Rocky V contains a genuinely personal narrative about dwelling on former glories while missing what's happening now, though that story gets lost in a screenplay that feels unnecessarily complicated. The choice to strip Rocky of his financial security through an unconvincing plot point seemed unnecessary. He’d already experienced hardship; taking away everything he achieved made his journey feel like a step backwar…

The shift between the second and third installments lessened the focus on Rocky's relationships with his family and companions, shifting instead toward boxing matches; even so, it remained uplifting and enjoyable. I’m unsure of the changes made here, but it felt as though they attempted to return the attention to the characters, only to mishandle it completely. The outcome was simply dreadful. It wasn't about R…