GET READY FOR THE NEXT WORLD WAR.

Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) wants a comeback in the ring and decides to fight an intimidating Soviet boxer (Dolph Lundgren); the disastrous consequences pull Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) into the biggest bout of his life.

It’s possible to view this third sequel, the most bankable of them all, as a Cold War satire. There’s so much 1980s kitsch here that reaches its zenith in a couple of engaging music video montages; the songs and score are perfect for the film.

Very intense, and Lundgren is right for his part… but in the end this is just too silly, including Rocky’s climactic appeal to Soviet leaders.

1985-U.S. 91 min. Color. Written and directed by Sylvester Stallone. Songs: “Burning Heart” (performed by Survivor), “Living in America” (performed by James Brown). Music: Vince DiCola. Cast: Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa), Dolph Lundgren (Ivan Drago), Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed), Talia Shire, Burt Young, Brigitte Nielsen… James Brown.

Trivia: Co-produced by Irwin Winkler. Followed by Rocky V (1990).