If you have the Encore movie channels, which are just the generic version of Starz, then you’ve noticed that they have been a Rocky marathon every few days. One day the wife and I just could not figure out what to do, so we just zoned out on the couch and started watching these great cinematic pleasures, well all except Rocky 5. But, during Rocky 4 the wife and I started to wonder, did Ivan Drago really have to kill Apollo?
Now, I don’t mean Drago himself, I am alluding to the franchise killing the character. The Rocky audience just gets over the passing of Mickey in the previous film, now we have to suffer through another death. Why kill him couldn’t they just badly hurt him to make a point?
And, think about the significant impact he could have had in the following films. In Rocky 5 he could have helped Rocky train a young Tommy Gunn and then warned him of his true intentions. Even though Paulie did the same, it would have had a better effect and more of an emotional impact coming from Tommy. It could have even made a great cameo even if they decided not to have him in the entire film.
In Rocky Balboa, an ageing Rocky and an ageing Apollo could have trained together. Think of that great speech that could of happened with Apollo telling Rocky how lucky he is to be getting that one last shot. Or, in both films, Apollo could have played the George Foreman type role of the boxing sportscaster.
Whatever the case maybe there were options for Apollo, not just dying. Not to say the films would have been better, but they couldn’t have been worse. He could have been a nice cameo or been an important fixture in the films, but unfortunately we’ll never know.
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