My Top 5 Villains from The Jungle Book

Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” was comprised of seven original stories set in the jungles of India, with the first three functioning as a trilogy revolving around a boy named Mowgli, who goes on a personal journey with various animal characters. The remaining four stories were stand-alone anthologies, focusing on other original animal and human characters. Kipling followed up with “The Jungle Book 2”, which continued Mowgli’s story in five additional tales, along with three more individual anthologies. 

Lastly, after Disney’s animated 1967 classic “The Jungle Book”, it exploded into a franchise with various spinoffs in TV and other movies. Needless to say, several compelling and memorable characters have emerged from the world of Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book”. Of course, being set in the mysterious and often treacherous jungles of India leads to a number of dangers … namely from various villains, both man and beast alike. So, for this post, I thought it would be fun to rank my personal top five favorite villains to emerge from the world of “The Jungle Book”, and look over their different presentations over the years.   

Before I begin, I want to give quick Honorable Mentions to some villains who I just couldn’t fit on my countdown …

Buldeo: The Hunter

Whitehood: The Pale Cobra  

Tabaqui: The Golden Jackal

 

#5 Kaa

Despite the popularity of Disney’s animated film, the giant python Kaa was never originally a villain in Rudyard Kipling’s books. In fact, right along with both Baloo and Bagheera, Kaa was also a close friend and wise mentor to Mowgli. The only difference between Kaa and the others was that all animals of the jungle lived in fear of him and his gaze, with Mowgli being the one individual who didn’t fear him. Truthfully, of all the characters to emerge from Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book” series, Kaa might just be the most interesting, unpredictable, and has gone through the most changes through the various literary and media adaptions. Kaa’s been a hero, a villain, a mentor, a predator, and sometimes the character is male, while other times female. 

Kaa’s first appearance was in the second of the original Jungle Book tales titled “Kaa’s Hunting”, in which the great snake teamed-up with Baloo and Bagheera to rescue Mowgli from the Monkeys of the ancient ruins. Kaa would team up with Mowgli for three additional adventures in the second Jungle Book titled “The King’s Ankus”, “Red Dog” and “The Springs Rising”. In the early live-action 1942 picture of “The Jungle Book”, we see Mowgli and Kaa’s friendship carry over from the books.   

Of course, the perception of the character would change forever in Disney’s 1967 animated classic “The Jungle Book”. Now he was the secondary villain of the story, and his encounters with Mowgli made for terrific highlights. He simply became another memorable Disney villain in his own right. He’s both goofy and kind of a looser, yet there’s still something unnerving, and predatorial about him. His song “Trust in Me” comes off as average in presentation, but thematically it’s actually one of the darkest of all the Disney villain songs. 

It’s a song that highlights the creepy concept of “stranger danger”, and why kids shouldn’t be so open to excepting candy from questionable figures. Also, the visual design of Kaa is one area in which the animation of the film really shines. Of course, everyone loves to point out that Kaa is voiced by Sterling Holloway, the same talent most famous for voicing Winnie the Pooh ... which is a hilarious contrast.

In the animated 2003 Disney sequel “The Jungle Book 2”, Kaa returns, targeting Mowgli’s girlfriend Shanti through his hypnosis. In this version he’s voiced by one of my favorite voice actors to ever live, the great Jim Cummings … who subsequently has also voiced Winnie the Pooh for over three decades. 

I’d swear after Sterling Holloway passed, he was reincarnated into Jim Cummings. He also voiced Kaa in various other Disney media spin-offs, like the animated “House of Mouse” series. Cummings also voiced Kaa in the 1996 animated Disney TV series “Jungle Cubs”, which features all the recognizable Jungle Book characters as little kids going on different jungle adventures. The show also makes for a rare case in which the Disney version of Kaa is a full-time protagonist, and friend to the other characters.

