In Defense of Rocky V: Why it Deserves a Place at The Table

Okay, before the year draws to a close, there is something I need to talk about, Rocky! Listen, I know I am so late on this I’m basically talking about a different lifetime, but bear with me, because up until 3 months ago Stallone was, to me at least, the world’s best-kept secret, but my eyes have been opened and they have seen the glory! Hashtag whatta man, whatta man, whatta mighty good man. Look, I’ll say it: Sylvester Gardenzio “SLY” Stallone is one of American cinemas most underrated writers, directors, and actors. I said it, I don’t care, I don’t care, I don’t care. The man is an artistic genius. Of course, we aren’t ever talking Sly without talking his crowning glory; and my new favorite franchise: Rocky. (ROCKY ! ROCKY ! ROCKY !) Now, because Christmas is a time to reflect, to reconcile, to forgive, I want us to welcome one of our own back into the fold. So, at the risk of being thrown out of the club I have only just discovered, I say, let’s take a moment this Christmas to talk about Rocky V. Yes you heard that right. This of course is the one film in the franchise every Rocky fan wants to overlook. Even as I set out this September to, for the first time, watch all the Rocky movies as part of my pre-Creed education, a chorus rang out, don’t bother with V, Rocky V doesn’t count. After Rocky II however I was so deeply, truly and irrevocably in love with The Italian Stallion (Hashtag the most underrated fictional character in cinema to date. Hashtag picked for my zombie…