The Different Cuts of "Rocky IV"

(Scene starts with a laser beam in the sky as the music of the 1994 American Gladiators opening theme plays the angle of the camera goes into the laser as four shadowed figures with a lasered outlines appear as the shadows reveal themselves to be James Faraci in the center, Paulo Fonseca on the right and Rebecca Yaun on the left as their names appear above the characters. As they run out of frame moving towards the camera, four more shadowed figures with lasered outlines appear and the shadows reveal themselves as Brenda Fonseca on the right, Nick Yaun on the left, and John and Mike Santos, and their names appear above the characters. As they run out of frame moving forward moving towards the camera, five more shadowed figures with lasered outlines appear as they reveal themselves to be Renee Miller and Eric Kurtzke on the right, Andrew Beach and Ed Champion on the left, and Olivia Horvath appears in the center as their names appear above the characters. As they run out of frame credits of “Written by James Faraci, Edited by Eric Kurtzke, Makeup by Olivia Horvath Produced by First Choice Productions” as it ends the Laser beam disappears and at the 0:28 mark of the theme song the laser beam cut out the words “The” “Last” “Of” “The” appear. At the 0:32-0:36 mark, the word “Americans” start to come forward as it pulls down, and James’ Morpher and Sonic Screwdriver is flung into the frame as James grabs both and morphs into The Last Of The Americans with James Daniel Walsh on his right with half of team TLOTA and the other half on his left as the camera pulls back to see the slab with the markings “The Last Of The Americans”. Fade cut to James in his office.)

TLOTA:
I’m James Faraci The Last Of The Americans and The views I’m about to express are that of my own and some of yours. And hey-yo! It’s time for The Different Cuts! (Whistling version of “The Lumberjack Song” is heard as Team TLOTA dressed as Lumberjacks see a gigantic piece of film celluloid and James chops it down and the other members cut it to different lengths and on the ends sticking out of the back of the truck the words “The Different Cuts” are seen in differing syllables. Cut to clips from the ROCKY/CREED movies as “Eye Of The Tiger” by Survivor plays in the foreground and James does voiceovers.)

TLOTA (V.O.):
The ROCKY movies and its continuation movie series CREED have been quite a solidly entertaining story. With the ROCKY movies it told the tale of an underdog boxer named Rocky Balboa played by Sylvester Stallone as he was given a chance to go for the World Heavyweight Championship against Apollo Creed played by Carl Weathers and the sequels in real-time showed Rocky’s Rise, Fall, and Redemption with who he is and, in the interim, becomes a champion, celebrity, and ultimately Robert “Rocky” Balboa. The continuation movie series CREED tells the tale of Adonis Johnson, a child born of wedlock to Apollo Creed, and his tale of trying to discover who he is by going into the ring and seeing if he is his father’s son or if Adonis is his own man as he should be. The Sequel to Creed sees him dealing with demons of his dad’s and Rocky’s past in the form of the son of Ivan Drago, Viktor played by Florian Munteanu. (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA:
And Ivan was the challenge that sealed the fates of so many in ROCKY IV! (Cut to the title card from the trailer of Rocky IV then to clips of the movie as James does a voiceover.)

TLOTA (V.O.):
While critically it did not do as well as the first three, Rocky IV remains to this day the most commercially successful movie in the entire Rocky franchise. And to celebrate the success of Creed II, Sylvester Stallone decided to release a director’s cut of the film. Interesting choice seeing as how Stallone was the Writer and Director of Rocky IV. But after both the pandemic and other delays in 2021 Rocky IV: Rocky vs Drago was released on digital and it is one of the best directors’s cut’s of a movie I have seen since The Lord Of The Rings Special Editions. And that is a statement I don’t make lightly. (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA:
And today, we’re going to decide which movie is the better cut in the four rounds. Our first round is the plot! (Cut to dual opening points on Blu-Ray covers which turns to the front of the covers the Blu-Rays the one on the right showing the Classic Rocky IV cover and the one of the left showing the Rocky IV: Rocky vs Drago cover. The two covers collide and explode and the words “THE PLOT” appear in the title font of the trailer of Rocky IV as the first forty-eight seconds of Eye Of The Tiger by Survivor plays in the foreground. Cut to the different cuts of the movie as James does a voiceover.)