Disney’s live-action 1994 remake of “The Jungle Book” made yet another unique alteration of Kaa’s character, in which he was neither good or evil, but a silent, lethal watch-dog protecting the treasures of the orangutan King Louie. He’s kind of the figurative dragon grading the treasure chamber, and his appearances, while brief, are still very exciting. He also gets a rare moment to shine by doing away with the film’s main human villain. Kaa is brought to life through a combination of a practical puppet, and early CGI, which is a decent effect, and almost feels like a demo for the movie “Anaconda”, which came out two years later.

Disney’s second live-action remake of “The Jungle Book” in 2016 made another significant change to the character, in which Kaa is now female, and voiced by the always seductive Scarlet Johansson. Despite being a big selling point in the marketing, her scene in the movie is unfortunately very short, as well as a curious mix Kaa’s established characterizations. She’s still a predator aiming to make a meal out of Mowgli, yet she also helps him discover hidden secrets of his past. While I find it an odd direction, I do love the idea of making Kaa female, which has kind of become the new templet for the character.

In Andy Serkis’s live-action 2018 Netflix movie titled “Mowgli: Legends of the Jungle”, Kaa is once again depicted as a female, and brought to life through a very juicy vocal performance from Cate Blanchett. Unlike the Scarlet Johansson version, this depiction of Kaa came closer to matching the source material, as she’s feared by all animals, while also acting as a guide for Mowgli. The only difference here is that Mowgli fears her just as much as the other animals, and it makes their relation in the film all the more exciting and interesting. Truthfully, this might just be my favorite depiction of Kaa on screen yet. In the end, whether this giant snake is depicted as good or evil, Kaa is always a captivating presence … but sense he or she isn’t a full-time villain, Kaa’s only the kick-off of my list, leaving room for four other favorites of mine.    

 

#4 Captain Boone

Disney sure has gone all out with its live-action remakes of their classic animated movies, and the very first was their live-action remake of “The Jungle Book” in 1994. Although remake might not be the right word, as it’s a different story, focusing on Mowgli as a grown-up, and took most of its inspiration from Rudyard Kipling’s second series of Jungle Books. It also drew more from “Tarzan”, and created a cast of mostly original characters. One of the big stars who makes this version so appealing is Cary Elwes as the lead villain named Capt. William Boone. At first, Boone is simply a third wheel in a love triangle between Mowgli and his love interest Kitty. However, upon learning that Mowgli once discovered an ancient city full of riches, Boone becomes a lethal foe, organizing a posse of hunters, and uses the two lovers as leverage to find the lost city. This was one of the original characters created for the movie, yet he still has a place among my favorite Jungle Book villains, largely thanks to Cary Elwes in the role. 

While I’m sure most people remember the actor best for his roles in “The Princess Bride” or “Robin Hood: Men in Tights”, this is the role I’ve always associated him with the most. While Cary Elwes can definitely make for a charming hero, he also makes for a very charming bad guy. It’s obviously a one-note villain who’s after both treasure and the attractive girl, but Cary Elwes carries the role with so much class, and delicious wickedness. Personally, I think there’s great potential for this character to make further appearances in other Jungle Book spin-offs, but until then, he still made for a terrific one-off foe, in this underrated Disney picture.

 

#3 Don Karnage

Following Disney’s animated 1967 classic of “The Jungle Book”, came a number of different spin-offs, sequels, remakes, and TV shows. Arguably the most unique of the bunch was the animated 1990 TV series “TaleSpin”, which featured Baloo as a high-flying cargo piolet, who would go on several adventures, usually battling sky pirates, or other forces that would threaten the city of Cape Suzette. The main villain of the show, and subsequently the big breakout character was the Wolf-like, Air Pirate named Don Karnage. With a giant flying battle ship called the Iron Vulture, and a cut-throat crew of air pirates at his command, Karnage was Baloo’s deadliest and most frequent reoccurring adversary. 

