Rocky IV The Directors Cut

[ZariusTwo]

Rocky IV directors cut in development from Syl


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sylvester-stallone-says-theres-a-rocky-iv-director/1100-6479354/

[Andrew NDB]

Read about this a few days ago. I'd never even considered there was a lot of cut footage on the floor.

[MikeandRaph87]

I would like to see a comparison between the two versions of the film to see what would different. I said it before and I will again,this movie should have wrapped up the franchise.

[oldmanwinters]

Aside from the original Rocky, all "home video" releases of the vintage Rocky series (II-V) have been practically bare-bones in regards to special features, despite constant re-releases. I welcome this with open arms!

And FYI, there is a great Ivan Dragon fan game out there if anybody is interested (and if you can find it)!
https://rocky.fandom.com/wiki/Ivan_Drago:_Justice_Enforcer
LKZICPQedB4

[MikeandRaph87]

Aside from the original Rocky, all "home video" releases of the vintage Rocky series (II-V) have been practically bare-bones in regards to special features, despite constant re-releases. I welcome this with open arms!

And FYI, there is a great Ivan Dragon fan game out there if anybody is interested (and if you can find it)!
https://rocky.fandom.com/wiki/Ivan_Drago:_Justice_Enforcer
LKZICPQedB4

I would play that! If you do find a link please PM it to me!

[Autbot_Benz]

Stallone hates Paulie's Robot and is gonna remove that in the Directors cut

https://twitter.com/murderwizard/status/1300160957436563457

[Jester]

I'll miss you Happy Birthday, Paulie Robot... :(
https://thumbs.gfycat.com/BackAptEagle.webp

[MikeandRaph87]

Stallone hates Paulie's Robot and is gonna remove that in the Directors cut

https://twitter.com/murderwizard/status/1300160957436563457

Can we remove Apollo's death too? That is the death of the franchise. Apollo being beaten near death and coming back year later could have been a spinoff.

I am indifferent about Paulie's lady friend robot. Why put it in if he hates it? Comedic relief?

[Autbot_Benz]

Can we remove Apollo's death too? That is the death of the franchise. Apollo being beaten near death and coming back year later could have been a spinoff.

Of course not than it basically negates the Creed Movies which are fantastic 1 more so than 2.

Rocky 5 was technically the death of the franchise until Rocky Balboa and Creed saved it.

[MikeandRaph87]

Of course not than it basically negates the Creed Movies which are fantastic 1 more so than 2.

Rocky 5 was technically the death of the franchise until Rocky Balboa and Creed saved it.

I LOVE the first four. Then it's like a dead franchise walking. Removing Adrian and romancing the one time preteen he told not to smoke to see if he still had it and not much a nemesis in Mason Dixon then Creed creates an illegitimate child for Apollo that does not make sense for his character and was too old to enter boxing at age 30. The soundtrack is my jam. Then with 5 it takes on a hip hop favoritism from the hybrid of pop rock and instrumental. If others like them it's fine. Its just not for me.

[CyberCubed]

Why would they remove Apollo's death? That's like the dumbest suggestion I heard in a long time. That's the whole point of the movie. :lol:

[turtle1237]

Yeah it was Rocky 5 that was the downer for the series, not Creed's death. In fact, I was in shock when Creed died in theaters. I could not believe they did that lol. That took some guts.

[Leo656]

Yeah, M&R, there's really nothing I can say about that suggestion without being too much of a heel. :lol: Other than I think you're kinda sensitive to let stuff like that bother you so much, broski.

As for the newer films, I don't much care for "hip hop flavor" myself generally speaking but it's authentic to boxing as a sport and the "aura" surrounding it so I have no problem with it. It's a "black sport", in that most of the athletes who dominate and thus most of the people who watch it, happen to be black. Thus, movies which represent the sport are going to have that kind of "flavor" and that's perfectly fine, it's merely being authentic which is something I always enjoy. Even if something isn't my taste I will always applaud for authentic representation that isn't pandering and is merely, as the kids say, "Keeping it real". I actually enjoyed it quite a bit in the recent films because in no way did it take away from the story. It DID however add greatly to the immersion. Dare I say, the "verisimilitude". :tgrin:

The older films were authentic to boxing in the 1980s, the newer ones absolutely should reflect the modern style and aesthetic of the sport. I really, REALLY like how they use the actual cameras and on-air personalities from the various boxing shows on TV to give the films that realistic feeling. They're so good with that kinda sh*t. Doesn't matter that I don't actually watch boxing or listen to a lot of hip-hop; they're "keeping it real" and I'm always all about that.

Beyond that, "Rocky Balboa" and "Creed" are definitely among the absolute best movies in the entire franchise. Tons of heart and some of the best actual boxing in the entire series. Seriously, I adore I and II but the actual fight scenes were sh*t in how you can see them whiff on punches by over a foot sometimes. The fights in the newest films are WAY better.

I mean, people can do what they want, but as someone who originally thought before seeing them that neither "Rocky Balboa" nor "Creed" necessarily needed to be made, I can openly admit that my original feelings were misguided and they're secretly two of the best in the entire series, bar-none. I mean, I full-on rolled my eyes when they announced "Creed". But it's great! And y'all know how hard it can be to win me over sometimes. :lol: But when I'm wrong, I'm wrong, and I actually like being wrong when it means I get to be given gifts such as "Creed". Right up there with "Cobra Kai" in 'Gifts I never asked for but am damn happy I got."

Anyways, as someone who absolutely bleeds "Rocky", I genuinely feel a sense of deep sadness and sorrow for anyone who can't appreciate the series' newer entries for myopic and trivial reasons. They're missing out on some of the best sh*t they ever did! Don't do that to yourself, kids. The entire story was always about "Taking life's hits and getting back up," and "Balboa" and "Creed" do a MUCH better job of making that point than pretty much any of them after the third one. And they do a much better job of creating REAL emotion within the viewer than any of them after the second one.

"It's such good sh*t, pal." :trazz:
--------------

I love Rocky IV, but every single criticism about how "It's not a movie, it's a music video about Rocky" is bang-on. So I'm open to seeing a new version.

