BB.5
(out of 5)
Commonly known as the one where he fights the Russian. How many times does this underdog have to go the distance before we get the point? Sylvester Stallone has really overdone his most famous role by this point, a formulaic, by-the-numbers film that follows the paths of the equally forgettable sequels to the 1976 Oscar-winning original. Rocky’s old pal Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) gets killed in the ring against a formidable Russian boxer (Dolph Lundgren), prompting Rocky to take the guy on himself. He does, and the rest is predictable. Talia Shire returns as the ever-faithful Adrian, and Brigitte Nielsen (then Mrs. Stallone) appears as Lundgren’s wife.
United Artists, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
USA, 1985
Directed by Sylvester Stallone
Screenplay by Sylvester Stallone, based on his characters
Cinematography by Bill Butler
Produced by Robert Chartoff, Irwin Winkler
Music by Vince DiCola
Production Design by Bill Kenney
Costume Design by Tom Bronson
Film Editing by John W. Wheeler, Don Zimmerman