Voiced by the distinguished Jim Cummings (who I previously mentioned also voiced Kaa in a number of spin-offs), Don Karnage had a personality, energy, and charm that made him every bit as appealing, if not more so than our actual main characters. Yet, he still provided the menace and challenges to make him a worthy foe for our hero’s. I distinctly remember watching this show back when I was a kid … and I was always a little disappointed when an episode didn’t feature Don Karnage.

He kind of took on a life of his own, making costumed appearances at the Disney land parks, appearing in games, comics, and even had a selection of segments on the short-lived animated Disney series “Raw Toonage” from 1992. One episode even featured him crossing blades with Peter Pan’s Captain Hook, which was a treat to say the least. He also made several appearances in Disney’s rebooted 2017 “DuckTales” series, except now voiced by Jaime Camil. While the voice talent dose a decent job, the character just doesn’t have the same appeal as when voiced by Jim Cummings, but it was still great to have the character return to Disney animation again. While certainly an odd one out from other Jungle Book villains, he’s still a long-standing favorite of mine.

 

#2 Nag and Nagaina

While Kaa will always be the most famous snake from the world of “The Jungle Book”, my personal favorites come in the form of two deadly King Cobra’s named Nag and Nagaina. The two appeared as the main threats in the fifth Jungle Book story of “Rikki Tikki Tavi”. Speaking personally, this was actually the very first of the Jungle Books I ever read back when I was a kid, and had no idea the expansive series it was part of. This story revolved around a Mongoose named Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, who gets adopted by a British family that’s staying in India. As payment for their kindness, Rikki takes it upon himself to keep the family safe from the two invading King Cobra’s Nag and Nagaina. 

The pair aim to do away with the family, starting with the young boy, which leads into one of the most famous and cryptic lines ever spoken by a snake … “If you move, I strike … If you don’t move … I Strike!”

 Snakes in general always appealed to me as a kid, and Cobra’s above all others always had the most imposing presence. In 1975, the story of “Rikki Tikki Tavi” was adapted into an animated special by Chuck Jones, which I also enjoyed watching back when I was a kid. In the days of VHS, I remember renting the special several times from my local library. Naturally, it was the two villainous Cobra’s that excited me the most, and stole the show. Still to this day, they make for an imposing pair, and for me are the gold standard for snake-based villains featured in animation.

While Nag and Nagaina never really appeared in the universe of Disney’s “The Jungle Book”, there was still a decent reference to them in the 1996 animated Disney TV series “Jungle Cubs”. In the episode titled “Mondo Mungo”, a younger version of the snake Kaa finds himself in an unusual friendship with a Mongoose, who’s basically a Rikki-Tikki-Tavi inspired character. In the end, their friendship pays off when the young Mongoose protects Kaa from a pair of Cobra’s, who could well be stand-ins for Nag and Nagaina. While not featured in as many spin-offs as other Jungle Book characters, these two Cobra’s will always stand-out to me as two of the deadliest, and most exciting foes to come from Rudyard Kipling's “Jungle Book” series.  

 

#1 Shere Khan

To no-one’s surprise, coming in at number one is the savage Bengle Tiger Shere Khan, who’s Mowgli’s ach nemesis, and over the years has become an iconic villain in both film and literature. Speaking personally, Tigers have been my favorite animal for as long as I can remember, and Shere Khan is hands down my favorite fictionalized Tiger character by far. Khan was introduced in the first of the Jungle Book tales titled “Mowgli’s Brothers”, in which he slayed Mowgli’s human parents, and has sought to finish the hunt. However, once Mowgli finds a home with the wolves, he becomes protected by the law of the jungle. Thus, Shere Khan hatches a coup d'etat, having the younger wolves over throw their elder, and surrendering Mowgli to Khan. The boy retaliates by using fire against him, burning his face in the proses. Khan in this story is also depicted as being born with a limp-leg, and he also has a faithful servant in the form of a Jackal named Tabaqui. 

