Tommy wins the title, but doesn't really feel he's earned it without going up against his former mentor. Tommy is eventually lured away by a corrupt promoter and he betrays his mentor for the promise of a title fight, but Rocky takes comfort in rediscovering his own family. His age and health prevent him from getting back in the ring again, but he finds new purpose in training a young fighter named Tommy Gunn (real-life fighter Tommy Morrison), though it results in Rocky neglecting his own son in favor of his protege. In 1990's Rocky V, the last of this era of films, Rocky returns to his roots after a financial collapse forces him to give up everything. But Rocky ends the fight with an emotional plea for mutual respect and peace. Devastated by the loss of his friend and former rival, Rocky agrees to take on Drago on his home turf in the Soviet Union, a bout that grows into a symbolic clash between the superpowers. It's not Rocky but Apollo who takes on Drago first, resulting in a fatal blow. And here we have yet another breakout role, this time for Dolph Lundgren. The opponent of this film is a Russian powerhouse named Ivan Drago. Released in 1985, at the height of the cold war, Rocky IV expands the conflict to an international stage. As if there weren't already enough cultural touchstones in this film, it also has Hulk Hogan as a wrestler named "Thunderlips." The milestones in the plot of the third film include the death of Mickey and the formation of a new partnership between Rocky and Apollo, who becomes his new trainer. Yeah, Survivor has an Oscar and you don't. It's also notable for the catchy power ballad that served as its theme song – "Eye of the Tiger," which won the Academy Award in 1983 for best original song. Rocky III introduces a new challenger, "Clubber" Lang, which proved to be a breakout role for the one and only Mr. In another climactic fight, Rocky and Apollo clash, but this time Rocky prevails and becomes the new champ. Mickey reluctantly agrees to train him again, but his training is interrupted when Adrian goes into premature labor and becomes very ill after the birth of their son. ![]() ![]() He proposes and marries Adrian, and knocks her up, but his limited skill set and tough economic times leave him little choice but to go back in the ring. In the sequel, Rocky II, Apollo is spoiling for a rematch, though Rocky is more concerned with moving forward in his personal life. ![]() In the end, it doesn't matter whether he wins or loses, the important thing is that he's true to himself and gets the girl. When he's tapped to go up against the undefeated heavyweight champ, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), he rises to the challenge, digs deep and surprises everyone, including himself. We follow him as he awkwardly courts a shy pet-shop clerk named Adrian (Talia Shire) and teams up with a hardened trained named Mickey (Burgess Meredith). In the first film, we are introduced to Rocky as an aspiring prize fighter from South Philly who makes his living collecting for a loan shark. Rocky may have increasingly become a caricature of himself in the later films, but that shouldn't take away from the original character at the core of this rags-to-riches story. Beginning with Rocky, written by a then-unknown Stallone himself, is full of passion and utterly authentic. Now, you can track the entire journey of the Italian Stallion, from rising star to washed-up has-been in this new "Undisputed" collection, which brings together for the first time on Blu-ray all six (unimaginatively named) installments: Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V and Rocky Balboa.
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