1985 Rocky IV

When the fourth entry in the ongoing Rocky series was released Sylvester Stallone was at his peak, both physically and commercially.

he had just released Rambo: First Blood Part 2, which did great business; and Rocky was now riding high after three movies which seemed to get bigger and bigger.

In Rocky IV we have America's favourite boxer up against his counterpart from the Soviet Union; this is the Cold War fought American style. All for revenge.

The movie has a cracking soundtrack, much like many movies of this decade, the soundtrack is part of the deal. It would not be unusual during the 80's to have songs in the charts tied up to major Hollywood releases. With Rocky 4 we have the usual fight and train montage coupled with Van Halen or James Brown.

Stallone, as with all his Rocky films, is firmly in control. Since the first one he has had writing duties, and his original story was what brought him to the attention of the masses. Yet Rocky 4 is a world away from the small town fighter from Philadelphia trying to make it big. Here he is big; he is 80's big. The action rocks; the lights flare and the colour pounds your eyes as much as the blatant flag-waving. This is also the movie where Dolph Lundgren made his name, after a brief appearance as a henchman in A View to a Kill. he would go on to be He-Man...oh well.

This was Stallone's high point in his career. From this movie there was only one way to go and that is what happened. This movie is true 80's and wears it proudly in its sleeve; no other decade could have cooked this story up.

The audiences loved it and it was number 2 for the year, grossing a punch-in-the-air $300m.