In the third of the original Jungle Book tale’s titled “Tiger, Tiger”, Shere Khan returns to the jungle to seek vengeance on Mowgli, but ultimately meets his demise in a Buffalo Stamped. In very first live-action film adaption of “The Jungle Book” from 1942, the backstory of Khan killing Mowgli’s parents remains, but the villain himself is killed off very early, and this time by knife stab as opposed to a Stamped.    

In 1976, Chuck Jones of Loony Toons fame directed an animated short film titled “Mowgli's Brothers”, obviously based on the first of the Jungle Book tales, and thus far is one of the most accurate in re-telling the story from the book. Although, there were still some differences, mainly revolving around Shere Khan, who no-longer has a lame leg, and most obvious of all is that he’s depicted as a white tiger. Still, he captures the same menace of the source material, especially with the great Roddy McDowall supplying the voice. It’s also a rare case in which Khans faithful Jackal Tabaqui is seen on screen with him. 

Of course, the characters popularity shy-rocketed with Disney’s animated 1967 classic “The Jungle Book”, in which he achieved status as one of Disney’s high-ranking animated movie villains. While he admittedly isn’t present in the movie until the third act, the build-up to him is still effective, and when he does finally appear, he still owns every moment he’s on screen. Khan’s intimidating, but he doesn’t show off, and I just love how chill and laid back he is. Whenever this version of Shere Khan engages someone, it’s always a slow-burn leading into his more savage attacks, and that for me is when villains are at their best. Truthfully, my favorite moments with him are when he’s just talking with other characters. 

He casually smiles and nods, but you just know he’s got everything mapped out in his head, and he’s just savoring the build-up for when he makes his move. Once again, I have to give credit to the late voice actor George Sanders, who was one of the classiest actors of his decade, and his juicy talents really carry over into his vocal performance for Shere Khan. Of course, he was just fresh off of playing Mr. Freeze in the 60’s Batman series, and if you can portray my favorite Batman villain with both class and dignity, then you’re a winning choice for a villain role.

In the animated 2003 Disney sequel titled “The Jungle Book 2”, Shere Khan returns seeking revenge on Mowgli, is noticeably given a lot more screen-time, and even the animation on him as gotten a littler darker and more intense. He’s also voiced in this version by the distinguished Tony Jay, who previously voiced my personal favorite Disney villain Frollo from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. Needless to say, the late Tony really shined in the role, capturing the original vocal talent perfectly … and it wasn’t even his first time in the role. Tony Jay actually voiced Shere Khan in a number of Disney spin-offs, including the animated 1990 TV series “TaleSpin”, in which Khan is depicted as a ruthless business tycoon.

The big one I’ve been most eager to talk about is Shere Khans depiction in Disney’s first live-action remake of “The Jungle Book” from back in 1994. Back when I was a kid, this movie was my personal introduction to “The Jungle Book” overall, and in general, I believe it’s where my love for Tyger’s first took shape. Without a doubt the animal with the most commanding presence is the mighty Bengal Tiger Shere Khan. Unlike most versions of “The Jungle Book”, Shere Khan isn’t a villain in this film, and instead is a neutral force of nature. He’s basically the jungles watchful guardian, and the keeper of the jungle laws. While Shere Khan dose kill Mowgli’s father in the opening, the two never become rivals, and only have one encounter at the very end of the movie.

Shere Khan challenges him to see if he’s more man or animal, and in the end, Khan respects Mowgli as a creature of the jungle. While I’ve always loved the concept behind Shere Khan’s new formed respect for Mowgli, the initial stair down between the two is admittedly kind of goofy in its execution. Regardless, this is still my favorite portrayal of Shere Khan, as he brings a great deal of tension to the film without becoming a villain in the process.