TLOTA (V.O.):
Inspired by the stories of the battles between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling and the political heat between the Countries. Ivan Drago as a peaceful ambassador wants to take on a goodwill exhibition with Rocky Balboa. However, Apollo Creed wanted to try to start a comeback which ends in tragedy as Ivan Drago ends Apollo Creed in the exhibition in Las Vegas! Wanting justice for what happened to Apollo, Rocky goes to the USSR in a non-sanctioned fight to put Ivan Drago down in the ring!  But which one set this event up in the right direction? To be honest, I have to give it to the Drago cut. Nothing against the classic version. It just wasn’t well set up if you ask me. The original set up Rocky’s life which included his son this time played under a Pseudonym by Seargeoh Stallone, who is Sylvester’s other son, and how the Drago stuff was poorly set up. The Drago cut has the fights better set up and shows the friendship that started in the turning point of Rocky III and developed between III and IV. (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA:
And with that, the first round goes to Drago cut! (Cut to the original version’s poster on the left of the screen and the Drago cut on the right with one Boxing glove on the poster while the first twenty seconds of “Hearts On Fire” by John Cafferty. Cut to James physically)

TLOTA:
Now we move on to what has become the most heated part of this movie’s differences, Editing! (Cut to dual opening points on Blu-Ray covers which turn to the front of the covers the Blu-Rays the one on the right showing the Classic Rocky IV cover and the one on the left showing the Rocky IV: Rocky vs Drago cover. The two covers collide and explode and the words “EDITING” appear in the title font of the trailer of Rocky IV as the first forty-eight seconds of Eye Of The Tiger by Survivor plays in the foreground. Cut to the different cuts of the movie as James does a voiceover.)

TLOTA (V.O.):
I have to say that the editing is as different as night and day and there are Spoilers here, you have been warned. While the original version is mostly montages and fights as is the Drago cut. There’s no major difference in time but there is in tone. The opening has changed, where the original picked up at the end of Rocky III before moving towards what happens with Rocky and his life, The Drago Cut gives us the start of the timeline of their friendship, shows us where the two had grown, and sets up Apollo’s character arc at this point. The fight between Apollo and Drago while ending the same way with Apollo buying the farm but, in the Drago cut, it was as brutal but this cut did give Apollo a fighting chance. And in the original version towards the end of the fight, Duke, played by Tony Burton is begging Rocky to throw the towel and Apollo grunts out one last “No” or two. In the Drago Cut, Duke’s pleads comes seconds before that fatal knockout blow, so he didn’t even have the chance to question what to do. And Ivan gloats a bit more. The Funeral is different as well. Where Rocky was stoic as he tells what Apollo meant to him. In the Drago Cut, he is barely able to speak because he’s had at this point been through a lot with Apollo, first as rivals in Rocky and Rocky II, then as friends in Rocky III and this movie. Then there is the added scene of Rocky and The Boxing Commission considering what to do next, especially with somewhat despondent Rocky blaming himself for the death of Apollo. Because in the original version, this moment was briefly seen as photos setting up the press conference between Rocky and Drago. That’s another part of this that I have to talk about. While the original had more moments of Ludmilla, played by Brigitte Nielsen, doing the speaking for her husband, because, at the time, Stallone was engaged to Nielsen and probably gave the role as a way of supporting her. Well in the Drago cut with the exception of a few lines have been scrubbed out of the movie, partly due to the fact that two years after the movie was released Stallone and Nielsen were divorced. Also scrubbed out is most of Burt Young’s performance of Paulie as has the robot that was used for the movie, because, I swear upon heaven and earth this is true, Seargeoh Stallone is Autistic and apparently this robot was used to help him with his Autism.  (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA:
Which now has opened a can of worms for me. (James pulls out his Morpher and reverts back to being James Faraci)

James Faraci:
In the mid-1990s, I was diagnosed with Autism myself, specifically, Asperger’s, which is a high-functioning form of Autism. However, I have never let that be my defining trait about me. I consider myself, A very dependable worker, A College Student, An Uncle to three, A great-uncle to baby Kinsleigh, A man who is trying so hard to get a project I have been working on that it is killing me slowly, and A wonderful cook, A Son and someone who is trying to get everything in his life together! As well as an Internet Reviewer. Being Autistic will never define me.  Now with that said… (James pulls out his Morpher and becomes The Last Of The Americans again.)

TLOTA:
Let’s get back at it with the editing. (Cut to the different cuts of Rocky IV as James does a voiceover.)

TLOTA (V.O.):
The Classic is more recognizable for a lot. MTV music video style editing and Montage, Apollo Creed’s death is brutal, Cold War ideology, and not much is different. The Montages are also a little different. The No Way Out segment where Rocky tries to understand his grief isn’t as slick as the MTV music video it’s supposed to be in the original. The scenes of the past take on more blue, darker hues and are grainier the Drago cut. The training montages are also different. Rocky’s first training montage is composed of different takes if not moments that probably work better in the Drago cut. The fight between Rocky and Drago is different at the beginning and the end. While the fight between the two in the original cut and Drago Cut is the same, for the most part. One moment where Rocky is knocked down and much like in Rocky Balboa tells himself through inner monologue as to what to do next after a near knockdown and the montage between the end of the second round and the final round is nearly identical, just some technical aspects of the fighting choreography and it feels less like the MTV music video in the original. While the fight itself ends in the same way. The speech feels different. In the Original cut, he gives the speech about how change can be a good thing and wishes his son a Merry Christmas. Did I forget that this fight takes place at Christmas time? Better late than never. Then we come to the Drago cut of the speech where it feels as impactful it ends with Rocky shaking Drago’s hand and walking out of the ring while “Eye Of The Tiger” by Survivor plays in the foreground. (Cut to James Physically)

