Rocky IV

With the fourth installment, the series of Rocky Balboa films has moved from films that bypass me thematically to the category of films that, pardon my French, piss me off. It is rare to see this sort of stupid propagandistic film. There are propagandistic works that have quality directing, polished screenplays, and excellent casts and performances, but Rocky IV has none of that. If I had to look at this matter objectively, I would have to be squatting on Jupiter. Overall impression: 10% (for Gorbachev with the large red spot on his head). (24/02/2009)

One of the best movies with Rocky, mainly because there are five fights in the foreground, like in the third one, but this time they are brilliantly balanced with human destinies. The change in Rocky's relationship with Apollo reached its peak here, but the star of this film is simply the great Dolph Lundgren, who starts his career here with a truly great role. An unforgettable part with a great finale and actually a message that may sound stupid today, but had its justified meaning in its time. (18/03/2014)

The clash of East and West in a thrilling performance. Dolph Lundgren is truly demonic and hardly anyone could have done this role better. Of course, there's no shortage of ideology, revenge on a friend, and the fact that an honest workout is worth twenty steroid injections. Rocky IV is an immortal classic and a brilliant example of 1980s cinema, where we didn't mind a simple, even plain, story. With the passing of the years, we can reminisce with nostalgia and let ourselves be carried away by the haunting atmosphere and incredible feeling that this film has without a doubt...... “to beat me he's gonna have to kill me” (24/12/2005)

Rocky IV concentrates, dramatically and explosively, almost everything that adorned and defined the 80s B-movies. Although this fairy tale with its classic "good vs. evil" boxing structure (or the Cold War is far from over) reeks of over-the-top platitudes and superhuman heroism, everything is put together in just the right way to entertain generations far beyond the Italian Stallion. After all, good looks so likeable, honest and humble, while evil is cold, heartless and greedy, and the final battle is so emotionally gripping that every time I watch it I stand by the screen cursing at the vile comrades who sent that doped-up beast after poor Rocky, which was likely the intent... :)) 80% (18/03/2014)

Nostalgia’s a bitch. I loved this movie when I was little; an irresistibly naive echo of the Cold War. It's impossible not to root for an American who has to lift a log and run across a snowy landscape to train, as opposed to a Russian who is groomed by a team of physiotherapists in top-notch conditions. I almost felt like pulling out the American flag and cheering Sly on at the top of my lungs :) (27/09/2003)