Where is My Rockyverse?
In its first season, Cobra Kai did a great job of expanding The Karate Kid universe into a TV series. My only real problem is that at the end of The Karate Kid, Johnny Lawrence seizes the trophy, and gives it to Danny, telling him, “You’re all right, LaRusso.” That implies Johnny’s swallowed his pride, anger, and vengeance, and now begrudgingly respects Danny. The series bypasses this moment to maintain open grievances, and doesn’t offer a callback until its sixth and final season. Otherwise, Cobra Kai’s brilliant in imagining where these characters’ lives went. So open when properties revisit characters, they vandalize both the character and – worse – their…
A Look Back: Rocky V
I’m such a big fan of Rocky V (1990), even though it’s considered the weakest instalment in the franchise – even by creator and writer Sylvester Stallone himself. The first movie – Rocky (1976) – remains a masterpiece, and is one of the best sporting movies ever made. Rocky II (1979) avoids the mistake a lot of sequels make in rehashing the events of its predecessor. Even though the story is based around a championship rematch, Rocky, as a person, continues to grow. He marries, he becomes a father, he has to deal with financial responsibilities – this is not the same oblivious loanshark enforcer he was in the first…