But c'moooon, no "Happy Birthday Paulie" robot? Y'ALL DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOOD, SLY! :lol:

I guess I'll get over it. I GUESS. :tgrumble:

[Andrew NDB]

Good, get rid of the robot. I don't care if it has its fans, it is easily the most ridiculous part of the whole franchise.


I love Rocky IV, but every single criticism about how "It's not a movie, it's a music video about Rocky" is bang-on. So I'm open to seeing a new version.

So many montages. There's like 3 or 4 montages in it. Jeeze... I'm not sure I'd want to see any of them removed. Maybe the one where he gets in his car and starts driving around fast remembering Apollo... that was kind of silly. If there was any somber scenes filmed with Rocky grieving Apollo, I'd use that instead.

[Leo656]

No, no... you can't lose "No Easy Way Out"! That's just plain blasphemy.

Frankly, as it's by far the shortest film in the series, I'm looking for Additions, not Cuts. It's barely an hour and a half to begin with, isn't it? Jokes aside I've never been too mad about what's already IN the movie, but it doesn't have a ton of meat on its bones and I'd like to see some things fleshed out a bit more, if anything. I'd rather see them dig some stuff up from the cutting room floor before they start going crazy with the scissors.

[CyberCubed]

I was gonna say, if they start cutting out a ton of stuff this is going to be what....a 50-60 minute movie? Unless they have tons of old cut footage from the 80's they're adding into this...this is going to be a very short film.

[Leo656]

They could add about 20 minutes of Brigitte Nielson taking slow, seductive drags off a cigarette and I'd be alright with that.

She was pretty hot back then before she melted like a wax candle.

[sdp]

The whole franchise is ridiculous, especially IV, only the original works as a serious movie and this is from someone who likes the whole franchise. And the robot is awesome.

[oldmanwinters]

They could add about 20 minutes of Brigitte Nielson taking slow, seductive drags off a cigarette and I'd be alright with that.

She was pretty hot back then before she melted like a wax candle.

Haha I was disturbed at her first scene (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-okAywuA8Q) in Creed 2... Like what is that? But credit to her for making a cameo, despite the awkwardness of working with her ex.

Stallone hates Paulie's Robot and is gonna remove that in the Directors cut

https://twitter.com/murderwizard/status/1300160957436563457

Now that's just going too far!

[IMJ]

The whole franchise is ridiculous, especially IV, only the original works as a serious movie and this is from someone who likes the whole franchise. And the robot is awesome.

They are basically superhero movies. That's really what they are.

[turtle1237]

Yeah, M&R, there's really nothing I can say about that suggestion without being too much of a heel. :lol: Other than I think you're kinda sensitive to let stuff like that bother you so much, broski.

As for the newer films, I don't much care for "hip hop flavor" myself generally speaking but it's authentic to boxing as a sport and the "aura" surrounding it so I have no problem with it. It's a "black sport", in that most of the athletes who dominate and thus most of the people who watch it, happen to be black. Thus, movies which represent the sport are going to have that kind of "flavor" and that's perfectly fine, it's merely being authentic which is something I always enjoy. Even if something isn't my taste I will always applaud for authentic representation that isn't pandering and is merely, as the kids say, "Keeping it real". I actually enjoyed it quite a bit in the recent films because in no way did it take away from the story. It DID however add greatly to the immersion. Dare I say, the "verisimilitude". :tgrin:

The older films were authentic to boxing in the 1980s, the newer ones absolutely should reflect the modern style and aesthetic of the sport. I really, REALLY like how they use the actual cameras and on-air personalities from the various boxing shows on TV to give the films that realistic feeling. They're so good with that kinda sh*t. Doesn't matter that I don't actually watch boxing or listen to a lot of hip-hop; they're "keeping it real" and I'm always all about that.

Beyond that, "Rocky Balboa" and "Creed" are definitely among the absolute best movies in the entire franchise. Tons of heart and some of the best actual boxing in the entire series. Seriously, I adore I and II but the actual fight scenes were sh*t in how you can see them whiff on punches by over a foot sometimes. The fights in the newest films are WAY better.

I mean, people can do what they want, but as someone who originally thought before seeing them that neither "Rocky Balboa" nor "Creed" necessarily needed to be made, I can openly admit that my original feelings were misguided and they're secretly two of the best in the entire series, bar-none. I mean, I full-on rolled my eyes when they announced "Creed". But it's great! And y'all know how hard it can be to win me over sometimes. :lol: But when I'm wrong, I'm wrong, and I actually like being wrong when it means I get to be given gifts such as "Creed". Right up there with "Cobra Kai" in 'Gifts I never asked for but am damn happy I got."

Anyways, as someone who absolutely bleeds "Rocky", I genuinely feel a sense of deep sadness and sorrow for anyone who can't appreciate the series' newer entries for myopic and trivial reasons. They're missing out on some of the best sh*t they ever did! Don't do that to yourself, kids. The entire story was always about "Taking life's hits and getting back up," and "Balboa" and "Creed" do a MUCH better job of making that point than pretty much any of them after the third one. And they do a much better job of creating REAL emotion within the viewer than any of them after the second one.

"It's such good sh*t, pal." :trazz:
--------------

I love Rocky IV, but every single criticism about how "It's not a movie, it's a music video about Rocky" is bang-on. So I'm open to seeing a new version.

But c'moooon, no "Happy Birthday Paulie" robot? Y'ALL DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOOD, SLY! :lol:

I guess I'll get over it. I GUESS. :tgrumble:

Though Balboa and Creed 1 and 2 were fun movies, I love the 80's movies even more with Rocky 1 and III being my favorite of the series. Sly may regret how the boxing was "Film" in these movies, but for the 80's it did match the type of boxing one can find when 2 action punch punchers go out it as Clubber Rocky I and 2 were like Hagler Hearns, or did the Rocky Creed Fights have some Ali Fraizier drama in em? Boxers for the most part in the 80's took more risk than they would too day. Mayweather for the most part would box 12 boring rounds to a victory.

As for it being a "black" sport, there sure seems to be a lot of Russians ruling the sport today.

