This movie completely screwed up Apollo's character

It was too simplistic and silly, but it was true to Apollo's arrogance and complacency, which have been character traits of his since Rocky 1 and 2. It was 3 which made him do a 180, but Carl Weathers was so good and the (few) bits of dialog in that movie made his transition from emperor without clothes to wise lion believable. In 4 he reverted back to his old ways only now he was over the hill. Could have been done better, but it works in an overthetop Red Dawn/Invasion USA/James Bond kind of way. Still, I agree, Apollo was a better character than this movie portrayed him to be and his death should have been better written. Considering how cheesy this story and much of the dialog is it really is a testament to the talents of these actors, particularly Carl Weathers that they were able to turn in such good performances.

We have to reserve the right to bomb the n iggers. David Lloyd George on disarmament.

@star_in_the_zenith_79 Some of the things he said before the fight were retarded too.
That's par for the course in a Rocky movie.

Not sure where you were going with this, but this film portrays exactly Apollo's m.o. from the earlier films.... Ego, hubris, trying to market a big event extravaganza without realizing what he's getting into.

This same attitude saw Rocky go the distance in part 1, Apollo lose entirely to Rocky in part 2.... If anything, the Rocky III Apollo is the version out of place with the other films, but one can just assume him retiring mellowed him out for the time being.

Apollo struggled with life after he retired from boxing. He talked about it before fighting Drago. I guess that was the fragile side of a great champion.

I Think the worst aspect in Rocky 4,when it comes to Apollo,is how he is portrayed as such a weak punk. I know the choreography of these 80´´s boxingflicks is laughable,I mean why use your hands to keep your guard up when you can just walk into a direct hit,fall and get up again? No,the worst part is the difference when it comes to strength and endurance.

Rocky and Apollo,even where the film is set when Creed is retired,the start of the film,put the two at pretty much even boxers with Rocky the slightly stronger,better one. Yet,for the plot to get along and the fight to be over quickly,Apollo´s punchs have no effect whatsoever on Drago,at this stage he doesn´t seem capable of anything but a weak jab and right hook.....and as soon as Drago lands his First punsch,it´s All over and a Quick slaughter! Wow,so this russian can hit back? Okay,time for me to die(Apollo vs Drago is a disgrace and such a humiliation of an Icon character).

But because Rocky is pissed,he can land a punch at the end of the second round that injures Drago and from there on the two are equals in trading punches and Rocky takes about 23 times the abuse Apollo took in his last fight.

Rocky and Apollo-pretty equal. Rocky and Drago-Pretty equal. Drago and Apollo-Like Frankenstein beating up an old,homeless person who wants to be put out of his misery....

I get that the character had to die,I get his trademark arrogance to a certain Point but in the end,he ends up going into the fight delusional with unmotivated hubris and turned into a punching bag...but maybe it isn´t his exaggerated confidence that is the problem,it is to the extreme lengths Stallone goes to make Drago a credible threat and how he rushes it,it completely messes up the universe he has created.

If Apollo got killed in the 4th round or so after putting up a decent,noble but insufficient fight,sure,that would feel like Apollo,I mean,he´d still die,right? Stallone would have all the incentive needed for Rocky. Making the former champion look like a punkbitch with Words he didn´t come Close to backing up is his failing. Anyone but a deranged narcissist would be able to recognize the threat a beast like Drago posed,knowing you´re over the hill against a fighter in his prime would just inject a human being with some common sense but Stallone didn´t write humans here,inconsistent characterdevelopment and science-fiction is more what comes to mind.

It is very simple. For Apollo to have won, he would have needed to train, for this he'd have needed a training montage, and we all know that Rocky, and Rocky only has the right to a training montage, so much so that he has 2 training montages in Rocky IV and a bonus driving montage.

Ergo, the fate of Apollo in Rocky IV is inevitable.

I was never one to hold grudges. My father held grudges, I'll always hate him for that

They made Apollo look like a Ham before the fight

Darkness lies an inch ahead

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