TLOTA:
So which one takes this round? This one is going to have to go to the Judges. (Cut to Paulo Fonseca, Nick Yaun, and Eric Kurtzke at a table discussing which version between the two cuts)

Nick Yaun:
After much discussion which includes all the differences, we have a split decision! (Cut to James)

TLOTA:
HOW?! (Cut to Eric Kurtzke)

Eric Kurtzke:
After watching both cuts, I think the classic version is the best-edited version. Paulo? (Cut to Paulo Fonseca.)

Paulo Fonseca:
I actually found the Drago cut the better-edited version because it felt like how Sylvester Stallone would have done it if he could’ve had more say. Nick? (Cut to Nick Yaun)

Nick Yaun:
The two cuts were so good; that I could not decide which one is best. (Cut to James)

TLOTA:
So in this case both get the point. (Cut to the original version’s poster with one Boxing Glove on the poster on the left of the screen and the Drago cut on the right with Two Boxing gloves on the poster while the first twenty seconds of “Hearts On Fire” by John Cafferty. Cut to James physically as a bell rings)

TLOTA:
Okay, the first half of the review is over; I need to take a break. I need a rubdown and some water. We’ll be back.

(The scene fades to black it then cuts to the 0:36 mark of the 1994 American Gladiators theme as it shows James entirely morphed with the half team TLOTA on his right and the other half on his left as the camera pulls back to see the slab with the markings "The Last Of The Americans." Cut to the 0:36 mark of the 1994 American Gladiators theme shows James entirely morphed with the half team TLOTA on his right and the other half on his left as the camera pulls back to see the slab with the markings "The Last Of The Americans." Cut to James as he is getting rubbed down by his team, given inspirational messages by Alex, and taking a swig of water and a bell ring as everyone disperses.)

TLOTA:
Okay, okay, I’m ready to go again. And now it’s time for the Cast and characters! (Cut to dual opening points on Blu-Ray covers which turn to the front of the covers the Blu-Rays the one on the right showing the Classic Rocky IV cover and the one on the left showing the Rocky IV: Rocky vs Drago cover. The two covers collide and explode and the words “CAST & CHARACTERS” appear in the title font of the trailer of Rocky IV as the first forty-eight seconds of Eye Of The Tiger by Survivor plays in the foreground. Cut to the different cuts of the movie as James does a voiceover.)

TLOTA (V.O.):
Talk about a great cast brought together by great storytelling. Sylvester Stallone who wrote and directed this movie as well as Rocky II, III, & Rocky Balboa, Talia Shire as Adrian, Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed, Burt Young as Paulie, Dolph Lundgren as Ivan Drago, Tony Burton as Duke, Brigitte Nelson as Ludmilla and so many others. But which one did this cast use better? Well as I said in the editing segment that while Brigitte was scrubbed out as was most of the Drago cut as was Burt Young’s Paulie, The Robot, among other characters. However, (Cut to Team TLOTA as they say “To Be Fair” in the same way Letterkenny does it as it cuts back to the movie as James does a voiceover.) Dolph getting more screen time and showing that Drago has more personality and depth isn’t a bad thing. This is where the Drago cut shines. And the cast did a great job, this is where the original Rocky IV shows its age as the cast have to handle the situation in the same way, and to me, the less is more gives Drago a mystique that Rocky had to break in the ring. Part of what keeps people watching this and quoting/referencing this is the performances. (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA:
Which gives the edge to the Original. Nothing against The Drago cut but for me, I enjoyed the classic and when we get to the final round We’ll discuss why. And for me, the point goes to the original cut.

(Cut to the original version’s poster with Two Boxing Gloves on the poster on the left of the screen and the Drago cut on the right with Two Boxing gloves on the poster while the first twenty seconds of “Hearts On Fire” by John Cafferty. Cut to James physically)

TLOTA:
We’re tied up in the points, so this is going to the final round, The Re-Watch Factor!

(Cut to dual opening points on Blu-Ray covers which turns to the front of the covers the Blu-Rays the one on the right showing the Classic Rocky IV cover and the one of the left showing the Rocky IV: Rocky vs Drago cover. The two covers collide and explode and the words “Re-Watch Factor” appear in the title font of the trailer of Rocky IV as the first forty-eight seconds of Eye Of The Tiger by Survivor plays in the foreground. Cut to the different cuts of the movie as James does a voiceover.)