[Coola Yagami]

As for it being a "black" sport, there sure seems to be a lot of Russians ruling the sport today.

If he dies, he dies.

[Leo656]

Haha I was disturbed at her first scene (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-okAywuA8Q) in Creed 2... Like what is that? But credit to her for making a cameo, despite the awkwardness of working with her ex.


Haha, I think that was after she bought herself a whole new head a couple years ago. :lol: She made a whole big thing about it.

And if she had a problem with working with guys who've had their dicks in her, she'd pretty much have to avoid most of the people who worked in Hollywood in the 80s as it is. :lol::trazz:

[turtle1237]

If he dies, he dies.

Well today 4 main races rule the sport, the Russians and blacks in the heavier divisions, and the Latinos and Asians in the lower weight divisions for the most part. I mean yeah you get the odd balls like Tyson Fury being white and from England being the Heavyweight king today, but still.

[Andrew NDB]

Haha I was disturbed at her first scene (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-okAywuA8Q) in Creed 2... Like what is that? But credit to her for making a cameo, despite the awkwardness of working with her ex.

She's a good egg. She even rushed to Stallone's support and defense publicly when that lady was trying to #metoo him a couple of years ago.

[oldmanwinters]

She's a good egg. She even rushed to Stallone's support and defense publicly when that lady was trying to #metoo him a couple of years ago.

That's cool. Also, I heard she was pregnant when she filmed her Creed II scenes, so that's another feather in her cap, professionally speaking.

[Andrew NDB]

Though Balboa and Creed 1 and 2 were fun movies, I love the 80's movies even more with Rocky 1 and III being my favorite of the series. Sly may regret how the boxing was "Film" in these movies

Yeah, that really seems to bug him. Rocky 4 was the last "film boxing" movie of the whole franchise... ever since then it's made to look like you're watching ESPN, all of the opponents have been real boxers since then (i.e., not actors) and the fights have not been as fun. I wish they'd get nice, memorable actors for the fighters again.

Like, imagine if they'd just gone with real boxers for Apollo, Clubber Lang, or Drago. They probably wouldn't even make it to Drago.

[MikeandRaph87]

tGhyClLuG9k

[oldmanwinters]

Yeah, that really seems to bug him. Rocky 4 was the last "film boxing" movie of the whole franchise... ever since then it's made to look like you're watching ESPN, all of the opponents have been real boxers since then (i.e., not actors) and the fights have not been as fun. I wish they'd get nice, memorable actors for the fighters again.

Like, imagine if they'd just gone with real boxers for Apollo, Clubber Lang, or Drago. They probably wouldn't even make it to Drago.

I really wish the series hadn't moved away from "over-the-top" slugfests between exaggerated opponents. It's funny when you think about the fact Stallone hired Weathers for the part of Apollo based on a lie that he had boxing experience. In retrospect, it was a good thing Apollo was played by Weathers the actor as opposed to Weathers the boxer. You're right the series never would have made it to Drago without him.

[IMJ]

Yeah, that really seems to bug him. Rocky 4 was the last "film boxing" movie of the whole franchise... ever since then it's made to look like you're watching ESPN, all of the opponents have been real boxers since then (i.e., not actors) and the fights have not been as fun. I wish they'd get nice, memorable actors for the fighters again.

Like, imagine if they'd just gone with real boxers for Apollo, Clubber Lang, or Drago. They probably wouldn't even make it to Drago.

Like I said, the Rocky flicks were 80's superhero movies.

[oldmanwinters]

Like I said, the Rocky flicks were 80's superhero movies.

https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/2452fe8d-20f8-455b-b8e8-25b89c43922d/d14qa7k-e847e2a5-2bda-4fac-8313-9cf83ef58d93.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJ IUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOiIsImlzcyI6InVybjph cHA6Iiwib2JqIjpbW3sicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvMjQ1MmZlOGQtMj BmOC00NTViLWI4ZTgtMjViODljNDM5MjJkXC9kMTRxYTdrLWU4 NDdlMmE1LTJiZGEtNGZhYy04MzEzLTljZjgzZWY1OGQ5My5qcG cifV1dLCJhdWQiOlsidXJuOnNlcnZpY2U6ZmlsZS5kb3dubG9h ZCJdfQ.cnOck4sXa55DCcH-4OWSviQz8nmmLzD29swure6Ij-k (https://www.deviantart.com/bustatoons/art/cereal-geek-02-page-48-68410928)
https://www.deviantart.com/bustatoons/art/cereal-geek-02-page-48-68410928

EDIT:
lKvib4nXRWI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKvib4nXRWI
LOLZ at Weathers' idea for a Creed-Drago Love Film

[MikeandRaph87]

I really wish the series hadn't moved away from "over-the-top" slugfests between exaggerated opponents. It's funny when you think about the fact Stallone hired Weathers for the part of Apollo based on a lie that he had boxing experience. In retrospect, it was a good thing Apollo was played by Weathers the actor as opposed to Weathers the boxer. You're right the series never would have made it to Drago without him.

That is why I liked it. When it moved into real-life boxers and the soundtrack from pop rock and instrumental to full on hip hop with no replay ability (at least for me) and keep killing off characters it just was not my kind of film. I like the artistic masterpiece as he faced the likeable showman Apollo and then the action films of Rocky's trials on top against Lang and Drago. After that it just seemed like everything had been accomplished and I know there is an audience beyond 4 especially for Balboa, but aside from that speech to Robert its just not for me. Its okay, but nothing I personally would watch and rewatch and go on about. I guess its like me watching Hulk Hogan and then turn around watching a real wrestling match. Which one do you think I would be invested in opposed to turning the channel?

[turtle1237]

Yeah, that really seems to bug him. Rocky 4 was the last "film boxing" movie of the whole franchise... ever since then it's made to look like you're watching ESPN, all of the opponents have been real boxers since then (i.e., not actors) and the fights have not been as fun. I wish they'd get nice, memorable actors for the fighters again.

Like, imagine if they'd just gone with real boxers for Apollo, Clubber Lang, or Drago. They probably wouldn't even make it to Drago.

