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With: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Brigitte Nielsen, Dolph Lundgren, Tony Burton, Michael Pataki, Rocky Krakoff, George Rogan, Sylvia Meals, James Brown
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Written by: Sylvester Stallone
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Directed by: Sylvester Stallone
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MPAA Rating: PG
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Running Time: 91
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Date: 11/21/1985
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How to Train Your Drago
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
Written and directed by Sylvester Stallone, Rocky IV moves straight into the 1980s, with a slicker look and many training montages as well as a few flat-out music videos. Tapping into a Cold War mood, Rocky's opponent here is the Russian Ivan Drago (the Swedish Dolph Lundgren). Drago kills Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) in the ring, so Rocky must fight him next; the fight will take place in Russia, on Christmas Day. Reversing the themes of Rocky III, Drago trains with all the latest technology in expensive gyms, while Rocky trains the natural way, running through the snow and carrying logs. Only the purest fighter will win. This one isn't terrible, but it is a step down for the series. Burt Young's Paulie is now little more than an obnoxious comic relief, but the film is notable for its comfort with Black and white characters interacting together. It was and still is the most financially successful of the series. In 2021, Stallone released his director's cut.
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