Category: Movies

“Rocky vs Drago” Director’s Cut / Z-View

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Rocky IV: Rocky vs Drago – The Ultimate Director’s Cut (1985/2021)

Director: Sylvester Stallone

Screenplay: Sylvester Stallone

Stars:  Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Dolph Lundgren, Tony Burton, Michael Pataki, Brigitte Nielsen, and  James Brown.

Tagline: Get ready for the next world war.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Rocky feels guilt for the death of his friend, Apollo Creed, who was killed in a boxing match with Russian Champion Ivan Drago.  When Rocky is unable to get a fight with Drago sanctioned in the US, he agrees to go to Russia to fight the giant Russian.

Sly Stallone’s new cut doesn’t change the story, but does adjust the pace, increase the drama/humanity of characters and removes elements of the film that made it such a product of the MTV era.  This was a bold move on Stallone’s part since Rocky IV was the highest grossing of all the Rocky films, was one of the top movies of 1985 and is beloved by generations of Rocky fans.  Still, Sly felt that there was a better movie to be had.

The new cut starts with a deeper dive into Rocky III.  We see Rocky lose the title to Clubber.  At that point he has also lost Mickey who was like a father to Rocky.  Apollo shows up and offers to help Rocky win back the title.  Rocky, with Apollo training him, regains the title.  I like this new extended beginning.  It adds (pardon the pun) credence to why Rocky feels an obligation above friendship to train Apollo for his fight against Drago.

We lose the scene of Rocky coming home from his private “rematch” with Apollo.  I always enjoyed that scene but like that we instead cut to Apollo in the pool getting the idea to fight Drago.

When Apollo goes to Rocky to ask for his help in preparing for a fight with Drago we get at least 3 scenes with Rocky talking negatively about the idea.  I love how these scenes show that Rocky is against Apollo fighting Drago.  In the original version they had one conversation at the table and while Rocky had some hesitation, he pretty quickly got on board.  By having multiple discussions against the idea (with Rocky slowly coming around) we understand: 1,  How dangerous Drago is and 2. When Rocky is talking about Apollo not fighting anymore he is also thinking that maybe his time to retire has arrived or will soon.  These conversations also add to Rocky’s guilt since he was unable to convince Apollo not to fight.

We lose the robot and I am fine with that.

Adrian gets more screen time.  She is against the Apollo / Drago fight and is more adamant.  I love the scene where Rocky excuses himself to check on Adrian in the kitchen.

The fight between Apollo and Drago is an improvement.  Apollo has more moments to shine.  He isn’t just given a beat down and killed.  I like that despite Apollo telling Rocky to not stop the fight, Rocky does attempt to throw in the towel, but is less than a second too late.

Duke (Tony Burton) gives a nice eulogy at Apollo’s funeral and Rocky has more to say as well.

One of my favorite additional scenes is between Rocky and Adrian when she asks him not to go to Russia.  In the original the focus was on Rocky getting revenge for Apollo’s death with little thought for the ramifications the fight would have on Adrian.

I loved the new cut of Rocky’s fight against Drago.  I was shocked (and happily surprised) when Rocky scored early.  It made the fight seem more believable that as Rocky continued to fight against overwhelming odds he was able win the crowd over.

Drago was made less robot and more human.  There are looks and body language that he displays that show surprise, awe, respect and anger.  We better see that he is a pawn being used by his government to show the superiority of their way of life.

Rocky’s “we can all change” speech isn’t as long and better for it.

I love the scene of Rocky, Adrian and Paulie leaving the ring after the fight and the quick display of mutual respect between Rocky and Drago.

Overall I felt this Director’s cut was a major improvement over the original version.  It feels more in line with Rocky and Rocky Balboa.

If you loved the original version then you’ll probably have some problems with the Director’s cut.  This is especially true if Rocky IV was the movie that made you fall in love with the franchise.  If you’re more a fan of the original (and its bookend, Rocky Balboa) then you’ll probably love Rocky vs Drago.  I did.

