I trawl through the best and worst that modern entertainment has to offer, putting my health and my ...
I trawl through the best and worst that modern entertainment has to offer, putting my health and my santiy on the line, so you don't have to. Read more about my exploits in my reviews. I try to make them informative and fun at the same time.
Member since:13.10.2009
Reviews:42
"His whole life was a million to one shot"
Never has a tagline summed up a movie with such simple elegance. There's something wonderfully universal about the idea of a nobody being plucked from obscurity and given that one golden chance to prove themselves. It's something that everyone who never caught a break in life can relate to. Rocky is a film which tapped into that universal longing to succeed, and did it with such passion and honesty that it's still remembered more than thirty years later.
Looking back now, it's hard to believe that this film almost never came to be. Stallone, an unknown actor in 1976, had to fight as hard as the title character to get this film made. Studio executives wanted an A-list actor in the title role, but Stallone held firm, sensing this could be his big break. Even when the production was finally given the green light, budgetary concerns and tight deadlines threatened to derail it. But
when it was released in 1976, it exceeded all expectations, cemented Rocky as a pop culture icon, and even scooped an Oscar for best picture.
Rocky himself is an unknown club fighter from a rough neighbourhood in Philadelphia. He lives in a run-down apartment and has to work as an enforcer for a local loan shark to make ends meet. Along the way, he hooks up with Adrian - a shy pet store worker that he's had a crush on. But his quiet life is changed forever when the heavyweight champion of the world Apollo Creed comes to town. His intended opponent has injured himself training, and rather than cancel the fight, he decides to give a local fighter a shot at his heavyweight title in what amounts to a glorified publicity stunt. He chooses Rocky for no other reason than he likes his nickname, The Italian Stallion. Initially reluctant, Rocky eventually sees the fight as a chance to prove himself, and accepts Creed's offer.
It's difficult to pin down all the elements that make this film work, but as a start I'd have to say that the pace is absolutely perfect. The film unfolds in a measured, unhurried way, giving us time to get to know Rocky and his companions before kicking into high gear for the iconic training montage and the climactic fight. It's not a long film, but it manages to pack a lot into its runtime. Like its title character, it's lean and mean, with not a single scene or piece of dialogue feeling flabby or superfluous.
The characters are just great. Rocky himself is a surprisingly complex individual - when the film kicks off he appears brutish and simple, yet little touches of humanity shine through, and the way he gazes longingly at a picture of his idol Rocky Marciano gives great insight into his longing to succeed and his regret for a life not well lived. Adrian meanwhile is a shy and mousy woman that most other men wouldn't look twice at, but Rocky sees her inner strength and beauty. In his own words, they fill gaps in each other. Adrian brings out Rocky's humanity and sensitivity, while Rocky encourages Adrian's self-confidence and independence. There's great chemistry between Stallone and Shire in their respective roles, made even more impressive because neither of them are classically attractive. These are real people living real lives, not Hollywood archetypes.
The supporting characters round things out nicely. Burt Young is perfect as Adrian's abusive and jealous brother Paulie, while Carl Weathers injects a welcome touch of humanity into the arrogant and flamboyant Apollo Creed. Burgess Meredith is always awesome, but he gives the performance of a lifetime as Mickey. A gruff, aggressive former fighter, Mickey sees the potential in Rocky and the opportunity he has been given, and offers to be his trainer. Rocky angrily berates him for never offering to help out before (in a performance that almost won Stallone an Oscar) before finally accepting.
The day of the fight rolls around, and its time for Rocky to put himself to the test. Creed expects a walk over, but Rocky surprises him by fighting with skill and determination. Still, he's up against the heavyweight champion of the world, and after fourteen brutal rounds has taken a fearsome beating. I won't spoil the ending, but suffice to say, it hammers home the point that just going the distance and refusing to stay down is often more important than winning or losing.
Rocky is a film that influenced a whole generation of movie-goers, teaching them that they could achieve great things with hard work and determination, and continues to do so today. No matter where you are in life, you always feel better after watching Rocky. For that reason, I heartily award it five stars.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Production Year: 2007 - Action/Adventure - Director: Paul Greengrass - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, Edgar Ramirez, David Strathairn, Paddy Considine, Albert Finney
Production Year: 1977 - Action/Adventure - Director: Clint Eastwood - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring:Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, William Prince, Bill McKinney
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
This is the film that catapulted Sylvester Stallone into the international spotlight and ... more
launched one of the most successful series of films in movie history, This is the story of a loser, a two bit boxer from Philadelphia, who gets a second chance in ...
Advantages: A true classic, well worthy of its three Oscars Disadvantages: Some of the fight scenes are very violent (if you dislike that sort of thing!)
the_mad_cabbie 02.10.2004 (03.10.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Rocky (DVD)
Advantages: fairly good acting, finished off the story, great soundtrack Disadvantages: weaker than the previous ones, lack of fighting with Rocky, Pauley was annoying
sewbizzie 08.10.2009 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Rocky 5 (DVD)
Oct 13th, 2009
very helpful by (100%):
