Rocky Balboa (2006)

Saving Rocky

Sylvester Stallone is feeling nostalgic lately. Between "Rocky Balboa" and the latest Rambo installment, he's trying to resurrect past glories and reconfirm that his skills as a writer/director/actor are worth recalling as solid. "Rocky Balboa" goes a long way towards re-establishing Stallone's credibility for the better.

"Rocky Balboa" is a well done, feel good sixth chapter, redeeming the sometimes absurdity of the later Rocky films. Rocky is an older man, he's lost his Adriane but named his restaurant after her, has a son who hates living in a shadow. (Weird irony - years ago when Weird Al did a Rocky parody song to Eye of The Tiger, he sang about Rocky opening a deli.) But 'Rock' wants one more chance to show what he's made of after a simulated "Then Vs Now" simulation shows a fight between Rocky and current champ Mason Dixon.

Cue Bill Conti and Stallone is sweats. Virtually a tribute to previous Rocky flicks (complete with multiple flashbacks and Burt Young/Paulie), the movie offers feel-good comments and philosophical asides like a zen-boxing Master. Rocky befriends Marie (Geraldine Hughes) and her son as an antidote to his loneliness, but is far too honorable to move beyond just helping her out. Showing the arrogant champ that the must important muscle being a real champ has is his heart. Proving to glib cynical sportscasters that age is just a number. The movie is very predictable, refuses to play into a maudlin ending, and - most importantly - absolves Stallone from the last few years of sleepwalking through his 90's movies.

Interesting note - the filming in Philadelphia had already wrapped when a snowstorm hit that day, and the opportunity for more dramatic settings had arrived. The crew quickly grabbed a camera and filmed an impromptu re-shoot of the street-running scenes, ending with Rocky charging up the steps of the Art Museum in the driven snow. July 31, 2008

Win by losing?

This movie is about 'heart'; to take it and still fight back.
Boxing is a bad metaphor for it as the current legal
situation is a financially mediated joke with three recognized champions.
Most people have turned to things like kung fu, karate or kick boxing:
even women's boxing has more draw than a fixed or fixated heavy weight
fight. So why do we still see the hopes of the fighters as
something we will watch? Am I spoiling it by saying Rocky loses?
But he also delivers his message of heart and courage one more time.
I can't give it more than three stars because it
is the same old same old...with a new younger woman for love interest. July 30, 2008

GOOD FINISH FOR A GENERATION

VERY EXCITING AND MORE REALISTIC THAN THE PREVIOUS ROCKY MOVIES. LETS REMEMBER FOR THOSE WH GAVE IT 1 OR 2 STARS, WE ARE NOT IN THE 80'S ANYMORE. MUCH MORE EMOTION ON STALLONES PART. A GOOD FINAL ACHIEVEMENT IN HIS LIFE. I RECCOMEND IT TO ANYONE WHO LIKE ROCKY. July 28, 2008

Everyone can change!

Growing up, the classic series of Rocky boxing films use to be a piece of Americana. After a sixteen year sabbatical from Rocky V in 1990, the latest film, Rocky Balboa, was released last Christmas to theatres. Rocky Balboa is played by Sylvester Stallone, and the film takes place well over a decade since Rocky V and a few years after Rocky's wife, Adrian passes away.

Rocky is having trouble living life after boxing; he cannot connect with his son, and is still coming to terms that his wife is gone. That all changes when ESPN has a computer generated fight predicting Rocky Balboa defeating the current reigning champ, Mason "The Line" Dixon (played by retired boxer, Antonio Tarver). This motivates Rocky to get back to the ring and make a George Foreman-esque comeback for the ages.

Sylvester Stallone is a natural as Rocky Balboa. He plays the role as perfectly as he did decades ago. The storytelling is done remarkably well compared to previous Rocky movies. Stallone directed this too, and he did a wonderful job with the narrative transitioning Rocky on the verge of a nervous breakdown to coming around by finding new friends and family to making his comeback to the ring. Admittedly, it is pretty formula, but if you have seen past Rocky films than you know they are not known for breaking new grounds, but more on delivering feel good moments. Rocky Balboa accomplishes this in spades.

The DVD itself is nicely put together. The film transferred very smoothly and looks great even on my standard definition television. I was expecting a double disc special edition release, but Rocky Balboa has basic packaging, and a decent offering of extras. The three documentaries provide an insightful look behind the scenes of the film, and on the choreography of the fights. There are also some interesting deleted scenes that help explain some miniscule gaps in the film, and an alternate, more feel good ending. Finally Sly himself provides commentary for the film.

If you're a fan of sports films, or have seen any of the older Rocky flicks than you got to get Rocky Balboa on DVD. I got a feeling this one may see a special edition release sometime down the road, but it still has a good amount of extra features to make it worth your while.
Rocky Balboa July 8, 2008

Best Rocky Movie of the Last Decade

Excellent movie if you go into it with zero expectations. It should really be terrible, but it's mostly entertaining. June 25, 2008

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