Sly Stallone Interview by Chris Bumbray – “Rocky IV Director’s Cut” & New Gangster Project w/ Taylor Sheridan!

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Hats of to Sly Stallone for his excellent Rocky IV Director’s Cut and to Chris Bumbray for the wonderful interview!

JoBlo.com sits down with Sylvester Stallone to discuss the ROCKY IV DIRECTORS CUT (2021), how the approach with Apollo differs from the original cut of the film, how Drago was a more complex character than fans originally thought, and much, much more!!

PLOT: After reclaiming the boxing championship title, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) plans to retire and live with his wife, Adrian (Talia Shire). However, during an exhibition match, Rocky’s friend Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) is mercilessly beaten to death by hulking Russian newcomer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). Rocky vows payback against Drago and flies to Russia to train for a Christmas Day fight. Despite their different training methods, Rocky and Drago both wage a long and intense match.

CAST: Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Carl Weathers

Wes Craven’s “Scream” Trivia You May Not Know!

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Rob Hunter at Film School Rejects shared 31 Things We Learned from Wes Craven’s ‘Scream’ Commentary.  Before you click over, here are three of my favorites and thoughts on each…

Sidney types her distress call out to the online 911 system, and she enters 34 Elm Street as her address — but it was cut for time. (That’s too bad it was cut.  Fans would have loved it! – Craig)

Joseph Whipp plays the sheriff here, and he plays a cop in A Nightmare on Elm Street too. “So the backstory there that I put in is that he was so upset by the events in Nightmare on Elm Street that he moved to a small town in Northern California.”  (That’s funny and probably goes unnoticed by 99% of the viewers. – Craig)

Craven is pleased by his addition to the end credits acknowledgements ending a list of thanks with “No thanks whatsoever to The Santa Rosa City School District Governing Board.”  (Read Hunter’s item #10 and you’ll know why! – Craig)

“Voir” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Voir – love the poster and trailer.  I’ll be watching once it premieres on December 6th!

From executive producers David Fincher and David Prior, VOIR is a series of visual essays celebrating Cinema and the personal connection we each have to the stories we see on the big screen. From intimate personal histories to insights on character and craft, each episode reminds us why Cinema holds a special place in our lives.

“Love It Was Not” – The Trailer is Here!

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Love It Was Not is proof that real life is stranger than fiction.  I look forward to see this one.

Starring: Helena Citron, Roza Citron, Franz Wunsch
Directed By: Maya Sarfaty
Synopsis: A young Jewish woman named Helena Citron is taken to Auschwitz, where she develops an unlikely romantic relationship with Franz Wunsch, a high-ranking SS officer. Thirty years later, a letter arrives from Wunsch’s wife asking Helena to testify on Wunsch’s behalf. Faced with an impossible decision, Helena must choose. Will she help the man who brutalized so many lives, but saved hers?

“The Last Son” Starring Sam Worthington, Colson Baker, Thomas Jane & Heather Graham – The Trailer is Here!

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The Last Son looks interesting.  I want to see more.

Isaac LeMay (Sam Worthington) is a murderous outlaw cursed by a terrible prophecy, hunting down his offspring to prevent his own murder before targeting his son Cal (Colson Baker). With bounty hunters and the enigmatic U.S. officer Solomon (Jane) on their tail, all are set on a collision course.

Director: Tim Sutton
Writer: Greg Johnson
Actors: Sam Worthington, Colson Baker, Thomas Jane, Heather Graham

The All-Time Best Neo-Noir Films

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Liam Gaughan, at /Film, came up with his list of The 12 Best Neo-Noir Films Ranked.  It is a solid list.  Before you click over, here are my top three in alphabetical order.  All are well written, well cast and well directed.  If I were to pick four films, I’d have included Se7en since it meets the same criteria.  ; )

  • LA Confidential
  • No Country for Old Men
  • The Usual Suspects

RIP: Dean Stockwell

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Dean Stockwell, the actor best known for his role on Quantum Leap, died yesterday at the age of 85.

