Rocky

Rating:
Summary: A Brilliant Underdog Story!!!
Review: Rocky is probably the role Sylvester Stallone is most known for. The two bit nobody from Philadelphia that gets a shot at the big time.

Rocky Balboa A.K.A. The Italian Stallion is challenged by the heavyweight champion of the world, Apollo Creed(Carl Weathers). Apollo wanted to give a no name a shot at the title. He picked Rocky due to the fact he like his name The Italian Stallion. When rocky gets this shot he turns to an old gym owner to train him. Mickey Goldmill(Burgess Meredith), Whom I think is the best character in the Rocky movies. Along the trials and tribulations of the film Rocky is introduced to his future wife, Adrienne(Talia Shire), by his friend, and her brother, Paulie(Burt Young). All the actors give notable performances. After all of the training Rocky is ready to do battle with the champ. Needless to say Rocky makes a name for himself.

I also like this film because when they box they actually hit and bloody one another. It's an all out war in the ring. Unlike realistic boxing matches where there is a bunch of hugging and blocking punches. The boxing is very entertaining and not a borefest. Also Rocky Balboa, The Italian Stallion, always makes us Italians feel a little better about ourself. If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and see where it all started for Sly. See Rocky today!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Rocky Is The Champ
Review: Rocky is a classic Hollywood story. A two-bit loser boxer gets his chance, against all odds, for fame and fortune by fighting the champion of the world. The story symbolizes Sylvester Stallone's own rise to fame. At the time, Mr. Stallone was a basically unknown actor who had done nothing to show he was capable of making such an all-time great film. Not only did he give the performance of lifetime as Rocky Balboa, he also wrote the screenplay. He plays Rocky as a likeable slub. A washed up boxer who earns a living as an enforcer for a loan shark, Rocky isn't all that bright, but he cares. He loves animals and falls for the douty Adrian who works at the local pet store. Talia Shire is excellent as the shy and frumpy girl with thick glasses who eventually comes out her shell. Burt Young is her lush of a brother Paulie who works in a meat locker and is always scheming for a buck. Rocky gets his chance at a title when the challenger to the champion of the world Apollo Creed goes down with an injury. As the fight is taking on the first day of America's Bicentennial Year (1976) in Philadelphia, Creed comes up with the idea that since America is the land of opportunity, he is going to give a local, unknown Philadelphia boxer the chance at the title. He picks Rocky because he loves his nickname The Italian Stallion. Rocky reluctantly agrees to fight Creed and despite everyone else looking at the fight as a joke, Rocky trains hard just to go the distance. In one of the more poignant scenes in the movie, Rocky's former trainer Mickey (played with crusty charm by Burgess Meredith), who had give his locker away at the gym because he declared Rocky a bum, comes to Rocky's decrepit apartment begging for forgiveness and chance to train him. Mr. Stallone and Mr. Meredith play the scene with alternating anger and forgiveness and it is quite powerful. The fight scene is compelling and the music still sends chills up your spine. It's difficult keep a dry eye at the end of the fight as Rocky does go the distance. Rocky defied all odds by becoming a big hit and upsetting such other films like Network, All The President's Men and Taxi Driver to win the 1976 Best Picture Oscar. The movie even made it's inspiring and thrilling theme song "Gonna Fly Now" a number one hit for it's composer Bill Conti. Rocky catapulted Mr. Stallone from unknown to superstar and he parlayed the film's success into a wildly successful career (albeit in movies that don't even close to the power and glory of Rocky).

Rating:
Summary: Rocky A Great story of an underdog
Review: This a great movie about some has been boxer from Philly in the
mid 70s named Rocky Balboa and a Heavy weight champion of the
world named Apollo Creed.There is a wager lottery if you will
with Creed and he goes to look up fighters for the 200th anniversary of our country they picked Rocky the has been bumb
to fight even thought he is a Southpaw.The rest of the movie is
about how he is getting prepared to fight it is very great.He is
Beating some meat slabs where his friend and later his brother
in Law works then he is even doing things for the mob or some
crime organization.Then he gets to the fight that is really
good and most people believed he won.It was a draw but in the rematch in Rocky 2 He Won

Rating:
Summary: Very worthy of the oscars it won
Review: Rocky is a truly memorable movie. It starts out with a small time boxer/loan shark hood from Philly with a dead-end career wanting to go out with his friend Paulie's sister Adrian. The two really hit it off and become close. Meanwhile, reigning heavyweight champion Apollo Creed is looking for an opponent to fight at the bicentennial since his scheduled challenger was unable to fight. On a whim he picks a bum fighter from Philladelphia, where the fight is being held because of the 1776 stuff. That bum is Rocky. With help from his trainer Mickey and the motivation from Adrian, Rocky proves to be a formidable foe to the champ. He just barely loses to Creed in an amazinginly realitic fight scene with blood, nasty bruises, and eye closing swells. Everything sounds real, right down to the punches. Stallone does a superb job of acting like the dimwitted boxer, especially in the scenes where he is getting beaten up brutally. Carl Weathers does a good job playing the boastful champ. Shire really gets into the character and acts like the shy girl waiting to bloom that her character is. Burgess Meredith can really let his emotions loose as Mickey. Bill Conti's musical score mixes horns, strings, drums, and contemporary to create a diverse but memorable piece All in all, this movie has an excellent cast, excellent fight scenes, and a great soundtrack. A must have for anybody who likes movies.

Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: Rocky is,plain and simple,a great movie.The story(which everyone knows by now)is wonderful,about a two-bit prize fighter from Philadelphia,who gets a shot at the heavyweight title,and ends up going the distance with the champ. Sylvester Stallone is magnificent in the role of Rocky,and all the supporting players(Talia Shire as Rocky's very shy girlfriend Adrian,Burt Young as her brother Paulie,Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed,and of course Burgess Meredith as Rocky's manager Mickey just to name a few)are equally as good.John G.Avildsen's direction is right on as is Sly Stallones writing. The musical score by Bill Conti is fantastic as well.

The 25th aniversary DVD is very good,and priced reasonably.There are some nice special features including trailers(from all five movies)and TV spots.

Rating:
Summary: Southern perspective , on a south paw, named Balboa
Review: I'm not going to bore you with the storyline details , because honestly....there's noone who hasn't seen a Rocky film. However , if for some unknown ,and unforgivable reason , you haven't seen the first installment, of the Rocky series , then I highly recommend that you see this one. Whether you're into great acting , interesting characters , love stories , or just a plain old a.. whupp'in film , this is your class A ticket to ride. People have said that Rocky's sequels don't measure up to the first one , and I think it depends on your prospective. I will say, that the first one ( Rocky ), wasn't written for a sequel. Sylvester Stallone , got inspired to write a story and he took his time , writing it. Therefore , the story line and charater building was one of the script's, most important aspects and it created a buildup to the eventual fight , that's unforgettable and you'll find yourself holding onto the edge of your seat and swinging your fists in the air. This particuliar dvd version is extra special because it takes you through , scene by scene , with commentary from the original cast. Even old sly did a special , opening presentation. This is not only one of the best boxing films of all time , it's one of the best films of all time. If you liked any of the Rocky films , you'll love this one. Great acting , great script , great direction , great cinematography , great action choreography , great editing , and an unforgetable musical score will make you believe that this underdog and south paw , can really "do it" !!

Rating:
Summary: The best of the Rocky films - by far
Review: Watching this DVD with my family last night I was reminded how heartfelt and even tender this movie is compared to the other Rocky movies. It seems like each one becomes a paler imitation of the first. This movie spends a great deal of time setting up the relationship between Rocky and Adrian. They learn to help each other learn to believe in themselves.

Unlike the other Rocky movies, which are all inferior to the original, the fight sequences are only at the beginning and end of the movie. Most of the movie is spent establishing Rocky's character and developing his attachment to Adrian and their joint relationship with Adrian's brother, Paulie. I still love the names for Rocky's two turtles, Cuff & Link.

The acting in the movie is actually quite tender. For example, when Paulie, Adrian, and Rocky are watching the press conference with Apollo Creed announcing the fight, the promoters treat Rocky as more of a joke than a contender. Paulie points this out to Rocky, and Rocky says that "it don't bother me none". Rocky wants to focus on his saying hi to Adrian on the TV. However, as Rocky is leaving he and Adrian briefly discuss how she felt about hearing her name on TV. He then asks her if she remembers him saying that what the promoters said didn't bother him. She says she does. He looks down the street and while barely moving his mouth says, "It did" and walks away.

Not Shakespeare, but quite human.

And the movie is filled with great lines from Burgess Meredith's creation of Mickey while he his training Rocky for this impossible fight in five weeks. Mickey is another loser looking for his break - his one shot. Everyone remembers Mickey from this movie.

This movie also launched Carl Weathers who does a fine job as Apollo Creed.

That it won the Oscar for best picture is a testament to the mood of the times, but even after all these years, it is a movie with impact. It hardly meets our current expectations for an action flick, but I think that is a good thing.

Rating:
Summary: Watch This, You Won¿t Regret!
Review: I just watched my first Rocky movie, "Rocky" last night. It was su-poib. Movie magic! I really enjoyed it. It was such a good movie. Even if you know nothing about boxing, like me, you'll enjoy "Rocky". All great performances, and Burgess Meredith is funny as Mick. Great movie, I can't think of another thing to say. Adiós.

Rating:
Summary: Jeff Shannon is wrong
Review: You know, for being an Oscar-winning movie and an reviewer for Amazon, you would think that Jeff Shannon would get the review correct. He said that Rocky's manager was named "Gus?" Have you actually seen the film Jeff, or did you just collect bits and pieces for different reviews? Who is Gus? Rocky's trainer, played by Burgess Meredith, was named Mickey. God man. Take some pride in your work.

Oh yeah, the movie's great. The best of the Rocky series and after Rocky II it all goes downhill.

Rating:
Summary: An enduring classic
Review: "Rocky" was the first film I ever remember seeing, and the one movie I saw over and over again as I grew up during the early 80's "Rocky"-craze. No other film has been able to match its dialogue and wit. I'm as old as this film and I've loved it unceasingly, unwaveringly since I was three-years-old. It's fascinating to take in the stereotypical, yet unique characters Sly Stallone managed to create as the film's screenwriter. They are all truly unforgettable as are their truly human qualities. This movie forces you to ask yourself the question, "would I have the courage to take a shot at my dream, if I got the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?" Rocky shows you that he faced his fears, went the distance, and how that paid off in the end, not with a championship title, but with the satisfaction of not settling for less and intending to make something of himself and his life. It's only fitting that there be a sequel, yet it's not nearly as magical as the original film. The choreographed fight scene at the end is pure artistry. All other subsequent fight-films have had to keep up with the standard set by "Rocky." Own it to laugh, cry, and be inspired to be a better you.