Rocky II (1979)

It had been a while since my last viewing of any part of the franchise. I gained interest in the higher-rated sequels after discovering how well I could tolerate less cherished Sylvester Stallone movies. When this title came up among Netflix suggestions, I selected it right away. It's leaving soon, I might add.

Right after narrowly losing the bout at the end of the first entry, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) retires from boxing and marries Adrian (Talia Shire), who's soon expecting. Alas, he has trouble getting and keeping another job he can stand, so he's thinking of returning to the ring. His brother Paulie (Burt Young) supports the idea, but Adrian and trainer Mickey (Burgess Meredith) initially disapprove, because Rocky's right eye took permanent damage last time and he could go fully blind next.

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

I had enjoyed First Blood but understood that it bore little resemblance to the rest of the Rambo series. Green Beret John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) doesn't kill any humans in it, for one thing. When I found the immediate sequel on Pluto TV, I decided to get an informed opinion of how accurate the many parodies were. Hey, it wouldn't be the first mediocre Stallone vehicle I found interesting.

After a few years of a labor sentence, Rambo learns from his former commander, Colonel Sam Trautman (Richard Crenna), of a chance at a pardon. His accepted mission from Major Marshall Roger Murdock (Charles Napier) is to sneak into a Vietnamese camp suspected of still containing American POWs and take only pictures. Of course, this wouldn't be much of a story if he followed instructions precisely. Once he sees an opportunity to free a tortured prisoner (Andy Wood), it won't be long before the projectiles fly.

Demolition Man (1993)

I was barely aware of this flick when it was new. Only in adulthood did I encounter people talking about it, not so much for the demolition as for the nanny state sendup. I got curious whether it had more to offer than a particular line summarizing the scenario and a curious, semi-tasteful bathroom gag.

In 1996, LAPD Det. John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone) is effective at crimefighting but destructive enough to earn the titular moniker. When his arrest of master criminal Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) leads to the explosion of a building full of hostages, both men are sentenced to decades in cryopreservation. At a 2032 parole hearing, Phoenix breaks loose, discovering that this peaceful era has pushover police and he's become mysteriously knowledgeable and badass. Lt. Lenina Huxley (Sandra Bullock), a big fan of the 20th century, persuades Chief George Earle (Bob Gunton) to thaw and reinstate Spartan to take on Phoenix, but authorities worry that Spartan's just as bad.

Cliffhanger (1993)

I'd encountered very mixed reviews about this picture since it came out. I put it on my list but wasn't sure whether I'd go ahead with it, until (1) I wanted something thrilling for Halloween and (2) Netflix was about to stop streaming it.

In the Colorado Rockies, Rangers Gabe (Sylvester Stallone) and Hal (Michael Rooker) answer a distress call. Since an initial snowstorm precludes a helicopter rescue, they climb -- to find guns trained on them. These five "hikers," led by one Eric Qualen (John Lithgow), have actually robbed a plane transporting three suitcases full of money, only to drop the cases and crash. The robbers now demand that the rangers help them recoup the cases, which have trackers. It soon becomes clear that the ingrates plan to kill the rangers afterward. But given who plays Gabe, they underestimate his survival skills and determination not to let them get their way entirely. And as other rangers grow uneasy about the paltry radio reports, Gabe's girlfriend, Jessie (Janine Turner), joins the action.

The Suicide Squad (2021)

Given the underwhelming performances of Suicide Squad (2016) and Birds of Prey (2020), I figured that this would be OK at best. I took more interest in it after seeing an episode of the ensuing TV series, Peacemaker. Then I learned that this was the kind of sequel that makes very few allusions to past events, so I wouldn't feel too left out.

The title refers to a ragtag bunch of talented convicts who have opted to do ostensibly heroic black ops in exchange for lighter sentences, albeit with the threat of remote execution if they don't follow orders (no actual suicides herein). Their current mission: Sneak onto the island of Corto Maltese and wreck the lab of a powerful secret project before the new tinpot dictator (Juan Diego Botto) can use it against the U.S. Don't get too attached to the first several squad members we see, because most don't make it past the beach. Fortunately, the B team hasn't been intercepted yet....

Creed II (2018)

I had mentioned that the first Creed made allusions to Rocky IV, being the movie in which Apollo Creed dies in the ring. Apparently, that was just a warm-up. Perhaps writer and producer Ryan Coogler (having turned direction over to lesser-known Steven Caple, Jr.) had this in mind all along.

Right after Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) wins the world heavyweight championship, a blast from the past appears: Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), his father's fatal opponent. Ivan hasn't gotten any kinder with age, nor has he softened his grudge against Adonis' trainer, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), for costing Ivan a lot of honor. His idea of settling the score is to have his own son, Viktor (Florian Munteanu), defeat Adonis.

Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (2017)

I had enjoyed the first GotG but had trouble ranking it with respect to other parts of the Marvel Cinematic, er, Universe. It's just so different. First of all, very little takes place on Earth, and only one major character, Peter "Star-Lord" Quill (Chris Pratt), is even half human, tho others tend to have an implausible similarity. Second, the Guardians are antiheroes, first teaming up for a prison break. Third, they're mostly rather subtle in powers, and their equipment isn't very innovative. The movie relied almost entirely on a sense of fun via dialog, emotion, and retro references. It worked, but I had yet to see how well it could work again, apart from the perhaps overly faithful first episode of the ensuing TV series.

Vol. 2 first shows the Guardians, having earned their moniker, doing what they do when the galaxy isn't facing clear and present danger: mercenary work. And a little theft on the side by the most corrupt ones, which is why such big-time saviors still have a lot of people after their hides. But those pursuers are arguably incidental to the main plot. Peter finally meets his mysterious biological father, Ego (Kurt Russell), who's actually extremely powerful and offers to share his wonders. Gamora (Zoe Saldana) thinks it's too good to be true, especially after hints from Ego's empathic companion, Mantis (Pom Klementieff); but Peter, tired of his unrequited crush on Gamora, dismisses the suspicion as resentment. Of course, anyone familiar with stories in general should guess who's correct....

Creed (2015)

Rocky has been my favorite boxing movie for ages, but that's not saying much. I had never watched any of its sequels in full, tho I did check out the Nostalgia Critic's video on Rocky IV, which caught me up on what happened to Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa's pro rival-turned-friend. I looked up a few other details along the way, but not much affected my understanding of the situation herein.

In 1998, orphan Adonis Johnson, in an L.A. juvie for fighting, learns that he's the bastard son of similarly Greek-named Apollo and accepts adoption by Apollo's widow. In the present, "Donny" (now played by Michael B. Jordan) moves to Philly and tracks down Rocky (an especially unattractive, mumbly Sylvester Stallone). Despite both Rocky and Mrs. Creed telling him it's a bad career, he doesn't feel like doing any work but pugilism, preferably with Rocky in his corner.