TLOTA (V.O.):
The classic version has been in the pop culture lexicon for so long, it has the Re-Watch Factor without question. The Drago cut is a unique retelling of this movie. Showing Drago as someone who is the total package in the Drago cut is interesting and is the best retelling of Rocky IV. But it needs time to get to the point of the original cut. What made both versions of this movie incredible wasn’t the fight which according to the trailer for the Drago Cut was voted “The Greatest Fight in Cinematic History”, where that was? I don’t know but it was voted as such. It was the realistic views and when you watch the Drago cut, the views seemed a little less realistic but it was ultimately felt as less than the original. (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA:
And as cheesy and as corny as the classic was, it still remains an amazing movie from the 1980s that aged well. It’s that age that gives the Classic cut the win in this fight.

(Cut to the original version’s poster with Three Boxing Gloves on the poster on the left of the screen and the Drago cut on the right with Two Boxing gloves on the poster while the first twenty seconds of “Hearts On Fire” by John Cafferty. Cut to the final round of Rocky vs Drago with Rocky’s gloves pummeling away at the Drago cut and Rocky gets the knockout. Cut to James physically)

TLOTA:
Now as for my thoughts on the future of the Creed movies and the character of Rocky Balboa. Well… (Cut to clips of CREED & CREED II as James does a voiceover.)

TLOTA (V.O.):
After seeing Adonis Creed come out from the shadows of what he felt was something he didn’t know he wanted because of his father’s legacy and what he has ultimately become creating his own legacy. It’s safe to say that there is no need for Rocky Balboa to be in his corner as it was Illustrated in Creed II as Rocky told Adonis that it was his time and sat back down relaxed and then we find Adonis going to his father’s grave saying how it was now his legacy and introduced Apollo to his Granddaughter and Rocky makes the pilgrimage to see not only Robert but also to see his grandson, Logan. And because Rocky creator Sylvester Stallone has said that CREED II was his final movie as Rocky Balboa. I think it would be a good plot point in the third movie for Robert and Adonis to meet, Robert to tell Adonis about Rocky passing away quietly and surrounded by his loving son and grandchildren. And that would cause Adonis to examine how and when he would be at the point Rocky was when Adonis got Rocky in his corner. Whatever happens, We know the legacy of Rocky and Creed is Gonna Fly Now and forever. (Cut to James physically in Boxing gear.)

TLOTA:
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got something to do. I’m James Faraci The Last Of The Americans and that’s my opinion. (James gets up as we see Chad Narducci in one corner of a Boxing Ring and James in the other as John Ross Santos comes into the ring.)

John Ross Santos:
Ladies and Gentlemen, we welcome you to this winner take all fight. In the White Corner, “The Man” Chad NARDUCCI! (Crickets chirp) and in the red corner, he is “The Last Of The Americans” James Benjamin FARACI! (A roar of people cheers James) Our referee, Ed Champion.

Ed Champion:
I want a good clean fight! Obey my commands at all times! Watch your body punches, kidney punches, rabbit punches, and Low Blows. And remember I am fair yet firm. Touch gloves and get it on! (The fighters touch gloves and the bell rings as James and Chad dance around as the punches connect The Scene freeze frames in the same way as Rocky III. Fade To Black)

The Top 10 Ridiculous "Rocky" moments

(Scene starts with James lying down on his bed, exhausted and looking at the calendar.)

TLOTA: Oh man, am I late. I overshot the Fourth of July but then again I was Uber-busy. Let's see if I can do something really on the fly. (Silently scatting then saying silently Eeny Meeny Miney Moe & Bingo as James finds in a box set of DVDs of the "Rocky" franchise.) Let's see what inspiration I can get out of this!

(A Hand pulling a card designed by Stevie Swigart with the statistics of James Faraci The Last Of The Americans while putting it into the Megaforce Morpher from the 0:00-0:03 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run. 0:04 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators shows James Faraci morphing into James Faraci The Last Of The Americans with his Black Tee-Shirt with the American flag on it, Blue Jeans and Tan Work boots until 0:07 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run as scene cuts to James stocking up on his arsenal from the Classic Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers Morpher, a bandoleer stocked up with Sonic Screwdrivers, Ammunition for a 303 British Rifle and said rifle, The Ring Of Aeon, The Gem From the Gauntlet Malachite’s Hand, Emmalina’s amulet and the Sword Of Caliverti from 0:08-0:15 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators. 0:15-0:29 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run shows James taking on all of popular culture until 0:30 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators shows when James pulls out a sonic screwdriver then cuts over to a slab of titanium where lasers cut out “The Last Of The Americans” until 0:36 mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run when James lands on top of the slab while doing a heroic pose on a black background the 0:36-end mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run play the camera moves back to see James on top of the slab with the words “The Last Of The Americans” on it.)

