these films are ok for what they are.. they don't pretend to be high brow social commentary they are just harmless fun where you can switch off your brain for 2 hours and enjoy yourself.. if you look at each film, aprt from sometimes going over the same thing, do cover alot of aspects of boxing.. don't forget that as well as writting Sly also choreographed all the boxing scenes as well
Rocky 1 - over the top storyline but also gave a good account of the boxing world
Rocky 2 - harmless fun but basically the same as 1 with Rocky winning
Rocky 3 - dealt with corruption and how the fights are fixed as well as coming to terms with the end of your career
Rocky 4 - dealing with retiring as well as harmless fun with US and Russia during the cold war.. the russian has to be the one cheating with drugs
Rocky 5.. again dealing with retirement and not being a boxer any more