They may of not been real boxers, but they were school for there roles. Hell one of the all time greats in Robert Duran was on set for Rocky III for the fight scenes, Boxing for Rocky 1, 2, 3 and 4 match what one would see style wise in that era. Watch any action pact fight from the 70's-80's and you see that they got it right on what would happen(Outside of land punching's not landed and heads flop back). They just took a bit more risk back than as I said. No risk no glory was what they believe in. Watch Hagler Hearns or Ali Frazier, or Foreman Lyle.

[Andrew NDB]

Movie will be retitled "Rocky vs. Drago." Also, it's all done now.

https://i.ibb.co/mvvVsQq/173543159-750223372520645-4846991729321314618-n.jpg

Huh. I really wonder if Stallone can elevate Rocky IV from "guilty pleasure" to something that might sit believably next to "the serious ones."

[Autbot_Benz]

Movie will be retitled "Rocky vs. Drago." Also, it's all done now.

https://i.ibb.co/mvvVsQq/173543159-750223372520645-4846991729321314618-n.jpg

Huh. I really wonder if Stallone can elevate Rocky IV from "guilty pleasure" to something that might sit believably next to "the serious ones."

This is one directors cut I can't wait to watch

[oldmanwinters]

I wonder if the "epilogue" seen at the beginning of Rocky V will be worked into this cut.

[CyberCubed]

Is this movie going to be like 50 minutes long? Considering Rocky IV was already a short movie and they're editing it further down than that, I can't imagine the length of this.

[Andrew NDB]

Is this movie going to be like 50 minutes long? Considering Rocky IV was already a short movie and they're editing it further down than that, I can't imagine the length of this.

There is absolutely on reason to believe it is being "edited down" beyond the removal of Paulie's robot.

[Leo656]

You could puff it out if you wanted to.

Maybe they used some CGI deepfake razzle-dazzle to add in a scene of Apollo going to f*ck some bimbo the night before the big fight. :lol: And then at the funeral scene show some shadowy lady standing in the corner looking mysterious and sad. And then add a post credits-scene of the lady giving birth to a baby boy while dramatic music plays.

Re-title it "Rocky v. Drago: Dawn of Creed". :lol: Jesus, people really ought'a be paying me for this sh*t.

[oldmanwinters]

You could puff it out if you wanted to.

Maybe they used some CGI deepfake razzle-dazzle to add in a scene of Apollo going to f*ck some bimbo the night before the big fight. :lol: And then at the funeral scene show some shadowy lady standing in the corner looking mysterious and sad. And then add a post credits-scene of the lady giving birth to a baby boy while dramatic music plays.

Re-title it "Rocky v. Drago: Dawn of Creed". :lol: Jesus, people really ought'a be paying me for this sh*t.

Man, I don't know if Hollywood could possibly pass on that level of cross-promotion.

[MikeandRaph87]

Again, why couldn't Apollo's existing son not have been the focus? If it is an unknown son conceived hours before his death making the son as young as possible following a mid 1985 death? If it had to be an unknown younger son, he picks up boxing at 29 with no prior experience and takes off? I don't care who is training you! What bothers me the most is Creed may be an arrogant showman, but he does it all as an act and is a faithful family man. Sure Lang or Gunn could easily have illegitimate children,but neither ever married. Why could Mary Anne not have been Adonis biological mother? She raised him anyway. It just adds a layer of unnecessary complexity to gain sympathy for the character. People rightly complain about the unnecessary sequel of Coming 2 America because it undermined the previous film, which is a classic and bastardized it. Adonis's orgin does this to Apollo's character.

[CyberCubed]

People rightly complain about the unnecessary sequel of Coming 2 America because it undermined the previous film, which is a classic and bastardized it.

Where are you reading that? Sure some people found the sequel disappointing, but it doesn't ruin anything of the original. I would have been pissed if Akeem and Lisa split up but they were together all those years.

[Leo656]

The cynical answer to the "Why retcon it so that Apollo cheated on his wife?" is simply, "Because ALL rich and famous people cheat on their partners without exception."

I mean, I wish that weren't the case, but... yeah, it absolutely is the case. Absolutely no exceptions.

Kinda sucks, but whattareyagonnado?

[MikeandRaph87]

Where are you reading that? Sure some people found the sequel disappointing, but it doesn't ruin anything of the original. I would have been pissed if Akeem and Lisa split up but they were together all those years.

Friends from work, two of which refuse to watch it because it is Coming 2 America is basically Coming 2 Zumunda and working in Akeem being raled while in New York ruins the story, bastardizing it in their words. I agree with them, but still watched the film.

[oldmanwinters]

The cynical answer to the "Why retcon it so that Apollo cheated on his wife?" is simply, "Because ALL rich and famous people cheat on their partners without exception."

I mean, I wish that weren't the case, but... yeah, it absolutely is the case. Absolutely no exceptions.

Kinda sucks, but whattareyagonnado?

Pretty much.

[CyberCubed]

Coming 2 Zumunda and working in Akeem being raled while in New York ruins the story, bastardizing it in their words..

It was rather obvious the sequel would be about Zumunda, as it's the opposite of the first film. "Working in Akeem being raled while in New York," what does that sentence mean? I'm confused what you're saying?

[Andrew NDB]

Again, why couldn't Apollo's existing son not have been the focus?

Because he'd be like a 40 year old man at the time Creed was set. Granted they could have just said his actual wife was pregnant when he died to the same difference age-wise with another son (and no cheating)... but clearly they were going for dramatics.

[MikeandRaph87]

Because he'd be like a 40 year old man at the time Creed was set. Granted they could have just said his actual wife was pregnant when he died to the same difference age-wise with another son (and no cheating)... but clearly they were going for dramatics.

I feel like even using Adonis he needed to placed a few years earlier than 2015, weeks from turning 30 and suddenly becoming a success in boxing? Perhaps the events taking place like 2008ish. Though, yes, my biggest issue was why not just let Mary Anne be his biological mother instead of step mother who raised him anyway. There can be dramatics of leaving behind a pregnant widow and not have Adonis illegitimate and conceived as late as possible.