I'm James Faraci The Last Of The Americans and the views that I'm about to express are that of my own and some of yours. When it comes to the Fourth Of July a few things immediately come to my mind are as follows: Bar-B-Ques, Small town Fairs, Fireworks, and two movie franchises in particular "Jaws" and the one I'm going to talk about "Rocky" (Scene cuts to footage of the "Rocky" movie franchise and James doing a voice over.)

TLOTA (Voice over): And there is a reason for it around this time last year I did an editorial on the "Rocky" Franchise and how for Sylvester Stallone the character of Rocky Balboa represents his American Dream of watching someone from the bottom rise to the top! (Cut to clips from the Broadway show of "Rocky" while James continues a voice over) and as I speak now there is a musical adaptation of the first "Rocky" movie that's hit on Broadway and most people like it but there are those who find it ridiculous. But I ask those who find the Musical Ridiculous,(Cut back to the Rocky movie footage.) Look at all six movies, there were plenty of Ridiculous moments in there and I'm counting down the ten most Ridiculous moments of the "Rocky" movie franchise. (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA: Now don't imply that I don't like the movies. Far from it. (Cut to more footage from the Rocky movie franchise as James does a voiceover.)

TLOTA (Voiceover): I actually like the dramatic moments and the sports action for the most part is well choreographed but trust me when you see what I have seen in the Rocky movies, you'll be seeing things about the Rocky franchise in a different light.(Cut to James physically)

TLOTA: So put on those Patriotic Shorts and let James Brown's "Living in America" be your introduction as you prepare to fight Hulk Hogan for Charity, These are The ten most ridiculous moments in the Rocky movie franchise! (Cut to obvious green screened shot of James in Grey Sweats as he runs in place as the city moves and clips of the Rocky Franchise run along side him eventually showing the "Yo Adrian I did it" moment from Rocky II while "Gonna Fly Now" plays in the background as James counts down the moments.)

TLOTA (Voice Over): Number 10

10) How Rocky lost his fortune in "Rocky V"
Don't get me wrong, losing one's fortune is devastating no matter who it is. But when Rocky lost his fortune in "Rocky V" by having his accountant be a complete and incompetent crook who fooled Paulie to sign over Rocky's accounts to him was sheer and completely ridiculous but what was more ridiculous was Rocky flat out saying to his management team to tell George Washington Duke, that he would take on Duke's Choice for competition. He just came back from going toe to toe with Ivan Drago in the last one and he's saying he'll fight Duke's challenger? (Cut to scene from "The Critic episode "A Song For Margo" where Franklin chuckles and says "Cuckoo" then cut to James physically)

TLOTA: My thoughts exactly Franklin!(Cut to obvious green screened shot of James in Grey Sweats as he runs in place while "Gonna Fly Now" plays in the background and James does a voice over.) Number nine

9) How Rocky won the title in "Rocky II"
As a sports fan myself, I've seen some crazy miracles happen in sports. Such as watching Eli Manning after nearly being blitzed threw a throw that got caught with one hand by David Tyree in the Super Bowl or watching as the San Antonio Spurs win the NBA Championship even watching as The Boston Red Sox win the World Series after an 86 year drought was somewhat miraculous and I consider myself a pure fan of the sport of Baseball. But this is might just top David Arquette winning the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Okay let me set up the scenario, it's the final round in the rematch between Apollo Creed & Rocky Balboa both looking like a pound of ground beef and the two are just tired from standing but the two are still fighting and then boom with one punch the two are on the canvas, the two crawl and try with every ounce of energy they could muster to get up. Both were at the count of nine, Rocky somehow finds the little bit extra as Apollo goes down. Whu, What the... WAIT A MINUTE? (Record Scratches as scene cuts to James physically)

TLOTA: You mean to tell me that by the sheer will of force, Rocky Balboa who was in the same place physically & psychologically as Apollo got back on his feet first? HOW? And for the record, NO I do not accept Apollo's explanation that somehow Rocky had that little bit more of an edge okay. Let's move on shall we.(Cut to obvious green screened shot of James in Grey Sweats as he runs in place while "Gonna Fly Now" plays in the background and James does a voice over.)

TLOTA (Voice over): Number Eight

8) George Washington Duke
If there was ever a doubt that Don King could never be parodied then obviously you never saw "Rocky V" because HOLY QUACAMOLE! The only thing that separates Don King and George Washington Duke is about three feet of hair on end and while actor Richard Gant took some inspiration from Don King, He definitely put his own twist into it. Playing more of the Race Card, hounding Rocky by any means to get his way, even flipping like a coin when Tommy Gunn failed in the brawl at the end, was I glad to see him get his comeuppance as Rocky knocked him on his ass on the Limo, Yes. But was I supposed to take him seriously? Probably. Was he ridiculous? (Cut to the scene of the townspeople of Rock Ridge in the middle of the night and they all shout to Bart. "YOU BET YOUR ASS!" before cutting to James Physically)

TLOTA: THANK YOU TOWNSHIP OF ROCK RIDGE!(Cut to obvious green screened shot of James in Grey Sweats as he runs in place while "Gonna Fly Now" plays in the background and James does a voice over.)

