MovieChat Forums > Rocky V (1990) Discussion > Why does everyone hate this movie?

Why does everyone hate this movie?

posted 8 years ago by MikeHunt153
22 replies | jump to latest

I want genuine reasons. The only reason people seem to give is that Rocky's final fight wasn't in the ring. But a bad ending is no reason to hate an entire movie. I actually think the ending was great, just like the whole movie.

Rocky 2-4 were great, but they were pretty much the same as Rocky 1, just not as fresh. By the end of Rocky 4, I was literally laughing. I had just seen the exact same thing four times, and I was supposed to not know what would happen at the end. Before I watched Rocky 5, I was expecting to be really bored and sick of the series and laugh my ass off at the end, but I was amazed by how much I loved it. It took the series to a whole new level, it completely broke free from the traditional formula, and the results were fantastic.

It was full of heart and depth, I cared about the characters more than ever, and I had no idea what to expect. In every scene I was really excited to find out what happens next. There were many deeply touching and heartwarming moments. It's just overall a brilliantly written film. I can't decide whether or not I prefer it to Rocky 1.

If Rocky 5 was the same as the previous movies, the series would've become a huge joke. People make no sense. They complain when sequels are repeats of the previous movies, but they also complain when they're different.

[–] TMC-4 (20149) 3 years ago

I think that people didn't like the angle of Rocky and his family losing all of their money and having to go back to their old neighborhood in Philadelphia. Part of the appeal of the Rocky franchise was that it was a classic "rags to riches" story. We see Rocky Balboa going from living in this dingy, smelly, rundown little apartment in the first movie, to literally living in a mansion come the third movie.

So to have him essentially go back to square one felt like a major betrayal. All of the hard work and sacrifices that Rocky worked for was all for naught because he now didn't have anything to show for it. And you add to all of the plot contrivances to explain why he couldn't easily make his money back through endorsements. They tried to explain that Rocky's past criminal activities (i.e. working for Mr. Gazzo) was a reason why he couldn't land such endorsements even though he didn't have a problem with that in the third movie.

[–] seagal72 (1962) 3 years ago

After ROCKY III, this movie is my second favourite in the series.

And I'll wager that (given the tragic circumstances with Sage Stallone) that Sly has probably 'warmed' to this movie a lot more (than he previously cared to admit)
Although (to be fair) in most interviews, Sly didn't really start outright ragging on 'ROCKY V' until it came time to plug 'ROCKY BALBOA'

[–] TMC-4 (20149) 3 years ago

I wonder if Sly held most of the blame on John G. Avildsen. Maybe had he directed it like the other sequels, he could've in theory, had better "quality control". Thus, if people still didn't like it, he had really nobody else but himself to blame since the buck stopped with him.

[–] Kowalski (75537) 3 years ago

IDON'T HATEIT...I QUITE LIKE IT...ESPECIALLY THE MICKEY BIT NEAR THE END...IT JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE LEAST OF THE BUNCH...BUT I STILL LOVE IT...MAKES THE CREED FLICKS LOOK LIKE JOE SOMEBODY WITH TIM ALLEN.

[–] MaximRecoil (4617) 3 years ago

"I had just seen the exact same thing four times"

No, you hadn't (obviously).

"and I was supposed to not know what would happen at the end."

Rocky lost the fight at the end of the first movie, genius. By the start of the final fight in Rocky IV, Rocky had lost two title fights and had won two, against Apollo Creed and Clubber Lang.

In any case, Rocky V sucked for the following reasons:

- Talia Shire's character was more annoying in this movie than all four of the previous movies combined.

- Two of the main characters were played by non-actors, both of whom gave terrible "acting" performances, and one of whom was nearly as annoying as Adrian.

- Rap "music".

- George Washington Duke was a cartoon villain. I was waiting for him to tie Adrian to the railroad tracks to get Rocky to fight.

- Adrian blaming Paulie for their money being gone when it was blatantly obvious that it wasn't even remotely his fault.

- The laughable idea that an old criminal record for "assault in connection with loan sharking" would prevent Rocky, the guy who they erected a statue for, and the guy who just beat the invincible Russian, avenging Apollo Creed's death in the process, during the Cold War, and who did things for charity on the level of Bob Hope, from getting any sponsors. A boxer assaulted someone a long time ago... yeah, stop the presses.

- The ridiculously on-the-nose portrayal of Rocky neglecting his annoying kid, as well as the equally on-the-nose portrayal of Tommy Gunn betraying Rocky.

- After all the bullshit about Rocky not being able to fight again due to brain damage, he ends up fighting again anyway, a far more dangerous form of fighting than a regulated boxing match no less, and doesn't even get the benefit of a payday for it. In other words, that street fight at the end negated the movie's premise, i.e., he could have fought in the ring to regain his wealth and he would have been fine.

- Stallone apparently forgot how to play Rocky. He tried to play him like he did in 1976 and 1979, but it came across like a parody of the Rocky character, like something you'd see on Saturday Night Live.

[–] TMC-4 (20149) 2 years ago

George Washington Duke was a cartoon villain. I was waiting for him to tie Adrian to the railroad tracks to get Rocky to fight.

Well, it's pretty obvious that George Washington Duke was modeled after Don King, who himself (or at least the public persona) is practically a cartoon character come to life. I mean, this is the same franchise that had Mr. T in a predominate role, who like Don King, as a public persona that feels like a cartoon character in the real world.

[–] BOandBarbecue (2264) 2 years ago

Two of the main characters were played by non-actors, both of whom gave terrible "acting" performances

- The ridiculously on-the-nose portrayal of Rocky neglecting his annoying kid, as well as the equally on-the-nose portrayal of Tommy Gunn betraying Rocky.

tommy morisson and sage stallone were great performance in this film. i enjoy both character a lot.

in this film, tommy = rocky. and rocky = mick. except tommy does not take rocky advice and turns to darkside! great storys! like star wars. i like this story very much.

Rap "music"

yes but bill conti still there with great music.

all the bullshit about Rocky not being able to fight again due to brain damage, he ends up fighting again anyway, a far more dangerous form of fighting than a regulated boxing match no

yes but i dont mind because street fight is one of greatest fight i see in film!! rocky do wrestling moves. this is great!!

In other words, that street fight at the end negated the movie's premise, i.e., he could have fought in the ring to regain his wealth and he would have been fine.

yes this is true but rocky have no choice but to fight tommy gunns at end. this is why he fight. he was walking away from fight and tommy hit family - no choice.

Stallone apparently forgot how to play Rocky. He tried to play him like he did in 1976 and 1979, but it came across like a parody of the Rocky character, like something you'd see on Saturday Night Live.

yes he play rocky as brain damage man. this is why he different. i like rocky in this one. he more funny than rocky in 3 and 4. more down to earths. stallone always give good performance in his film even shit films he do have good performance

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 3 years ago

I don’t hate it, in fact I like it, sure it’s flawed but I still like it.

[–] PersistentViewer (2381) 2 years ago

I love it.
Best part for me was Rocky was going back to raw fighting, in the streets, with Tommy, no less. It's awesome.