[Andrew NDB]

So "Rocky vs. Drago" was rethought... now it's just "Rocky IV: The Director's Cut." Lame.

https://movieweb.com/rocky-4-directors-cut-poster-release-date/

[Hamato Yoshi]

"rich and famous people cheat"

That's like saying that every cop in US uses excessive force , that's not true (just general comment , not cuz I want to talk politics) just as its not true with celebs of which there are 1000s

What's the big deal about the robot scene in R4 anyway , its just comic relief and doesn't destroy the movie.......you can compare it to the Italian hooker scene in Way of Dragon , that too just brief comic relief , I still love that movie despite its comedic moments

First 2 films were pretty realistic from a movie POV , it was with III that Rocky became more of a super hero imo

[oldmanwinters]

The release date is slated for November 11:
https://collider.com/rocky-4-directors-cut-release-date-sylvester-stallone/

Cue the appropriate Apollo quote. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bchPm7InHcg#t=02m07s)

[Andrew NDB]

Shesus... FORTY new minutes of footage?

https://www.darkhorizons.com/rocky-iv-directors-cut-sets-release/

[oldmanwinters]

Shesus... FORTY new minutes of footage?

https://www.darkhorizons.com/rocky-iv-directors-cut-sets-release/

That's quite epic. Especially when you consider Stallone wanted to cut out everything with the 80s robot.

EDIT:
And a one-night limited theatrical release?!? My tickets are ordered!

[IMJ]

It's Peter Jackson's "Rocky IV".

But seriously, I would see this in the theaters, for sure.

[Leo656]

I hope the extra 40 minutes is ALL workout montages. :lol: Just to stick it to all those people who (correctly) snipe that Rocky IV "isn't a movie, it's a music video with lots of punching".

[Andrew NDB]

It's Peter Jackson's "Rocky IV".

But seriously, I would see this in the theaters, for sure.

Wouldn't miss it. Will make sure it coincides with another Rocky marathon.

[CyberCubed]

So there was 40 minutes of cut footage from the 80's that somehow never wound up released on any DVD deleted scenes after all this time? And somehow this all existed when the original Rocky 4 was one of the shortest movies and could have used some of these scenes to give it a better length? That is strange.

[Andrew NDB]

So there was 40 minutes of cut footage from the 80's that somehow never wound up released on any DVD deleted scenes after all this time? And somehow this all existed when the original Rocky 4 was one of the shortest movies and could have used some of these scenes to give it a better length? That is strange.

Not too surprising. You always hear about movies where the director says "yeah, we cut about an hour out of it" but then you'd get the DVD or Blu-Ray and there'd be like 3 deleted scenes totaling 2 minutes.

[oldmanwinters]

Already bought my tickets for a local one-night showing on November 11!

Over the weekend, a 1.5 hour Making Of documentary showed up on Sly's channel:
suhqtn_brBs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suhqtn_brBs

[IMJ]

LOL
"I'd like to thank my viking ancestors.... for teaching me how to brave the cold" :lol:

[sdp]

Is pro-wrestling supposed to be real in the Rocky universe?
NsWqe_d6yaE

[Andrew NDB]

Is pro-wrestling supposed to be real in the Rocky universe?
NsWqe_d6yaE

Of course not. And Hogan was famously fired for doing Rocky III because it "Revealed" wrestling was fake.

https://www.sescoops.com/2019/07/hulk-hogan-talks-vince-sr-firing-him-for-filming-rocky-iii/

[sdp]

Well they play it straight for the most part, yeah at the end we see them taking a picture together but it's revealed it was for a charity. To me it seemed something more like Floyd Mayweather vs Logan Paul, it's real but at the end it's being done for other reasons.

[oldmanwinters]

Is pro-wrestling supposed to be real in the Rocky universe?


Even in the filmings for the Rocky movies, various "shots" connected. Stallone even talks about going to the hospital after taking a shot from Dolph in the Rocky IV fight (might have even killed him if he hadn't gotten treatment in time). So my in-universe explanation for Rocky II is that Thunderlips is making sure he hits just hard enough for it to "look real," but Rocky's borderline super-human by that point, so at the end of the day it's more the shock of being unprepared for an unorthodox "style" moreso than taking real damage compared to his title fights. Obviously, Clubber Lang messes him up way worse because he's not holding back.

Man, I want to see a Rocky/Creed film following up on Clubber's legacy. The way Hollywood woks nowadays, I anticipate we'll probably see a "Clubber" prequel at some point.

[Andrew NDB]

Man, I want to see a Rocky/Creed film following up on Clubber's legacy.

As far as I'm concerned, doing something with Clubber is the only interesting thing left to do in the Rocky/Creed-verse, really.

[oldmanwinters]

As far as I'm concerned, doing something with Clubber is the only interesting thing left to do in the Rocky/Creed-verse, really.

Seems inevitable they'll do the "He was really the underdog hero all along" story.

[Andrew NDB]

Seems inevitable they'll do the "He was really the underdog hero all along" story.

Or just made a lot of bad life choices he now regrets. Like, just make him the new Rocky trainer for Creed in Creed 3. I'd love that.

[oldmanwinters]

Or just made a lot of bad life choices he now regrets. Like, just make him the new Rocky trainer for Creed in Creed 3. I'd love that.

I'm kinda wondering what's left for Adonis Creed to learn... unless it's how to rebuild after big life mistakes.

[Andrew NDB]

I'm kinda wondering what's left for Adonis Creed to learn... unless it's how to rebuild after big life mistakes.

True. They kind of gave Creed a condensed version of Rocky II- IV (becoming champ, then getting soft and knocked down a peg and having to rebuild himself against a seemingly unstoppable monster opponent). What's next? He's not older much, so you can't do "Adonis trains someone," or Rocky VI type stuff.

Probably just will be struggles in his marriage, struggles without the tutelage of Rocky, and an opponent who is very different than anything he's faced yet. In fact yeah. Imagine if it starts out with his wife leaving him and taking the kid, and not even Rocky is around anymore for him. Yeesh.