With over 200 acting roles on his resume, Stockwell successfully transitioned from child, teenager, young adult, adult to mature actor. He performed on Broadway, television and in feature films. Mr. Stockwell’s first role came in 1945 and he was put under contract with MGM. As a child actor he stayed busy and worked with everyone from Abbott & Costello to Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly and Gregory Peck.

Interestingly enough from 1951 to 1956, Dean Stockwell took a break from acting. When he returned Mr. Stockwell alternated between television and feature films. In 1957, he also had an acclaimed run on Broadway as Judd Steiner in Compulsion. He later reprised the role for the 1959 feature film and it earned him and his Compulsion co-stars Orson Welles and Bradford Dillman the Cannes Best Actor Award. .

Dean Stockwell took another break from acting taking no roles in 1966 – 1967. When he returned in 1968, Mr. Stockwell took role in both television and feature films. His signature role as Admiral Al Calavicci on the Quantum Leap series ran from 1989 – 1993. Dean Stockwell continued to act until his retirement in 2015.

I always enjoyed seeing Dean Stockwell show up in the credits of any television show or movie. My favorite Dean Stockwell performance is as Judd Steiner in Compulsion. He shares the screen with Orson Welles and more than holds his own.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dean Stockwell’s family, friends and fans.

Kurt Russell Presents “Breakdown” Trivia (and Thoughts on Great Acting)!

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Rob Hunter, at Film School Rejects, presents 26 Things We Learned from Kurt Russell’s ‘Breakdown’ Commentary.  Before you click over, here are three of my favorites and thoughts on each…

Russell says J.T. Walsh might just be his favorite American actor. He also recalls how both he and Mostow (CO-Writer & Director) had independently decided on who should play the trucker and were pleased to discover they were both thinking of Walsh. “He’s flawless. Nothing fake, nothing phony.”  (JT Walsh isn’t an actor most folks think of when talking the best actors.  I love it when big name celebrities recognize and promote lesser known actors. – Craig)

Russell had hesitated on signing on to the film as he had just finished a movie and wanted to be home every night, so De Laurentiis worked some extra magic to make it happen. “You were picked up every morning, taken to a private airstrip, flown by jet then there’d be a helicopter waiting to fly you to the makeup trailer,” says Mostow, “we’d finish somewhere around 4:30 in the afternoon and we’d hear the helicopter coming back.”  (That is amazing that they wanted Russell so bad that they worked this out to get him! – Craig)

“When you’re an actor, you act,” says Russell after Mostow asks if he ever doubted the character or his portrayal. He references Dakota Fanning in Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds, saying “She screams as much as she talks in that movie, but she’s got fifteen different screams.” His point is that “you’re playing the same beat, but you can’t play it the same way.”  (Again, Russell recognizing a fellow actor, this time a child, and praising their acting abilities.  Gotta love Kurt Russell.)

“Swan Song” Starring Mahershala Ali and Glenn Close – The Trailer is Here!

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I like the Swan Song trailer and the dilemma it presents.  It will be interesting to see the twists this plot takes.  Mahershala Ali and Glenn Close are a bonus!

Set in the near future, Swan Song is a powerful, emotional journey told through the eyes of Cameron (Mahershala Ali), a loving husband and father diagnosed with a terminal illness who is presented with an alternative solution by his doctor (Glenn Close) to shield his family from grief. As Cam grapples with whether or not to alter his family’s fate, he learns more about life and love than he ever imagined. Swan Song explores how far we will go, and how much we’re willing to sacrifice, to make a happier life for the people we love.

This Apple Original Film stars two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali, Academy Award nominee Naomie Harris and eight-time Academy Award nominee Glenn Close. The film also features Golden Globe winner Awkwafina and Golden Globe nominee Adam Beach. Swan Song is written and directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Benjamin Cleary and produced by Adam Shulman, Jacob Perlin, Jonathan King, Rebecca Bourke, Mahershala Ali and Mimi Valdés.

Song: “Doomed” by Moses Sumney https://apple.co/Doomed_MosesSumney