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(This review contains spoilers. You have been warned.)

Everything I know about the Cold War began with watching Rocky taking justice into his own hands and avenging the death of Apollo Creed, in this insanely over- the-top fourth instalment.

It's no coincidence that the Cold War ended in 1985, either -- the same year that Rocky IV was released in theatres. The intense final battle between Balboa and Ivan Drago represented the last gasps of the conflict between America and Russia (known then as the USSR). Even the Soviet officials were so won over by Rocky (and America's) seemingly impossible victory over the giant Russian boxer that they stood up and applauded his speech on change at the very end. Everyone was happy, loved America, and went home to warm up their Christmas dinner. Good times.

Of course, it was all shameless propaganda, but who cared? Obviously many critics did at the time, but Rocky IV was a movie for the people (box office tallies show today that this instalment was the most successful of the entire Rocky franchise, proving that the world really did love an underdog).

Rocky Balboa here is portrayed as a man motivated by patriotism with a desire to go the distance, against all odds. This has been the premise for the character all along, but as far as montages are concerned, Rocky IV is arguably the most accessible of all the Rocky films with its level of entertainment value.

Through the explicit training scenes, we see that Rocky has the heart and endurance to succeed, even though his steroid-influenced opponent, Drago (Dolph Lundgren), uses the most advanced technology available at that time to monitor his development. It's never in doubt that Rocky will win, but it's still fascinating to see the two parallel characters slog it out to the backing of one of the definitive film soundtracks of the 1980s (check the song 'No Easy Way Out' by Robert Tepper -- awesome!)

Drago, especially, is as extreme as they come: A sort of Russian Schwarzenegger with even less dialogue and one of the most ridiculous hair styles that's ever been seen. Like Rocky, though, he wants an end to this entire east vs. west hype that has been portrayed by the media, and hints at being a misunderstood character when he declares: "I fight to win! For me, for me!"

With all its daftness, Rocky IV may have been considered a guilty pleasure to some; to Rocky fans, however, it was an adrenaline-fuelled romp with those bastard Russians who took the life of the one and only Apollo Creed. RIP great one, Rocky did you proud.

(C) Andy Carrington, 2008.