TLOTA (Voice over): Number seven!

7) Rocky's "Training Camp" in Rocky III
While I know it was meant to show that maybe Rocky had gotten soft after winning the championship but that doesn't mean they had to show how easily he got distracted during the training  sequence. A training sequence that shows James "Clubber" Lang played by Mr. T is so prepared that if Rocky was as prepared as Clubber, Rocky would've knocked "Clubber"'s lights out. I think Rocky should've thanked his lucky stars Apollo Creed came along at the right time to help Rocky realize how ridiculous he had become.

(Cut to obvious green screened shot of James in Grey Sweats as he runs in place while "Gonna Fly Now" plays in the background and James does a voice over.)

TLOTA (Voice over): Number six

6)Everything in Rocky IV
I could've filled the entire list with every little ridiculous thing from Rocky IV. (Cut to James physically)

TLOTA: However I should state that it is not a bad movie.The Nostalgia Critic and James Rolfe went through and reviewed this movie and pointed and nitpicked Rocky IV already but to kind of point out the obvious here are the moments that make this movie ridiculous. (Cut to clips of Rocky IV that James and everyone else finds ridiculous and James doing a voice over.)

TLOTA (Voice over): The Robot in Rocky IV, The Martyrdom and eventual death of Apollo Creed, Paulie's attitude, The fight between Rocky & Ivan Drago, The final speech at the end of  Rocky IV, the predictability of the movie. (Bell dings as scene cuts back to James.)

TLOTA: Well, that half the fight is over. I'm going to take a break in my corner. You check out these commercials.(0:36-end mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run play the camera moves back to see James on top of the slab with the words “The Last Of The Americans” on it act as the commercial break intro)

(Scene starts in a living room with Lea Michele & Michael Morrison with a confused look on their faces while watching a Sylvester Stallone movie while Rowdy does a voice over.)

Rowdy (Voice over): Are you tired of having to put either the captions or English Subtitles to watch a movie starring Sylvester Stallone? (Show clip of "Rambo: First Blood" as he gives his final speech on the TV and cut to Lea & Michael nodding in a yes motion.) Well, now you can translate what Stallone says into fluent English with the Stallone translator. It's available as an app for your portable device, an in ear piece or a program for your speaker system. Put it on and you'll be able to hear what in Sam Hill what Sylvester Stallone is saying in actual English. (Cut to clip of "Judge Dredd" 1995 with James dubing Sylvester Stallone.)

Stallone (Dubbed by James): It's a lie! The evidence has been falsified! It's impossible! I never broke the law, I AM THE LAW!

Rowdy (Voice over): You'll finally be able to hear what Rocky Balboa is saying without slurring his words. Imagine John Rambo's final speech actually dubbed into English! (Cut to "Rambo: First Blood"'s end speech with James dubbing over Stallone's lines.)

Stallone (Dubbed by James): Nothing is over! Nothing! You just don't turn it off! It wasn't my war! You asked me, I didn't ask you! And I did what I had to do to win! But somebody wouldn't let us win! And I come back to the world and I see all those maggots at the airport, protesting me, spitting. Calling me baby killer and all kinds of vile crap! Who are they to protest me? Who are they? Unless they've been me and been there and know what the hell they're yelling about!

Trautman: It was a bad time for everyone, Rambo. It's all in the past now.

Stallone (Dubbed by James):For you! For me civilian life is nothing! In the field we had a code of honor, you watch my back, I watch yours. Back here there's nothing!

Trautman: You're the last of an elite group, don't end it like this.

Stallone (Dubbed by James):Back there I could fly a gunship, I could drive a tank, I was in charge of million dollar equipment, back here I can't even hold a job PARKING CARS! (Cut to an ear piece inside the ear of Becca Tobin playing Jennifer Flavin-Stallone while Rowdy does a voice over.)

Rowdy (Voice over): We even let the Stallones try it out and well... (Cut to the Stallone house as James plays Sylvester Stallone.)

Sylvester Stallone: Hey yo! (Inaudible mumbling & slurring) (Cut to first person perspective of Jennifer Flavin-Stallone as Stallone is seen but James dubs the audio)

Stallone (Dubbed by James): So I'm going to be working at the studio and I'm hoping one of our older daughters can pick up the youngest and make dinner. (Cut to Jennifer Flavin-Stallone from the back of Sylvester's head.)

Jennifer Flavin-Stallone: An absolutely great idea.