Over the decades, Shere Khan has gone through all kinds of changes, especially in the Disney universe. In the 1996 animated Disney TV series “Jungle Cubs”, Shere Khan is depicted as a young kid whose semi-friends with the others, but obviously doesn’t get along with them too often. In this series, he’s voiced by Jason Marsden, who I’ll always remember as the voice of Max from “A Goofy Movie”. One of the lesser-known Disney spin-offs was a direct to video movie in 1998 titled “The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story”, which came closer to following the narrative of the original book, although the tone is fare goofier and kid friendly. 

Khan in this version is voiced by Sherman Howard, and in a rare case for Disney, this version actually features Khan’s faithful servant Tabaqui … although, instead of a Jackal like in the book, this time he’s a spotted Hyena … no doubt changed because of the popularity of “The Lion King”. Of course, Shere Khan returned again in Disney’s second live-action remake of “The Jungle Book”, this time voiced by the always great Idris Elba. The design of Khan in this film is awesome, and it's the most screen time the character has ever gotten in a Disney movie … so he really gets to shine as a villainess presence.

At last, the final version worth mentioning is from the live-action 2018 Warner Brothers produced movie titled “Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle”. This version of Shere Khan is arguably the closest to matching the original source material sense the classic animated Chuck Jones short, and even gives Khan his limp leg from the original books. Khan’s faithful servant Tabaqui likewise returns, although he’s once again depicted as a Hyena, just like in the Disney spin-off. Also, the design of Khan is kind of silly, with a head that’s shaped like a box, and eyes that closer resemble doll-eyes … “all black and life-less like”. 

With that said, the vocal performance from Benedict Cumberbatch is down-right chilling, and gives the villain a presence that makes him feel more terrifying than he's ever been, regardless of how he looks. Of course, it’s funny to note that Benedict Cumberbatch played another villain named Khan in the “Star Trek” franchise. Mowgli’s rivalry with Shere Khan in the movie is effectively built-up, leading to a thrilling climax in which Mowgli slays Khan with a knife, just like in the original 1942 picture. One can only guess how many times Shere Khan will appear in different Jungle Book adaptions, but for me, he’ll always have a secure place as one of my favorite animal-based characters … and my absolute favorite Jungle Book villain!

Thanks for reading my countdown … and continue to enjoy the stories you love!

   

Rocky 4 (1985) (Movie Review)

     As we lead into the fourth of July, I traditionally find myself watching sports movies. I’m not sure why I’ve mentally bridged the sports genera with Independence Day, they’ve just always felt complimentary of each other. One of my favorites of the sports genera to watch on the Fourth of July is the 1985 sequel “Rocky 4”. While it’s not the best or even my absolute favorite of the “Rocky” franchise, it is undeniably the one I’ve enjoyed re-watching the most. There’s just something about this film that puts me in a good mood, fills me up with adrenaline, and makes me want to celebrate Independence Day. Upon its release in 1985, “Rocky 4” had the weakest critical reception of any film in the franchise up to that point, although it was a smashing hit at the box office, being the third highest grossing film of the year, and still one of the highest grossing in the whole franchise. Despite its mixed reviews, the film has endured overtime as a fan favorite, and in 2021 it was re-edited in a special cut by director and star Sylvester Stallone. As such, the time just felt right to discuss one of my favorite sports sequels.

     Picking-up where “Rocky 3” left-off, our champion lost his personal trainer and mentor Mickey … Yet, despite this loss, Rocky gained a new best friend in the form of his old boxing rivel Apollo Creed. Through his coaching and friendship, Rocky was able to defeat Clubber Lang, the most ruthless opponent the champ had ever faced in the ring. Despite their new formed respect and friendship, Apollo is still eager for a victory of his own in the ring, so that he can prove to himself that he’s not just a washed-up has-been. 

