Duaffy M&S - Rocky IV

 I said no one else had gotten to "Rocky IV," well now they have...

Did we really have robits in the 80s?

There's a running motif(?) throughout "Rocky IV" that I never noticed before. "Rocky IV" is about our ability to change.

When Rocky is trying to convince Apollo not to fight Drago:

Rocky: Let's face it, we got to change sometime.

Apollo: I don't want to change! I like who I am!

and then "You and me, we don't have a choice"

Later, Adrian tries to convince Rocky not to fight:

Adrian: Why can't you change your thinking, everybody else does.

Rocky: Because I'm a fighter [...] we can't change what we are.

Adrian: Yes, you can.

Rocky: Can't change anything, Adrian. All we can do is go with what we are.

And then after the fight, Rocky gives his speech:

"During this fight, I seen a lot of changin' - the way youse felt about me and the way I felt about you. [...] If I can change... and you can change... everybody can change!"

[And when it's time to change, you've got to rearrange.]

This running theme underscores the movie as a allegory for the Cold War itself. Rocky is told that fighting Drago means certain suicide, why is he willing to risk "everything"? But he continues on the path toward the fight, believing that there was no alternative. But the US and Soviet Union don't have to stubbornly march toward mutually assured destruction - it isn't destined, we can choose not to fight, we have a choice.

The Ladies and Rocky - A Genre Within a Genre

 In an earlier installment, I documented that I was a semi-convert to the "reaction video" youtube video. Since then, I've been recommended and watched a number of videos where youtubers - usually women, usually attractive women - watch "Rocky" movies. There are so many of them that it's almost a genre within a genre.

That, in itself, is not interesting or surprising. What has surprised me is how much the Ladies love "Rocky" - completely and unanimously. As much as I love the  "Rocky" series, I wouldn't have pinned it as a "chick flick" - and to be fair, neither the women themselves confirm that "this is not a movie I would choose to watch, usually." But then, having watched, their views change completely and it's off to all the sequels. In retrospect, it makes sense - "Rocky" is only superficially about boxing, it's really a character study but it still comes as a surprise. So... Try it on your next date night? I don't know what the takeaway is, exactly.

Further watching and the supplied proof that women love "Rocky:"

Duaffy M&S watches Rocky

Mom watches Rocky II

Mary Cherry watches Rocky III

Cassie and Carlie (Popcorn in Bed) watch Rocky IV

And I would go farther except PiB is the only one I've found who's made it to Rocky IV... so far.