8 Comments
User's avatar
Decarceration's avatar

I maintain that legislation should be passed to ensure every American gym should be showing Rocky IV on a loop forever. We'd have the strongest army in the world,and we'd conquer every country within a ten minute window.

Politically I wouldn't agree with this. But politically I don't agree with Sylvester Stallone, and here we are.

Fromtheyardtothearthouse.substack.com

Expand full comment
Matthew Spence's avatar

This was a great read, Rocky IV has always been one of my favourite campy sports movies and its fun to see it through another's eyes. Also, I am glad to read how much readership has meant to you, Substack seems to be a great place to build a rewarding community.

My favourite film of the past year was I Saw the TV Glow. Happy Holidays and New Year!

Expand full comment
James Lees's avatar

Thanks for your kind words, Matthew! I’m really looking forward to building the newsletter further next year too. So many movies I’m excited to cover.

I’ve actually not seen ‘I Saw the TV Glow’ yet, but it’s high on my list. I like to do a big movie catch up in January and go through any movies I missed, and this will be one of them.

Happy Holidays to you too! 🎉

Expand full comment
Henny Hiemenz's avatar

Rocky 4 is arguably the greatest film in cinematic history. You’d lose the argument, but it would be worth it! Loved this.

Expand full comment
James Lees's avatar

Thanks, Henny! It’s a proper chest thumper of a movie for sure!

Expand full comment
Henny Hiemenz's avatar

Soundtrack’s a banger too

Expand full comment
James Lees's avatar

A great movie for karaoke!

Expand full comment
Dave Baxter's avatar

It is interesting how the franchise follows Stallone's own career trajectory in how it portray's Rocky's life and lifestyle - from struggling indie wannabe to millionaire A-list celebrity. A slightly similar thing happened with Jackie Chan as he got older and more established, and his stories go from his characters training in the dirt, ouside, in nowheresville HK, to his 90's output where he was a well kept secret agent/supercop (SUPERCOP), or like with Rocky IV, a celebrity millionaire training on expensive machines (GORGEOUS). Art mimics life.

Expand full comment