Opportunity comes knocking when a young new Russian fighter named Ivan Drago steps into the spot lot, and proclaimed by his sponsor to be an unstoppable fighting machine … “What ever he hits … he Destroys!”. Apollo eagerly wants to put this new-comer in his place, although Rocky is concerned that his friend is really fighting himself. The match-up between the two turns into a disaster, as Apollo dies in the ring fighting Drago, and once again Rocky has to face the loose of a close friend. Now, in order to ease the pain, Rocky is determined to finish the fight his friend started, and defeat Drago in the ring. Of course, this is what Drago wanted the whole time, to get the champion to face him on his turf. Thus, Rocky fly’s off to Russia, builds himself-up stronger then ever before, all while his opponent eagerly builds himself for the grudge match to top them all.    

    While the first “Rocky” is a classic for all-time, and can be applied to any decade, “Rocky 4” is specifically a classic of the 80’s, and for both better and worse is built on the clichés and tropes of the decade. Knowing it can’t replicate the same human drama of the first, this film goes for straightforward summer movie entertainment, with two times the action, and a killer soundtrack to boot. Right from the start, the movie set’s it’s tone perfectly with a pair of boxing gloves crashing into one another, and exploding! 

There’s also a robot house maid, with a design that looks like it came from a B-list Sci-Fi movie of the 50’s. The narrative is also safe and predictable, yet a very entertaining formula if you go in with the mind-set of this being more like a comic book or martial arts story … in that it’s all about avenging the fallen hero. For me, this works in the films favor, and makes this sequel stand apart with its own distinct charms and entertainment value. Even with its straight forward revenge narrative, the characters never loose an ounce of their individual strengths, appeals, and we still cheer for them. Sylvester Stallone still shines in his signature role of Rocky, as he never once seems motivated by anger, and more a sense of passion to finish the match his friend started. Rocky’s connection with Apollo is unmistakably the heart of the film, and for me, it’s just strong enough to compliment the films overall fun factor.  

     Another thing working in this films favor is Dolph Lundgren as the villain Ivan Drago, who’s personally my favorite of all Rocky’s appoints. While Apollo had the more layered arc, and Clubber Lang was arguably more iconic, Ivan Drago for me just has this presence that excited and thrilled me more then any of the previous villains. 

Despite being a very comic-bookish villain, with in-human strength, he also isn’t a loud mouth, and is more quietly reserved, which I’ve always preferred. Dolph Lundgren’s performance is also perfect, as he lets out just the right emotions and reactions when needed, giving the character a personality, despite being so quiet. “If he dies … he dies!” I feel his performance is best highlighted just after beating Apollo in the ring, as Drago just shoots this one look at Rocky, and you can tell he’s relishing this victory as his means to fight the undefeated champion. A common point of criticism was that Dragos wife Ludmilla, played by Brigitte Nielsen did most of the speaking for our lead villain. At the time, the actress was engaged to Sylvester Stallone, but they broke-up two years later in 1987. Taking note of the critics, Stallone basically removed Brigitte Nielsen’s character from the 2021 re-edit of “Rocky 4”, giving the villain more time to speak for himself, which I think was for the better.

     Of course, this movie was released in 1985, just as the Cold War was coming to a close, and there’s a number of themes relevant to the time throughout the film. Some may be turned off by the film’s depiction of Russians as the straight-faced antagonists against the patriotic underdog, but the film is self-aware of its own propaganda, and makes it a point in the story. Thematically, this film is all about making changes, how former enemies can become close friends, and how individuals can make an impact on masses. We see this when Drago wins over the American crowd during his fight with Apollo, and as contrast, during the finale we see a stadium full of Russians go from booing Rocky to cheering him on. Rocky also closes the film giving an impassioned speech to ease the tension between America and the Soviet Union. Maybe a little corny, but the intentions are pure, and it again lends to the films patriotic overtone that makes it appealing to view around Independence Day.

