MovieChat Forums > Rocky V (1990) Discussion > Better than Rocky Balboa!

Better than Rocky Balboa!

posted 8 years ago by acehit
14 replies | jump to latest

Ok I know I fall under a minority here, and probably the only one in the whole world that thinks Rocky V is better than Rocky Balboa, but here's my reasons.

1. The score: It was beautiful, same we don't have the instrumentals available on official soundtrack release. The music that plays during the rocky & tommy fight is amazing violin work! The Balboa score was a rehash of previous Rocky music, musically it didn't stand on its own.

2. The villain: Each rocky movie has had one thing in common with the exception of Rocky Balboa, and that is charismatic villains! They were fully fleshed out and given so much depth including Tommy Gunn. Mason Dixon was so bland and by far the blandish of all the rivalries.

3. Tradition: Each rocky movie begins with the end fight of its predecessor, Balboa didn't have this and therefore almost was a movie on its own. The flashbkack of the previous fight is somewhat for me symbolic of a fight journey.

4. Tite Title: Ok im nit picking here ill be honest, but why not just call it Rocky 6! Again by cutting that tradition, it's a standalone movie or trying to be.

5. Just love Rocky V overall! Don't care if most of the world hate it, I like it.

[–] RockyBalboaV 8 years ago

I agree. Rocky V is one of the best sequels. I honestly think Rocky Balboa is the worst, next to IV

[–] acehit 8 years ago

I'm not the only one then! Lol. That's good to know. Rocky IV is one of my all time favourite movies!

[–] RockyBalboaV 8 years ago

I mean I love IV, it's Rocky haha. It's just my least favorite. That doesnt mean it isnt entertaining as hell!

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] acehit 8 years ago

Ye actually I was going to put down the absence of Adrian as another point, but everyone I spoke to was like "Oh Adrian doesn't have to be in and it doesn't matter" Of course it bloody matters, Adrian was the part-soul of the movies! Unless Talia Shire is deceased, a Rocky movie should have Adrian in it. Ye and at least Tommy Morrison was a great villain, as I pointed out as well, Mason Dixon was so dry.

[–] Bernnard_Black 8 years ago

I guess we all have different tastes! To me, I'm the opposite. I DID like Rocky Balboa far better than this movie, and found it much more enjoyable.

I think the reason for that, to me, is that no one in this movie is likable at all, except Adrian. Even Rocky does a turn as sh!tty dad, blowing off Rocky Jr. to spend all his time with Tommy. Tommy is a dick. Duke is a dick. Paulie is, well, Paulie, but reaches new levels of low even for him by losing their money and then acting like it wasn't his fault. It's just a depressing story, especially with Tommy being such an ass for no apparent reason. He gets personal training from the previous world champ, starts winning his fights, and...is resentful about it? Angry? Gah. Just not likable.

At least with Rocky Balboa, the characters were likable again. Even Dixon isn't a bad guy; he fires his "new" trainers to go be with his old one, and doesn't treat Rocky badly. He's fighting for respect, just like Rocky.

I dunno, but that's just me.

Whores will have their trinkets.

[–] MonteCarloMan 8 years ago

There's something to love about all of the movies in this series -

That said, V stands alone as the one that didn't finish in the ring for what it's worth but it was a nice close to the series..Balboa and Creed seem tacked on, as good as those were -

[–] fivepointstar 8 years ago

Rocky Balboa is just a rehash of the original 30 years later. That doesn't make Rocky V a great movie by any means though. The premise of Rocky losing all of his money and being brain damaged that quickly was stupid. It's odd that Rocky didn't try to get a second opinion about his condition. Plus, he should have at least been raking in money from ads. His shady past wasn't a problem when he first became champ, it would be even less of one now, after he solidified himself as a true American icon. Failing that, why wouldn't Rocky handpick a few more opponents with a less shady promoter than Duke to get himself out of financial trouble? This maybe would have all made more sense if Rocky had lost the street fight and died at the end.

Tommy Gunn's turn was too quick. It wasn't built up enough.

[–] acehit 8 years ago

You can complaint about the turn of Tommy Gunn, but at least he was involved in the story, Mason Dixon wasn't involved at all, he was just 'there'. Just some guy to challenge.

[–] mercury4 8 years ago

acehit, after reading your first post, I think you've got something there.

[–] neoryu33 8 years ago

fivepointstar wrote:

"This maybe would have all made a bit more sense if Rocky had lost the street fight and died at the end."

Director John G. Avildsen confirmed that was exactly what was going to happen... until the studio intervened before filming was completed.

[–] Legion_89 8 years ago

I love both films; Rocky Balboa was a great finale to the series, and Rocky V is criminally underrated.

"Martyr me for Cordis Die."

[–] smoey23 8 years ago

...but they're both Rocky movies. It's like saying you love one child and hate another. Love them all I say!

[–] 8 years ago

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