The Rocky: Knockout Collection includes Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV and the director’s cut, Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago. Some of the legacy features were included except for the feature-length documentary…
The Suicide Squad might not hit the levels of something like Guardians of the Galaxy (still an MCU favorite of mine), but it does take the material in the right direction when compared with Ayer’s 2016 original with a better story and characterization.
Rambo: Last Blood might not have the same feel compared with the others in the series, but I still found this to be a compelling action-thriller and another good performance from Sylvester Stallone.
Rambo is an excellent entry into the vaunted franchise and a much needed boost after the disappointing third film. Stallone was in top form and still was believable that he could still kick ass.
Could be argued Lock Up was one of Stallone’s best movies of the 1980s and its one where he felt right in his element and although the story isn’t the strongest, it still was highly entertaining and consistently thrilling.
Escape Plan: The Extractors, and this might be faint praise, is at least better than the previous installment if only that Sylvester Stallone seem like he was the star. As it is, there is some fun entertainment value to the third entry.
Creed II is another brilliant entry into the Rocky franchise and features a great performance from Michael B. Jordan with some solid work by Sylvester Stallone and Tessa Thompson.
Backtrace wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but it is your run-of-the-mill poorly made direct-to-video flick that will eventually be <$10 level in no time, though you might be missing out on the sweet title-embossed slip cover…
Cobra isn’t a very good movie… at all and rather a second (or third) rate Stallone action-thriller with minimal to no character development and an utterly ridiculous plot, or more to the point villain(s) and motives.
Rambo III is easily the weaker of the original three films of the series with the action not quite measuring up to the first two and even Stallone felt a bit wary with his performance that didn’t feel very energetic. Still, it was moderately entertaining.
Although Rambo: First Blood Part II didn’t have as much of an emotional core compared with the first movie and is certainly far more fantastical as well, yet it does have all the hallmarks of an entertaining over-the-top violence-laden action-fest.
First Blood was a fantastic and well made action-thriller that gave audiences a bit of a different look at Sylvester Stallone outside of his Rocky character and outside of Crenna’s scene-chewing moments, this is a great film and heartfelt performance by Stallone.
On the one hand I was disappointed with Escape Plan 2 given how fun the first movie was, on the other I can’t be too surprised given it was DTV/On Demand and is from the Grindstone Entertainment production company.
Escape Plan is a fun throwback to the 80s and 90s action genre culminated with starring the two biggest actors of that era. Although neither one of them are at the top of their game, this is still an enjoyable flick well worth at least one viewing if only to see Stallone and Schwarzenegger fight.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 is a good step down from the first movie but still enjoyable enough even if the jokes at times feel forced and the story not quite as strong, and a villain’s motivations a bit of a letdown. That said, the performances were mostly good especially Karen Gillan and Michael Rooker.