Rocky IV - Der Kampf des Jahrhunderts

Wenn man sich diesen Film nach ein paar Jahren anschaut, ist es ein unvergessliches Erlebnis. Rocky IV - Der Kampf des Jahrhunderts verkörpert alles, was wir bei den Actionfilmen der 80er Jahre geliebt haben. Ein guter Mann aus Stahl versus ein böser Mann aus Stahl, das gute Amerika versus das böse Russland. Und wenn Sie wollen, dann auch die Kraft des reinen Naturgeistes versus die Kraft der modernen Technik. Ein toter Freund, der gerächt werden muss, ein hartes Training und der Kampf im Finale, der so viel Energie hat, dass man Lust hat, aufzustehen und mit einem Blumentopf zu kämpfen. Diese Merkmale hatten damals viele Filme, aber nur wenige von ihnen haben es geschafft, das alles mit einer solchen Leichtigkeit, einer Showman-Darbietung und in einer so dynamischen Videoclip-Packung wie Rocky IV - Der Kampf des Jahrhunderts zu servieren. (19.05.2002)

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 :) (28.09.2003)

The only quality episode, with the exception of the first movie. Although we see the same thing here for the fourth time, it’s only the second time it’s worked. But if this wasn’t enough for movie-goers in the Czech Republic, we get extra delight in the form of Czech dubbing that rightly has a cult following. The Czech language voice-over of “No Easy Way Out" is particularly satisfying! A hot candidate for the worldwide most laughable dubbing award. As an added bonus we get “artsy" editing and the seriously excellent training sequence. But don’t go looking for any logic in Rocky VI. It’s simply a cult movie and a perfect guilty pleasure. One of my most favorite ever. (21.04.2022)

When remembering the match in the USSR or even just reading some of the comments here quoting lines directly from the movie, a chill runs down my spine and it's the right moment to forget words like "propaganda". A long flashback memory while driving a car, training in the snow, Drago destroying equipment in the gym, and somewhere in the back of my head a voice telling me that cheering like this is something I should perhaps do at the age of twelve, not in my thirties. The most bombastic and deservedly the best part of the series. (13.05.2006)

Zusammen mit dem zweiten Rambo ist Stallone vielleicht der beste. Warum? Denn zuvor hatte Rocky nie einen eingängigeren Soundtrack der 80er Jahre (Hearts on Fire - der eingängigste Song), eine wunderschöne Berglandschaft (nimm Teil 3 - der hatte nur einen lächerlichen Strand), er hatte kein schnelleres Tempo und vor allem keinen brutaleren Gegner. Ob das Training fast alleine in der Natur oder unter der Aufsicht von Ärzten, mit moderner Technologie stattfindet, man geht an seine Grenzen, also ist es kein Wunder, dass der finale Kampf an einen Kampf der Titanen erinnert. Eisen gegen Felsen, Gut gegen Böse, Amerika gegen Russland. Und auch die berührende Rede kommt vor ("Und wenn ich mich ändern kann, könnt ihr euch auch ändern!"). Teil 4 ist einfach Nostalgie, und es ist schön, dass er nicht altert. (22.12.2015)

I just love strong sports movies with strong guys who dig down to the bottom. I love Rocky! (25.11.2010)

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)

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)

Ich sehe ihn dreimal. – Schlage den Mittleren! Viele halten diesen Teil für einen der besten, für mich ist es der erste, dem ich keine fünf Sterne gebe. Etwas fehlt mir hier (vor allem Contis Musik), etwas ist überflüssig (der Roboter, die schrecklich langen Erinnerungen vor Rockys Abflug). Sonst ist es aber eine perfekte Show mit dem Killer Dolph Lundgren und dem entschlossenen Stallone, der zum Schluss Standing Ovations vom Politbüro erlebt. Der Trainingsteil "moderne Technologien versus Scheune und Natur“ ist toll. (03.01.2016)

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)

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)

Despite operating on an ideological level that is adorably banal and ultimately extreme in its pathos, it works in an unbelievable way. Dolph Lundgren only says about 10 words total throughout the entire film, yet his portrayal of the (not-so-)bad guy is absolutely iconic (the most divine is when he throws the comrade out of the ring). Without a doubt one of the highlights of the entire franchise. [85%] (29.11.2021)