Sylvester Stallone: (Inaudible mumbling and slurring then walks out of frame as Jennifer Flavin-Stallone looks into the camera.)

Jennifer Flavin-Stallone: I can finally understand my husband! Thank you Stallone Translator! (Cut to an image of the Stallone Translator with Rowdy doing a voiceover.)

Rowdy (Voice over): The Stallone Translator, it also works on Sam Elliot dialogue and other actors who can't speak a lick of English properly. (Sylvester Stallone pops up and begins to slur & mumble his dialogue before kicking on a translator himself.)

Stallone (Dubbed by James): There we go, my name is Sylvester Stallone and I approve of this device! (Fade to black)

(0:36-end mark from the theme from the final season of American Gladiators original run play the camera moves back to see James on top of the slab with the words “The Last Of The Americans” on it act as the return act to the review as scene cuts to James swishing water in his mouth getting rubbed down by Lea Michele and Rowdy dressed as Mickey from "Rocky" is giving him encouraging words.)

Rowdy: You're doing great James, we're halfway there another five and we'll be done. One way or another, we're alright. (Bell dings and James swallows the water.)

TLOTA: That was the bell, let me back at it.(Cut to obvious green screened shot of James in Grey Sweats as he runs in place while "Gonna Fly Now" plays in the background and James does a voice over.)

TLOTA (Voice over): Number five

5) Rocky Junior's age progression
Don't get me wrong, Rocky Junior's age progression is natural but whoa did the lapses take a toll on reality. In Rocky II he's born, of course and is played surprisingly by Seargeoh Stallone, his second born son, then he's nearly five years old, then in Rocky IV he's nearly seven and in Rocky V he's a teen and played by Seargeoh's older brother the late Sage Stallone. WOW absolutely ridiculous how this kid grows up. Even though as an adult he's played by Milo Ventimiglia and does it well it takes quite a toll on the suspension of disbelief to see him grow up THAT quickly!

(Cut to obvious green screened shot of James in Grey Sweats as he runs in place while "Gonna Fly Now" plays in the background and James does a voice over.)

TLOTA (Voice over): Number four

4) The Marching Band that knows "Gonna Fly Now" in Rocky III & Rocky V
Don't get me wrong and don't misquote me Bill Conti's "Gonna Fly Now" is an amazing song definitely see why it deserves to be in the top 11 F-Yeah songs from movies list the Nostalgia Critic did during what I'd call his first run but HOLY FREAKING TOLEDO! When I heard a marching band play it in Rocky III, I figured that's the song Rocky heard in his head and wanted the marching band to play as he was being honored but when I heard another marching band perform it in Rocky V, yeah kind of seems insane by most standards and is without a shadow of one of the big ridiculous moments in the Rocky franchise.

(Cut to obvious green screened shot of James in Grey Sweats as he runs in place while "Gonna Fly Now" plays in the background and James does a voice over.)

TLOTA (Voice over): Number three

3) The over usage of the musical montages
This was prevalent particularly in Rocky IV & V but while I did mention that everything in Rocky IV was ridiculous earlier the over use of the Musical montage in Rocky IV had to have had it's own spot. While they did cut back on the musical montages in the fifth one. The overuse of the montage in the fourth one made it clear it was trying to reach the MTV crowd which was starting to come to fruition at that time. But when you have to give a musical moment to James Brown, yeah something was saying in the back of Sylvester Stallone's mind saying, let's cut back on the musical numbers in my movies from now on.

(Cut to obvious green screened shot of James in Grey Sweats as he runs in place while "Gonna Fly Now" plays in the background and James does a voice over.)

TLOTA (Voice over): Number two

2) Rocky Balboa's investment in Tommy Gunn's Championship fight in Rocky V
After watching his former Protégé Tommy "The Machine" Gunn played by the late Tommy Morrison walk out on him. Rocky actually decides to watch Tommy go for his former championship on TV mind you but still, after he basically got fed up with Rocky trying to make Tommy patient and enjoy not only the respect and dignity the title meant to Rocky but also to the boxing community. Rocky decides to see the fight on TV in hopes that Tommy at least gives Rocky a bit of credit for helping Tommy. Rocky is even capable of some magic as he was able to choreograph Tommy through a punching bag! WOW! Ridiculous as having toast land jelly side down as 100 % Positive proof the Devil is here on earth!

(Cut to obvious green screened shot of James in Grey Sweats as he runs in place while "Gonna Fly Now" plays in the background and James does a voice over.)

TLOTA (Voice over): And the number one most ridiculous moment is...

