Rocky

Rating:
Summary: No Sequels Needed!
Review: ...Rocky won best picture at the 1976 Academy Awards anddeservedly so. The film is a study of a lonely man trapped in anunforgiven city who doesn't pretend who he is not. The film is brilliantly directed by John Avildsen and backed by an emotionally charged soundtrack written by Bill Conti. Rocky is an inspiring film rooted in one man's goals and limitations. Balboa's character traits dominate the film. We are uninterested if he has any siblings, parents, or friends; the focus is on Balboa's struggle for acceptance and identity within society. The fight premise is based on former heavyweight unknown Chuck Wepner (The Bayonne Bleeder) and his bout with then heavyweight champ Muhammed Ali. The Ali- Wepner bout lasted a suprising 15 rounds, highlighted by Wepner's dramatic knockdown of Ali in the 8th round. Ali rose and went on to win via a decision as did Apollo Creed, but in both instances the decisions were anti-climatic. Unknown white heavyweights are not supposed to last 15 rounds against the greatest heavyweight champs real or imagined. Rocky's struggle to reveal Adrian's fear of living brings about his own insecurities and failures. When Balboa gets his title shot he knows that he cannot win, but reconciles that his mere courage and manhood will transcend the outcome of the fight. The film contains poignant and introspective scenes that open up Balboa's screen presence without annoying voice-overs or histrionic flashbacks. When Balboa picks up a picture of himself as a boy, we need not know about boyhood stories, the story is parlayed in Rocky's adult face.The scene where the cantankerous Micky humbly comes to Rocky's apartment asking for redemption is emotionally draining. When Balboa explodes and Micky exits, we have an inclination of what might happen next. The brief reconciliation between the thick necked loser and father time is shot from a distance without any audible dialogue. This distant shot on a cold, dark, Philadelphia street needs no dialogue; it is one of the most engrossing frames in the film. Even the turtle pets in Balboa's apartment reveal his hardened surface and nonthreatening underside. Balboa may look intimidating as a collector with his black leather coat, black hat, and black cut out gloves; but his reluctance to break an overdue bettor's thumb reveals more about the man than his attire. Balboa's revelations with Paulie, Adrian, Gazzo, and Micky are the essence of the movie. The fight between Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed serves as the canvas for Rocky's emotional, physical, and psychological emergence. I had the pleasure of meeting Chuck Wepner some years ago, he is a successful liquor salesman. Why couldn't Rocky Balboa be as lucky? END

Rating:
Summary: See, at some point in his career he WAS good.
Review: Quality film, however it's a well known fact that all americans are puffs.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Sleeper of All Time!
Review: Believe it or not, Sylvester Stallone wrote the screenplay in 3 days because of financial problems. He then went on to create an American Icon; Roky Balboa, The 'Italian Stalion', and also went to the record books for being one of the few actors to be nominated for screenplay and actor in the same year (Orson Welles and Charlie Chaplin were the only others up to 1976). Great supporting cast featuring Burt Young who has his best role as 'Paulie', Burgess Meredith who got his smash hit after 120 movies, and Talia Shire who is a great character actress, makes 'Adrian' a complex and multi-layered character, Carl Weathers is also great as the cocky 'Apollo Creed'. The real magic behind Rocky are John G. Avildsen and Sylvester Stallone, who toguether make this a nostalgic experience and the best and most succesful sleeper of all-time. The final fight is a technical marvel, editing, choreography and cinematography are great. One of the most famous scores of all-time. Seeing Rocky 'go the distance' is as close as a cinematic orgasm as you can get. One of the greats. Extras: spot the 'Godfather' hitman. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film a 10!

Rating:
Summary: A true classic
Review: Rocky is probably the greatest underdog film of all time.It has touched many of it's viewers personally and stands as a part of American culture. Everyone can hum Rocky's training theme and everyone remembers him running up the steps and the famous quote,"Adrian!" What makes Rocky so great is because the characters feel very personal and human so you begin to root for them. Each character is an archetype played to it';s ultimate potential. One of the very few movies that I have gotten misty.

Rating:
Summary: Great Film
Review: Heart-warming classic that nevertheless should not have beaten out Network for the Best Picture of '76. Still, the original Rocky cannot be missed. Stallone turns in an uncharacteristic marvelous performance, as does the supporting cast. It is unfortunate that such a wonderful film has been sullied by so many lackluster sequels (especially Rockies IV and V). The original is a beautiful tale that is told in a simple, yet effective fashion. Whereas in the other films, the fight is the main part of the story, in this one, Rocky the character is the central focus. And, of course, Burgess Meredith is perfect as Mickey, the tough but lovable boxing manager. This film is well-deserving of its AFI Top 100 ranking.

Rating:
Summary: Love this film but No Roman Numerals Please
Review: A great movie! A great American Movie! Viewing the underdog pugilist who just wants to "go the distance" and finds love and self respect along the way gives the viewer heart to "go the distance" Stallone is no Brando but he can act and he shows equisite "tough tenderness" here. The entire production was pretty much his baby, so Sly deserves major Kudos. The suporting cast is ACES! Burgesss Meredith-vertaile thespian makes great crusty trainer, Talia Shire-Shy,tender, beautiful,love interst, Burt Young- a pent up ball of working class rage and frustration, and of course Carl Weathers-as the mountain the Rock must climb. How did he take all those shots to the ribs? Had only Stallone been able to resist the sequals trap , cash cows though they were, Rocky-with no Roman numerals would have earned a rare, hallowed place in American Cinema, perhaps just a shade below The Godfather. Yo!

Rating:
Summary: Sweat & Violence
Review: Stallone gets cross, sweaty, throws a few punches..... And then I woke up

Rating:
Summary: A tale about a worrior who triumphs over himself to acheve
Review: THIS is a great tale about a worrior who triuphs over himself to a chieve what many would say is quite immposible. He shopws you what courage & faith are and how to deal with when the going gets rouph. If you have not sceen this film I suggest you should go rent it and if you are like me you will rent the others and and soon buy the whole series. If I could I would of graded it a 25 out of 5 it might seem a bit boring but it leads to a great moral and the other ones including # 2,3,4&5 are also exxelent. These movies were shown to me when I was 9 years old and I loved them. But, don't take my word or any one elses go rent them yourself and then show them to others god bless this heart fealt film & you

Rating:
Summary: excellent movie for the boxer lover!
Review: sylvestor stallone packs a wallop as the indestructable rocky balboa good acting and excellent cinematography!

Rating:
Summary: It is an emotional realistic view of one's heart.
Review: Rocky made me laugh, cry, and think. It inspired me to new lengths, and tought me to look into my heart to find who I really was. Stallone, an unknown at the time, gave what I think is his most brilliant performance ever. I literally flew out of my seat with tears in my eyes at the thrilling climax. Rocky Balboa, thirty years old, with a fifteen year career that spanned 64 club fights (44-20), is to many people a bum of the neighborhood. His black leather jacket and black jeans with matching hat, are the first things many see when they notice him striding down the streets. However, his heart is what keeps him in line, showing nothing but respect to all those he talks to. Mackley Green, the current Heavyweight Challenger, suffers a broken hand, and Creed decides to give his bicentennial fight a theme, purposely finding a unknown fighter to have a three round exhibition with. He chooses Rocky Balboa, primarily because of the name, the Italian Stallion, and the magnificant theme of the times. Rocky accepts, and trains with all heart and soul, and Goes the distance to win inside.