[Leo656]

Probably parenting struggles. I heard his kid never listens to him.

https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/facebook/000/014/959/Screenshot_116.jpg

[oldmanwinters]

True. They kind of gave Creed a condensed version of Rocky II- IV (becoming champ, then getting soft and knocked down a peg and having to rebuild himself against a seemingly unstoppable monster opponent). What's next? He's not older much, so you can't do "Adonis trains someone," or Rocky VI type stuff.

Probably just will be struggles in his marriage, struggles without the tutelage of Rocky, and an opponent who is very different than anything he's faced yet. In fact yeah. Imagine if it starts out with his wife leaving him and taking the kid, and not even Rocky is around anymore for him. Yeesh.

This is definitely the man to pick him up out of the gutter:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8G7mR_VJ3U

Xs2LxmrZHII
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs2LxmrZHII

BmQGxzIUVbk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmQGxzIUVbk

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYif5gn2GzM

[Jester]

I have this as my mother's ring tone...well...part of it that is:
RO6JiFztJdg

[IMJ]

I have this as my mother's ring tone...well...part of it that is:
RO6JiFztJdg

OMG that is great, hysterical, wtf, awesome, and a riot all at the same time. I don't think I've ever seen that before... hahahahaha... what a product of it's era. OMG :lol:

8)

[Andrew NDB]

Saw it just now in the theater. A big improvement! It's like a more grown up version of the movie. Lots of extended dialogue scenes, a lot of new ones, the fights made to look a lot more "real" (no more haymakers) and most importantly I think a lot of the Bill Conti music score sprinkled throughout the movie (it did not exist in the original Rocky IV). Yes, Paulie's robot is gone. No, none of the montages are gone (in fact, I think even boosted up a little bit), and I thought for sure they'd cut the first one in the car. A couple of other minor things removed are a little bit puzzling but this feels way more like a "traditional" Rocky movie (and not, say, like a straight up music video) than it did before.

There's also one spot where Stallone added a brief voiceover that was clearly recorded probably about this year. When we heard it my daughter looked at me and we were both like, "Uhh... that sounds like he sounds now." It's very brief but very noticeable.

[Leo656]

Sounds good! But I confess that I love the original to the point where any tinkering or losing ANY of it is gonna bother me. I'd have settled for an Extended Cut, I didn't want a "remix".

Look forward to getting it on disc, though, for sure.

[Andrew NDB]

Well, if you were in any way in love with the original beginning, like, 8 minutes of Rocky IV after the Rocky III flashback/catchup, it's pretty savagely cut out (everything from him getting home from fighting Apollo in that private fight at the end of Rocky III through the end of Rocky bringing Adrian an anniversary cake... toast). Most everything else is left fully intact or really extended except any scene where the robot appeared in. For example, who knew Duke had a whole impassioned speech about Apollo at Apollo's funeral before Rocky started saying his own piece. Lots of things like that. Also alternate cuts and angles are substituted in places. A lot of super close-up shots become mids, or wides.

[Leo656]

I liked the Anniversary cake scene, I thought it was sweet. :ohwell:

It is what it is, it still sounds good. The extra stuff sounds very intriguing. It's just that I liked what was in there so I personally would have just extended it.

It's like, I much prefer the Donner Cut of Superman II... mostly. There were ONLY two things that were lost from the theatrical which I mourn; the first being "GENERAL... would you care to step outside?" Reeve's delivery was fantastic, and the Donner Cut line "Haven't you ever heard of Freedom of the Press?" which replaces it is totally insipid - pretty sure he HASN'T, Clark, because there probably weren't newspapers on Krypton, you f*cking dork.

And then there's the scene at the White House where he puts the flag back up and solemnly says, "I won't let you down again." Such a powerful, poignant, and very Superman moment, lost for no reason other than it was Lester footage. I GET it, but it was hard to lose it, because it really did make for a powerful closing moment.

So yeah, Win some Lose some. I really do wanna see this cut of Rocky IV, though, for sure.

Maybe Zarius will fix it by taking this new cut and putting the cake and the robot back in. :)

[oldmanwinters]

Saw it just now in the theater. A big improvement! It's like a more grown up version of the movie. Lots of extended dialogue scenes, a lot of new ones, the fights made to look a lot more "real" (no more haymakers) and most importantly I think a lot of the Bill Conti music score sprinkled throughout the movie (it did not exist in the original Rocky IV). Yes, Paulie's robot is gone. No, none of the montages are gone (in fact, I think even boosted up a little bit), and I thought for sure they'd cut the first one in the car. A couple of other minor things removed are a little bit puzzling but this feels way more like a "traditional" Rocky movie (and not, say, like a straight up music video) than it did before.

I probably missed most of those Conti cues, but I got the sense overall that the movie was "quieter" in many points where there might have been some background music before. Now the dialogue gets elevated.

I feel like the new cut doesn't have as much Pauline (probably due to so many of his big scenes having something to do with the robot). It has a lot more Adrian. Not AS much Apollo as I expected, but his extra hits earned during the 2nd round of the Drago fight are appreciated.

The cast member who is now almost entirely absent from the movie is Brigette Nielsen... which might be understandable from a real-life perspective. All of her most memorable dialogue (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089927/characters/nm0000557) (not that it was ever great) from the original cut is either gone or audio-only with the camera on someone else. Her "YES!" when Drago turns before the 15th round is in the cut, but there is no camera cutaway to her.
If anyone would watch this new cut as a replacement to the theatrical, I think it gives her appearance in Creed II less weight.

There's also WAY less of Rocky Jr., if anybody cares. Like Paulie, his scenes are another casualty of the removal of the robot.


There's also one spot where Stallone added a brief voiceover that was clearly recorded probably about this year. When we heard it my daughter looked at me and we were both like, "Uhh... that sounds like he sounds now." It's very brief but very noticeable.

If that's from the 1st round of the fight where he's down on the canvas, I thought it was a callback (which is now a foreshadowing?) of the speech Mickey supposedly gave him about that cufflink in the Rocky V "flashback."