     Visually, this film gets me in the mood for the Fourth of July, more so than any other film in the series, despite the ending being set on Christmas. The main selling image of the film is Rocky wrapped in the American Flag, which is also the big closing shot of the film, and it’s Apollo Creeds patriotic ego that sets the whole narrative in motion. The character was always driven by a sense of patriotic pride, but this time he goes full on propaganda with his red, white and blue image. When he points to Drago in the ring and says "I Want You!", he dose so in the same gestor as Uncle Sam, and is obviously also waring the same attire. He even opens his match with a big musical number performed by James Brown called “Living in America”. It makes for another goofy, yet very memorable highlight in the film. Whenever the Fourth of July comes around, I always want to watch this musical number. Also, while Rocky had previously adorned Apollo’s patriotic boxers in “Rocky 3”, there’s a little more sentimental value for Rocky waring them here, as he’s carrying on the legacy of his fallen comrade. Personally, whenever I think of Rocky, the first image that always comes to mind first his him in the red, white and blue boxers.

   However, the biggest thing I always took away from this movie is its soundtrack, which is personally one of my all-time favorites, especially when I’m working out. The two main breakout songs are John Cafferty’s “Hearts on Fire”, and Survivor’s “Burning Heart”. Of course, Survivors hit song “Eye of the Tyger” also returns, which is always a plus. One of the more underrated songs is “The Sweetest Victory” performed by Touch. Similar to my feelings for “Top Gun”, it’s this energizing music selection that makes this film so appealing, and fun to watch. 

My favorite scene in the whole film is this one montage in which Rocky is taking a long drive, while simultaneously flashing back to memories of the previous films, and it’s all matched to Robert Tepper’s song “No Easy Way Out”. In the 2021 directors cut, all the flashbacks are black and white, which I thought was a great touch. As someone who loves editing video’s, I’m always drawn to montage sequences, and how each clip is parried with the different beats of the music. On that note, whenever I think of the cliched training montages that could pass as music videos, I immediately think of “Rocky 4”. Leading up to the big fight are these lengthy training sequences, paired with Vince DiCola’s riveting music score, and its great stuff. We have Rocky chopping a tree with an axe, and each cut is in sink with the music beats. The montage also builds to an awesome finale, as we cut between Rocky running up a mountain slope, while Drago is pushing his limits on a raised treadmill, and it closes with Rocky on this huge summit, while shouting his opponents name into the distance … it’s so cliché, and I love it all over.   

    The final match between Rocky and Drago makes for a dynamite climax, and is one of my favorite hero and villain match-ups ever. The build-up alone is electrifying, as Drago enters the stadium, set to the Russian anthem, and he says his famous line to Rocky ... “I Must Break You!” The fight takes-up most of the third act, complete with more exciting music montages, slow-motion punch-outs … and it is brutal! While not the most emotionally driven finale of the series, it’s still one of the most thrilling fights. As the battle wages on, Drago form’s a quiet respect for his opponent, and in a great little moment even encourages Rocky to keep giving his all. The 2021 directors cut of the film extends the epilogue a little more, and it does feel a little more satisfying that Rocky honored his fallen friend.

    This version of the film in general puts a little more focus on the friendship between both Rocky and Apollo, as well as gives a little more focus on Drago, which are both welcome. 

If you think “Rocky 4” is a little too much a goofy product of the 80’s, this cut admirably tries to remove the camp elements of the film, and behaves a pinch more seriously, like a real Rocky film. While the music montages are still present, other details like the outlandish robot maid, and the exploding gloves in the intro have been removed completely. It makes for a decent alternative for viewers wanting something closer to the early films, but personally, I still prefer the original-cut for its all-around fun factor. For me, sequels don’t always need to match the quality of the original, sometimes they just need to stand apart with their own different appeals and highlights. “Rocky 4” was one of those sequels that never needed to be the first, and stood on its own two legs as great pop-corn entertainment. Also, for as silly as the film gets, there's still a clear passion and drive behind the film, and you can feel it from everyone. While definitely not the best of the “Rocky” series, it is still the one I’ve watched, and enjoyed the most.

Thanks for reading my review of the 1985 sequel “Rocky 4” … and continue to enjoy the movies you love!