20 Reasons Why You Rock: Rocky IV

For many fans (myself included), 1985’s Rocky IV is the absolute pinnacle of the Rocky Balboa saga. So when news broke earlier this year that the director’s cut of Rocky IV was going to be released a few weeks shy of the movie’s 36th Anniversary, I felt an Eye of the Tiger level of anticipation building up inside me.

I checked out Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago on VOD and I have to say, as much fun as it was seeing footage that had never seen the light of day prior to Stallone’s Ultimate Director’s Cut, I still prefer the original cut that was released way back in 1985 with all its 80’s cheese intact.

Did Rocky IV stray from the gritty and dramatic 1976 original that put Sylvester Stallone on the map? You’re damn right it did, but Rocky IV absolutely rocked…

#1. The Cold War themed open with boxing gloves representing the Soviet Union and the United States of America exploding on impact, is not only a great visual it also grabs your attention and sets the stage for the in-ring battles that are about to unfold.

#2. No matter what side of the robot argument you fall on, you can’t deny that the cake Rocky had made for Paulie’s birthday party was pretty epic, featuring a caricature of Paulie (played by the one and only Burt Young). Personally, I think the people that hate on the robot are just jealous they never got a robot for their birthday.

#3. What is better than one golden retriever? How about three golden retrievers?

#4. While Dolph Lundgren had a small role in 1985’s A View to a Kill (thanks in great part to his relationship with Grace Jones who played May Day in the film), no one is going to deny that it was Rocky IV that put Lundgren on the map. If Lundgren was not cast as Ivan Drago, would he have had the career he had?! I don’t even want to think about it… but not only did Rocky IV do a great job introducing the world to Lundgren, his Ivan Drago character gets a great introduction as well but I am glad the nickname “The Siberian Express” did not stick.

#5. Ivan Drago does not come to the United States alone, he is accompanied by his wife Ludmilla played by Brigitte Nielsen. Ludmilla compliments Ivan well and adds to his overall presentation.

#6. There is one other character in Drago’s camp and he is easily the most unlikeable character in the movie, Nicoli Koloff played by Michael Pataki. Nicoli is a world class shit disturber who is not afraid to talk trash to the media to hype up his man Ivan Drago.

#7. Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) has always had the reputation of being a showman, but he turns it up to 11 in Rocky IV. Apollo’s introduction for his exhibition bout with Ivan Drago features Apollo being lowered down to the stage on a giant bull, there are Las Vegas showgirls and of course “The Godfather of Soul” himself, James Brown singing his hit “Living in America”. It is a red, white and blue spectacle!

#8. If there is one iconic line from the movie, it would have to be Ivan Drago’s “If He Dies, He Dies” in regards to Apollo Creed… who does in fact die after his exhibition bout with Drago and it remains one of the most heart wrenching moments in action movie history.

#9. Apollo’s untimely demise and the guilt that Rocky feels over it, gives us the first of three montages in the movie… this one features Rocky driving, collecting his thoughts, reflecting on the past all while Robert Tepper’s “No Easy Way Out” plays.

#10. Despite Adrian’s protests, Rocky decides he needs to avenge the death of his best friend and he agrees to go to Russia and fight Ivan Drago on Christmas Day. So Rocky, Paulie and Duke hop on a plane and find themselves in Mother Russia, with the highlight of their arrival for me being Paulie falling in the snow.

#11. Is Tony Burton’s Duke the most underrated character in the Rocky franchise? I absolutely believe Duke is a trainer of champions, he seems 100% legit. And as an aside, the one aspect of Rocky vs. Drago that I preferred over the original was that Duke gets to speak at Apollo’s funeral.

#12. We get a dueling montage as both Rocky and Drago’s training regimens are highlighted with Rocky going old school, roughing it in the middle of nowhere Russia, while Drago trains at a state of the heart facility.

#13. Some might call Rocky and Adrian (Talia Shire) one of the greatest love stories ever told, so it just didn’t feel right that the two were at odds over Rocky’s decision to take the fight against Drago, despite knowing what he had just done to Apollo. But everything is whole again when Adrian makes her way to Russia to support that man she loves. And with Adrian on board, Rocky can really crank up the training which leads to…

#14. …quite possibly THE GREATEST MONTAGE IN CINEMATIC HISTORY. Once again this is done dueling style as we see both Rocky and Drago preparing for their match, but as difficult as I can imagine running on a treadmill at full incline the way Drago does in this montage, it is nowhere close to as visually impressive as Rocky running up a freaking mountain and then bellowing Drago’s name when he gets to the top, all while John Cafferty’s “Heart’s On Fire” plays.

#15. I have not made my love of the USA Network a secret on this site over the years. From being the home of the WWE for almost all of the last 38 years, to the old Kung Fu Theater, to USA Up All Night and shows like Silk Stalkings, Psych and Burn Notice… me and the USA Network go way back. So I love the scenario that Rocky IV paints where a basic cable network was able to out maneuver the big broadcast networks to cover this monumental fight… that’s how you become a player in the television industry.

#16. Ivan Drago’s entrance with his fellow countrymen cheering him on and the giant Ivan Drago banner being raised while pyro goes off and the Soviet National Anthem plays… made a huge statement and had to psyche out Rocky just a little bit.

#17. I mentioned Duke’s prowess as a boxing trainer earlier, but it was Paulie that provides Rocky with some of the best boxing advice I have ever heard when Rocky is in his corner and says he is seeing three of Drago… this is where Paulie drops “Hit the one in the middle!” and then Duke concurs …my favorite line in the entire movie.

#18. Another point I made earlier was how Michael Pataki’s Nicoli Koloff was the most hated character in the movie… which is why it is such a sweet moment when he is humiliated in front of the Russian President and other high ranking officials.

#19. Rocky vs. Drago was a big fight that not only lived up to the hype… it surpassed it. Can you can you name me another boxing match that ended The Cold War?!?!

#20. There was really only one song that could send the audience home happy and Rocky IV delivers as Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” plays during the closing credits. The song was a huge part of Rocky III and instantly became synonymous with the franchise.