Well, if you were in any way in love with the original beginning, like, 8 minutes of Rocky IV after the Rocky III flashback/catchup, it's pretty savagely cut out (everything from him getting home from fighting Apollo in that private fight at the end of Rocky III through the end of Rocky bringing Adrian an anniversary cake... toast). Most everything else is left fully intact or really extended except any scene where the robot appeared in. For example, who knew Duke had a whole impassioned speech about Apollo at Apollo's funeral before Rocky started saying his own piece. Lots of things like that. Also alternate cuts and angles are substituted in places. A lot of super close-up shots become mids, or wides.

Yeah, I still prefer the opening to the theatrical, but I think the subtle edits to the ending are a big improvement. The Eye of the Tiger makes its return before the credits roll, and there's a real satisfaction to how it is overlaid upon an alternate cut of the Russian consulate's [politburo?] reactions.

Some of the original lines I wish had not been cut:
Apollo's pre-fight argument Rocky... specifically the "we can't be born again" exchange... which makes his declaration of "I feel born again" prior to the Drago fight feel less satisfactory... even if Apollo dies, he's doing the only thing that gives him purpose.

Apollo's "you might not understand now... but you will when it's over" was initially cut from that scene but now returns as a flashback prior to Rocky's training in Russia; I think I prefer its placement in the original cut because it's just one big vulnerable moment for Apollo. Consequently, Rocky's gravesite tribute to Apollo is cut down to make more room for Duke's soliloquy, but also puts less weight to the idea that Rocky now intends to live by Apollo's final words, even if it means leading to his own demise.

Apollo's pre-fight theatrics are shortened, and I miss them, especially the "never seen a fighter so concerned about his hair" remark. It seems to make the retained-bit when Rocky reminds him about his mouth-guard a little less earned. EDIT: Wait... was that quote actually from Rocky 1?

Some of the more memorable lines from Rocky and Adrian's argument on the stairs (prior to his driving montage) are now repositioned in the form of inner dialogue during his Russian training. I think I prefer the original cut here, as it just has a rawness that I've always loved. As internal dialogue it feels it has less dramatic weight because Rocky is no longer competing ideologically with Adrian in the moment.

The new scene of Rocky and Adrian embracing before he leaves the house for the airport is nice for its own sake, but I still prefer the coldness of the original cut where it is strongly implied she can't even speak to him as he leaves. They keep the final shot of her watching him enter the car from the window, but I think the original cut makes their reunion in the bleak cold of the Siberian wilderness more effective.

A couple small things that I miss because they were so linked to Paulie:
his "what about the Rose Bowl Game?" line when he learns there is no TV in the Russian cabin. A New Year's Day tradition, so why is he so concerned when the fight happens on Christmas, but I've always loved it. Also, we keep the shot of him listening to a Walkman while Duke plays chess, but... they cut the Chipmunks Christmas song from the film... which might be a more heartbreaking loss than the robot (not even listed in the end credits). HOWEVER, I think we get a new shot of Rocky's locker room prior to the fight in Russia that clearly shows a small Christmas tree, so the movie trades one Christmas icon for another.

Duke's epic "YEAH, HIT THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE" is out, and as much as I hate to admit it, it is the right choice. Paulie still says the line, but now Duke just ignores it and tries to get Rocky focused on the business at hand. It's a lot more consistent with Duke's character, especially his mental state at that particular point in the film.

Rocky's Cold War-ending speech is surprisingly still intact, although it has been altered. Apollo now gets referenced, and Rocky's over-the-top "EVERYBODY CAN CHANGE" is still there, but sounds like a new, more subdued take. I think it works, but I still can't help but love the original.

[Leo656]

Ouch. That is a LOT of stuff I would have preferred that they left in.

Yeah, I definitely didn't want a remix. Just an extended cut, thanks. Get to work, Zar!

I'm sad because while this does still sound good and a lot of the stuff added in sounds good there's no way this will be the "definitive" version of the movie for me. But it COULD have been. I just don't see why some/most/all of that stuff was cut. The robot... okay, MAYBE. It is dated as hell, but I honestly never even heard a ton of complaints about it. But I can see why that would go, it's pretty comical for such an otherwise-heavy movie (although that was probably the entire reason it was originally in there, to balance it out).

The other stuff, though? Ehhhhhhh... very disappointing. ALL of that stuff being cut is disappointing. My wife is actually pissed at this new one, now. She loved all that stuff.

Cutting out Brigitte Nielsen at the peak of her hotness? You f*cking lunatics! I get that Sly isn't f*cking her anymore, but c'mon, don't be petty you jerk!

[oldmanwinters]

Oh, dang, I forgot one other thing that got sliced away, the locker room scene (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmUjigJEnjk) between Rocky and Apollo prior to the Vegas fight. I THINK it's all gone, but the one thing I really miss is Apollo's "I feel like I could eat NAILS, which Rocky interprets as "snails" and starts a whole new conversation that just amused Apollo. It's their last buddy moment together, so I really miss it. And it feels so authentic, I always thought it was improv.

[Andrew NDB]

No, I heard Duke saying the "Hit the one in the middle!" after Paulie said the same a little earlier. It's a little hard to hear and I think a close-up shot of him saying it is gone (it's now from a wide), but I definitely heard it.


Yeah, a lot of the stuff you point out I didn't notice gone probably should have remained.

And the beginning... I'd have kept Rocky returning from the fight with Apollo, seeing his kid at the front of the mansion, then cut straight to Rocky bringing the cake to Adrian. I know the idea was to cut out the birthday party for Paulie which included the robot... but a more surgical solution would have been better as that was a LOT to cut out, unnecessarily. Maybe Stallone felt that his kid making such a fuss about a camcorder was corny or something. Another possibility was that by taking out his arrival with bruises from the fight with Apollo, now Rocky IV doesn't have to take place RIGHT after Rocky III. It could be a year later, or three.

[Leo656]

It's odd because the "Rocky Balboa" film was heavily sentimental, and yet most of what seems to have been cut from this movie were a lot of the more personal and sentimental moments, in what sounds like an attempt to make it a more "serious" and boxing-focused movie. I mean, I could be wrong, it's just that's how it appears from reading about it. I'll see how I feel when I see it. But much of those cuts don't sound like they improve much of anything, if anything they seem to just shift the focus.

I am definitely looking forward to seeing the new footage, though. I'm just disappointed because this does not actually sound much like the movie I wanted.

