Better than Rocky Balboa!
Ok I know I fall under a minority here, and probably the only one in the whole world that thinks Rocky V is better than Rocky Balboa, but here's my reasons.
1. The score: It was beautiful, same we don't have the instrumentals available on official soundtrack release. The music that plays during the rocky & tommy fight is amazing violin work! The Balboa score was a rehash of previous Rocky music, musically it didn't stand on its own.
2. The villain: Each rocky movie has had one thing in common with the exception of Rocky Balboa, and that is charismatic villains! They were fully fleshed out and given so much depth including Tommy Gunn. Mason Dixon was so bland and by far the blandish of all the rivalries.
3. Tradition: Each rocky movie begins with the end fight of its predecessor, Balboa didn't have this and therefore almost was a movie on its own. The flashbkack of the previous fight is somewhat for me symbolic of a fight journey.
4. Tite Title: Ok im nit picking here ill be honest, but why not just call it Rocky 6! Again by cutting that tradition, it's a standalone movie or trying to be.
5. Just love Rocky V overall! Don't care if most of the world hate it, I like it.