1) Rocky Balboa vs Thunderlips in Rocky III
This was the sign that the silliness was going uphill and the dramatics were heading downwards. But surprisingly I actually like this and can recite verbatim all of Hulk Hogan's lines. But what tips the scale back and forth from funny ridiculous to "Are you serious?" ridiculous is when Paulie is being a corner man trying to help Rocky. Paulie even goes so far as to hit Thunderlips played by Hulk Hogan with a chair and say

Paulie : I don't sweat you

TLOTA (Voice over): Only to have Thunderlips knock his lights out but even though the match ended in a draw and the two get a photo for the paper. This tops the list for me at least as the most Ridiculous moment in the Rocky franchise.

Rocky Balboa: You know sometimes charity hurts!

Thunderlips: Huh. (Cut to James physically.)

TLOTA: And that's the top ten ridiculous "Rocky" moments. Does those moments detract from the movies themselves? No! (Cut to footage of the Rocky movie franchise with James doing a voiceover)

TLOTA (Voice over):  The ridiculous moments don't detract from the movies likability at all. The "Rocky" Franchise was a great tale of Sylvester Stallone's American Dream that anyone can rise to the top and fly, rise up to the challenge of our rivals and take them on with the eye of the tiger! (Cut to James Physically)

TLOTA: I'm James Faraci, The Last Of The Americans and that's my opinion. Now I've got to run!(Cut to obvious green screened shot of James in Grey Sweats as he runs in place while "Gonna Fly Now" plays in the background and cut to the actual steps outside the museum as the camera angles perfectly to show the statue as James runs up the steps and does the pose of the statue with the statue in the foreground.)

Does "Rocky" Represent The American Dream?

(Commercial Sting with of the American Gladiators first run's final season's ten seconds theme with James Standing next to Army Text saying The Last Of The Americans. Then a rubber stamp stamps over the entire thing the word Editorial)

I'm James Faraci, The Last Of The Americans and the views I'm about to express are that of my own and some of yours. With the Fourth Of July is around the corner, several thoughts crossed my mind. One, Is TV Land going to do a weekend marathon of M*A*S*H? Two, would our founding fathers like what has happened to their homeland they founded? Three Which store carries the biggest steak that I can grill at the most affordable price or the most amount of Hamburger or ground beef, one of the three, as long as I get to put beef to the grill I'm happy. And finally Does the Rocky film franchise accurately represent the American Dream? Well unfortunately there is no simple yes or no answer because quite honestly The American Dream is different to everyone and for the Character of Rocky Balboa his was to go the distance in the first movie and his dream changed when he married Adrian and had a kid in the second one which was not ONLY go the distance but to provide not only a better life for himself but for his wife and newborn son. The Third movie has him now living his version of the American Dream but when someone younger and more hungrier than Rocky takes away not only his pride and dignity, he's a broken shell trying to understand why he feels even though he's living his American Dream he hasn't fulfilled his dream. So when he came back stronger and better than before it was because he had the right people backing him, his wife, his old opponent turned best friend Apollo Creed, Duke (Apollo's manager), Paulie and Rocky Jr. While yeah the fourth one is goofy and so completely dated this is another chapter of Rocky's friend Apollo dies and with it Apollo's  American Dream which forces Rocky to go to war so no one he knows and cares for have to die and while the fifth one has him dealing with the end of his American Dream he can't cope when it all collapsed in around him but while he does get the message that just because his American Dream ended poorly doesn't mean the American Dream for those around him isn't over and neither is his American Dream and while in the sixth one a lot of people are telling him not to chase it anymore he wants to at least try even if he does feel silly doing it. Which is probably a lot more than I can say about most of us. For most of us we know that it's going to take hard work and why when we see Rocky climbing up the Museum of Art's steps for the first time in the first movie before the successful montage he's winded, he's tired, he wants to call it a day early but knows he can't because he wants to do it, he wants to go the distance even though the people around him are saying there's no light at the end of the tunnel, he tries and when he succeeded he felt he had to climb a bigger mountain which he did in the rest of the franchise. But the question still lingers Does "Rocky" represent the American Dream? Well I think for Sylvester Stallone Rocky Balboa does represent his American Dream and I say good for Sylvester for accomplishing his American Dream to help others aspire their own American Dream through Rocky whether it is to go the distance and succeed or whether it is to just make it to the end of the day. And while I feel Rocky doesn't represent the original intent of the American Dream of Life, Liberty & The Pursuit Of Happiness he represents his own American Dream to aspire, to achieve what he wants to and to serve as inspiration to show that you can aspire and achieve just like he did and you know what I still hope to achieve my American Dream, so to Sylvester Stallone I thank you for making your American Dream come true so others can aspire to achieve their own American Dream. I'm James Faraci, The Last Of The Americans and that's my opinion! Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some running to do. ("Gonna Fly Now" by Bill Conti Plays in the background as James runs for what many people would think is an eternity eventually going to the top of the steps Rocky ran at lightning speed as he makes it all the way to the top with the Statue of Rocky in the foreground angled where James is standing at the top of the steps)