[Andrew NDB]

It's odd because the "Rocky Balboa" film was heavily sentimental, and yet most of what seems to have been cut from this movie were a lot of the more personal and sentimental moments,

It's more like some of the personal and sentimental moments were replaced by other personal and sentimental moments, or scenes that we knew one way now become newly personal and sentimental.

[Andrew NDB]

Also, I'd say the 3 big montages now seem more like standalone pieces in what otherwise seems like a "real movie" and not one big quilt of that same sensibility. If that makes sense.

Also puzzling, but it probably bothers almost nobody else: Stallone left in that shot of the mystery Star Trek-like power cell in the Russian training equipment in the last montage. It's probably the only thing left in the movie that could be classified as weird/goofy. I admit as well, as it got nearer I was somewhat worried Stallone might cut out the steroid injection bit. No, it's there.

[Leo656]

Missed opportunity to add in a shot of Sly booting up the horse test, or whatever HE was on when they shot Rocky IV. :lol: Dude was f*cking cut from granite!

Seriously, if you never have then make it a point to watch the first movie and then skip directly to Rocky IV. It looks like some mad scientist cut Sly's head off and grafted it onto someone else's body, it's insane without the somewhat-gradual transition you get from watching his physique change over four films. :lol: Going from II to III was "bad", but from I to IV? JESUS. Dude must've been putting D-Bol tablets in his Corn Flakes by that point.

But yeah that would've been some fun self-aware humor. Cut from Drago shooting up to Rocky shooting up. :trazz:

[Andrew NDB]

It almost doesn't even look like his head pasted onto his body in Rocky 4. It looks like someone else entirely.

[Leo656]

And then yet another absolutely insane transformation between Rocky IV and "Rocky Balboa". And then AGAIN from "Rocky Balboa" to "Rambo".

That's it, I'm calling it. Sylvester Stallone is just a head that gets spliced onto different bodies as-needed for whatever role he's involved in. His authentic body was mangled in a wreck sometime after Rocky II and he's been getting "Futurama'd" around ever since. And since his head spends most of its time in a pickle jar when he's not working, sometimes it's more or less weathered, depending.

ALL of that makes way more sense than trying to accept that this is the same human being and he just kind of looks different sometimes. Because it's WAY beyond that and it's actually kinda creepy.

[ZariusTwo]

Ouch. That is a LOT of stuff I would have preferred that they left in.

Yeah, I definitely didn't want a remix. Just an extended cut, thanks. Get to work, Zar!

Thanks for keeping me in mind guv'ner:P

I think a hybrid cut of what works for this and the original would be the way to go...maybe add in the first few minutes of Rocky V too to give the movie more a sense of 'closure' and ignore the fifth entry altogether, since Rocky's time in the limelight does end with this fight.

[Leo656]

We're not leaving out Rocky V, heathen.

[Andrew NDB]

And then yet another absolutely insane transformation between Rocky IV and "Rocky Balboa". And then AGAIN from "Rocky Balboa" to "Rambo".

That's it, I'm calling it. Sylvester Stallone is just a head that gets spliced onto different bodies as-needed for whatever role he's involved in. His authentic body was mangled in a wreck sometime after Rocky II and he's been getting "Futurama'd" around ever since. And since his head spends most of its time in a pickle jar when he's not working, sometimes it's more or less weathered, depending.

ALL of that makes way more sense than trying to accept that this is the same human being and he just kind of looks different sometimes. Because it's WAY beyond that and it's actually kinda creepy.

Forget Rocky. Look at him in Rambo 3 vs. Rambo 4. He's arguably cut even more in Rambo 3 than in Rocky 4... yet you won't ever find him as huge as he was in Rambo 4. And that wasn't fat. That was his height of HGH days. Like a monster.

[oldmanwinters]

Forget Rocky. Look at him in Rambo 3 vs. Rambo 4. He's arguably cut even more in Rambo 3 than in Rocky 4... yet you won't ever find him as huge as he was in Rambo 4. And that wasn't fat. That was his height of HGH days. Like a monster.

Maybe that explains his increased bloodlust in the last two Rambos?

[oldmanwinters]

No, I heard Duke saying the "Hit the one in the middle!" after Paulie said the same a little earlier. It's a little hard to hear and I think a close-up shot of him saying it is gone (it's now from a wide), but I definitely heard it.


Heh, figures the one thing I reluctantly give Stallone credit for cutting actually remained in the movie.

I probably missed a bunch of other little dialogue bits that are now audio-overlay as opposed to the camera's focus.

Speaking of which, I think the movie's one big "cuss" is gone; the rearrangement of Paulie's reaction to the Siberian training barn has resulted in the elimination of his "G.D.!" when he falls in the snow. I think it got replaced with his earlier comment along the lines "what a depressing vacation."

EDIT:
Curious changes I think I noticed from first viewing:

In the opening scene of Apollo playing with his dogs in the pool, I THINK they edited away the badly framed TV screen... hard to describe without watching it but it looked bad fake in the original.

In Drago's power demonstration for the press, the original line about "a normal heavyweight averages 700lbs of pressure per square inch" is gone and they cut quickly to Drago's 1850p punch. I always figured that was pseudo-science, but without the original line, the movie loses of its dramatic effect for how much stronger Drago is supposed to be. Also, that cartoony punch sound (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=940_EOYRyqU) effect is gone from the original.

At the end of the press conference, the camera does not linger on Drago as he pushes over the Creed stand-up. You can still see it, but it's quickly faded by the transition to Vegas.

When Duke go "checkmate, friend" on the Russian chaperone, the camera either cuts quicker or is panned to obscure the Russian knocking over the pieces as was seen in the original. I don't think there is a sound effect for it anymore either.

In Rocky's first Siberian training montage, I always got the sense from the theatrical that him stopping to help a local guy pick up his horse cart was just him being a good neighbor. In the new cut, it seems to make it clear that the reason why is cart toppled over was because Rocky cut him off and startled his horse. So I guess Rocky fixes his own mistake? I'm not quite sure though as the theatrical cut made it clear they were two different carts driven by a different number of horses each time.