tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809167151867491968.post8926511997331572662..comments2008-11-09T22:12:21.906-06:00Jamie Yateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318633423894546202jyates3@hotmail.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809167151867491968.post-29434634757232465892008-11-09T22:12:00.000-06:002008-11-09T22:12:00.000-06:00Bob, thanks for the comment. Isn't a Roomba that wireless vacuum cleaner? (Shudder) Sorry, a few years ago I lived in an apartment with massive cockroaches, so the idea of something, even mechanical, sliding across the floor creeps me out. <BR/><BR/> In all seriousness, you were totally right about the "Reaganesque" view of the Cold War in "Rocky IV," and it's a concept I should have explored further. I found this quote from Reagan in "The Cold War:"<BR/><BR/> "There is sin and evil in the world [undoubtedly referring to Communism], and we're enjoined by Scripture and the Lord Jesus to oppose it with all our might (224)."<BR/><BR/> Too bad Stallone didn't include any religious references in the film; it could have expanded my essay. But thank you for calling it to my attention (without actually having seen it)!Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318633423894546202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809167151867491968.post-45403512835694997262008-11-08T22:44:00.000-06:002008-11-08T22:44:00.000-06:00I was actually in film school when "Rocky IV" came out but have never seen this for a number of reasons, including the fact that it sounded stupid and seemed to be endorsing a pretty obviously, and ridiculously Reaganite view of the Cold War (a very big issue with me -- and I'm still convinced Reagan took us to brink of the final disaster, before he got smart enough to stop listening to the neocons, the same folks who brought us Iraq, and take up Gorbachev on his offer).<BR/><BR/>Still, you hear things and see clips and moments and stuff over the year. But a ROBOT...my god. If I ever knew that, I blocked it from my mind. A robot. Good God.<BR/><BR/>Of course, I live in a house with an iMac and a Roomba....Bob Westalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515868620255715845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809167151867491968.post-57052364461950734442008-11-07T13:29:00.000-06:002008-11-07T13:29:00.000-06:00Jesus, talk about a "J" festival here. <BR/><BR/> Joshua: Yeah, there's definitely something a bit racist about Clubber Lang. I haven't seen "Rocky III" in quite awhile, but there's definitely a vibe like that. He's basically Apollo Creed without the sense of humor. <BR/><BR/> Jason: I never put two and two together and realized how the robot craze from other films manifested itself in "Rocky IV." And like most people, I much prefer the idea of a black president in my lifetime than a creepy, sultry-voiced robot.<BR/><BR/> Jonathan: Thanks for the comments, and welcome. "Propaganda" is a word that I should have used in my essay...you reminded me that there's propoganda on both sides (the U.S. and Soviet sides) in the film, although the Soviet propaganda is more blatant, with the posters and national pride.Jamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318633423894546202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809167151867491968.post-9853413874491561822008-11-07T13:14:00.000-06:002008-11-07T13:14:00.000-06:00Rocky IV is easily my favorite of the series (Rocky Balboa was surprisingly good, and the first one is still the best, but I enjoy IV the most). The image of the comparatively tiny Stallone running around the ring with this gigantic Russian.<BR/><BR/>I think it's definitely reasonable to see this film as allegorical, or even from a propaganda-ish light. It's almost epic in scale, with the Russian powers and their gigantic banners....<BR/><BR/>But that's why I love it so much.Jonathan Pachecohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689066062884954184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809167151867491968.post-54810803538118345122008-11-05T13:25:00.000-06:002008-11-05T13:25:00.000-06:00Forgive the tangent, but I just love the robot. It really shows the influence of the "Star Wars" mania of the 80s. R2-D2 and C-3PO were so crafty that we figured household droids were just around the corner.<BR/><BR/>Now, all these years later, every robot that gets designed manages to come off like a dial-up human in a broadband age. Yeah, it can do stuff. Yeah, humans (especially Americans) are lazy. But you know what else? We're impatient!<BR/><BR/>Point is, go back to 1985: Which do you think will happen first ... human-like robots in the houses of the rich, or an African-American (a Democrat, no less) elected President?<BR/><BR/>See, I brought it back to politics...Jason Bellamyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809167151867491968.post-25191476719804973682008-11-05T11:34:00.000-06:002008-11-05T11:34:00.000-06:00Rocky's sequels have always sort of had a 'to beat this opponent, I have to become this opponent' like in Rocky III with Clubber Lang and the eye of the tiger. That said, I prefer this one because, y'know, it's not overtly racist. <BR/><BR/>Good article, glad this didn't turn into hipster ironic quote unquote reviewing.Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02455492676909216509noreply@blogger.com