...as a badguy?? Please.....you completely lost me after that.

That all said, it's still decent entertainment if there's nothing else on.
(But if you can catch an old episode of Miami Vice, I'd suggest you opt for that)

[–] FootOfDavros (6719) 3 years ago

Now keep in mind Licence To Kill is a far better film than Rocky 4

OMG 😂 (as the kids would say)

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 3 years ago

You're an idiot if you think Rocky IV is better than LTK.

[–] FootOfDavros (6719) 3 years ago

LOL (as the kids would say).

LTK is (as others have said) like a low budget 1980s Granada television attempt at making a feature length Miami Vice episode (which unsurprisingly was one of the worst received / lowest grossing Bond films of all time!).

Rocky IV on the other hand (especially the second half) plays out like a non stop training montage, is great fun and has become something of an 80s classic (https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/rocky-iv-sylvester-stallone-dolph-lundgren-b1759009.html).

The soundtrack was (and still is) renowned - I mean just the other day I saw it's been reissued on vinyl in my local supermarket! Plus Stallone is working on a recut of the film right now...

Rocky IV's legacy clearly vastly outstrips that of one of the most forgettable Bond entries.

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 3 years ago

LTK had an actual plot, it had actual characters and it had thrilling action sequences and suspense. It is the most suspenseful Bond film ever made.

Rocky IV was nothing more than a music video, there was no story, the acting was some of the worst I've ever seen and damn that speech at the end was so bad. I felt like Stallone was like "OK let's just take the payoff from the other 3 films and make a movie of just that", well when you don't have a proper setup or buildup to the payoff it means nothing. Rocky IV is the only Rocky/Creed film that is legitimately bad. It is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. But if you're stupid or don't enjoy thinking then it's definitely the movie for you.

FYI: Rocky IV was also nominated for the Razzie for Worst Picture and it should have won over Rambo: First Blood Part II

[–] FootOfDavros (6719) 3 years ago

LOL again - you've just reminded me of Lex Luthor's humourous quote from Superman:-

"Some people can read War and Peace and come away thinking it’s a simple adventure story. Others can read the ingredients on a chewing gum wrapper and unlock the secrets of the universe."

Just in case your mind has somehow slipped - we're talking ROCKY and JAMES BOND films here, not some art house celebral pieces! They're supposed to be escapest, fun entertainment. Seems like you're incapable of judging these films on their intended basis which somewhat ironically calls into question the intelligence of someone happy to judge that of others...

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 3 years ago

I never said that they were "art house cerebral pieces", don't strawman and discuss this honestly or I have no need for you.

LTK was a good Bond film, not the best but definitely Top 10, Rocky IV on the other hand was literally Razzie material.

[–] FootOfDavros (6719) 3 years ago

Either you don't understand what I have said or you don't understand what a strawman argument means given that I specifically exposed the fallacy of your initial means of comparison.

Either way, I've nothing further to add here. I'm pretty happy most people reading through this will understand what I have said.

Good luck to you sir 👍

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 3 years ago

I know exactly what a strawman is and you were clearly guilty of it.

I get it, you're getting out while you can. Don't give this sucker no statue. Give him guts! I told you I wasn't going away. You got your shot, now give me mine. Your concession is noted.

[–] PaladinNJ (20310) 3 years ago

Interesting idea. Probably a lot of movies follow the same theme but I can't think of one myself. Well said.