Only in America... (Rocky (DVD))

Member Name: angry chris

Product:	Rocky (DVD)
Date:	26/11/02 (498 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: One and Two are classics, The soundtracks are classics., The names have become cinematic icons.

Disadvantages: Rocky 5 is shocking., Over the Top action in 4., Mickey's death left a gaping hole.

For the first time ever, today I actually found myself doing the sane and sensible thing and buying Christmas presents long before the day arrived. Once I'd got over the shock, I looked down at the list and found that my youngest brother had requested Rocky for the Playstation 2. Intrigued, I found the item in question and looked at the case to see myself staring at some of the most famous boxers in history. All of them fictional. And this longwinded tale is my attempt to justify this op on a series of the most famous films ever made.

Rocky Balboa burst onto our screens in 1976, and how the world took to him. Balboa was a Philedelphia boxer down on his luck, fighting in small-time fights to pay the bills. He also works as a "bruiser" for one of the local loan sharks. He is hardly the sharpest tool in the box, and things appear to be at an all time low. His attepts to lure he girl working in the local pet store, Adrian, appear to be in vain, he has too much of a heart to be any good at "breaking people's thumbs", and his trainer Mickey is none too impressed by his new sideline job.

Then, just as things begin to get on top of Rocky, he gets his "million-to-one shot". Heavyweight boxing champion Apollo Creed decided that he needs an exhibition bout to help his nation celebrate thanksgiving, mainly due to the fact that he has chinned all those fit to challenge him. He goes through the books, finds "The Italion Stallion" and thinks that he will make the perfect opponent, and gives Rocky his shot at the big time.

Rocky then has the challenge of preparing for the biggest night of his life. Will he have the strength and heart to pull the miracle off?

Written by Sylvester Stallone and sold only on the condition that he alone could play Rocky Balboa, Rocky was the surprise and huge hit of the year. It's precisely the kind of happy-ending tale that Hollywood does so well, and au
diences love. However, even Stallone admitted his surprise when this film garnered a series of Acadamy Award nominations, and walked of with the biggest statue of the lot-the Best Picture award. But what made this film such a classic?

Firstly, the main players were excellent. Stallone gives one of best performances of his career as the brain-dead boxer, seemingly perfectly cast in the role. He delivers his lines with great timing and skill, bringing out the best in the script, which in turn is both moving and humerous in all the parts which it is meant to be.

Talia Shire is Adrian, and plays the part well, although perhaps she is slightly annoying in the role itself. I am not saying she doesn't do it well, I'm just saying that the character she plays does get on my tits ever so slightly. To be fair, she is a perfect foil for the illiterate Balboa.

Paulie is Adrians brother, whom she lives with. He is everything is sister is not: load, obnoxious and an irritant. He is also Rocky's best friend. He is played well and although not a major player in terms of plot or importance, he is a fixture throughout the series, playing a more significant and indeed comic role later in the series.

Carl Weathers is masterful as Apollo Creed, the reigning champ. Without doubt my favourite line in the film comes from Creed. When warned that Rocky is a southpaw, and should be avoided, Creed simply states:

"Southpaw nothing, I'll drop 'im in three!"

then calmly goes back to discussing the financial aspects of the bout. His arrogance and showmanship are done to perfection by Weathers, and really help to create the "bad guy" that most Hollywood films seem to need.

However, the show is stolen by the man most noted as the Joker in the "Batman" TV series, the late Burgess Meredith, who is magnificent as the scowling, wisecracking, "seen it, done it" trainer Mic
key, who guides Balboa through the film. He is the perfect man for this role, everything about him makes you believe that he is what he is supposed to be. Quite excellent.

However, despite this, the film should be pants. The story is so far fetched, it shouln't be believable. But even the ridiculous fight scenes are deliberately done. Everyone who has ever seen this film will testify that the fights are ridiculous, but that is the whole point. Besides, how many boxing fights are exciting enough to be the main focal point of a Hollywood film? They give the film excitement, a brutal finish, and a more surprising ending than you would expect, although this is not really that crucial in the scheme of things. It is not the winning that matters:its the taking part!!!

Of course, another thing which makes this series is the soundtrack. Contrary to popular belief, "Eye of the Tiger" is not in Rocky! But the thumping theme tune and the accompanying tracks are a delight to behold, and have become icons almost on there own.

Rocky is a tremendous film, one which appeals to all ages and people of all film preferences.
I don't think the Oscar was necessarily deserved, but this film is certainly deserving of it's classic status. It is now and always has been the definitave tale of rags to riches. It's hugely enjoyable, easy to understand and get to grips with. The characters are well developed and identifiable with, and the ending is heart-warming without being utterly ridiculous(until the "Adrian!!!" bit). If you have seen it, you'll understand. If you haven't, why the hell not?

As most people know, Rocky was not the first and last of the series. Indeed, it had 4 sequels, which continued to chart the progress of the Italian Stallion. As the main characters remained the same by and large, the following are merely brief guides to the next four...

ROCKY 2.

Suffering
serious brain damage after the beating he received in his battle with Creed, Rocky has to call it a day and marries Adrian, rejects a move into Condeminiums(not condoms!) and goes into advertising. After a few difficult times and a struggle to get back to work, Rocky thinks about going back into the ring, depite being advised against it. Apollo, however is receiving death threats following the shock first fight, and wants a re-match.

Will he be able to goad Balboa back into the ring?

With most of the principles from the first returning for a second "bout", this is about as good as it gets in terms of sequels. Meredith is again superb as Mickey, with the undoubted classic line of this film coming as he teaches Rocky new tactics for his re-match:

"you're a greasy fast, Italian tank! You're gonna shit lightning!, you're gonna crap thunder!"

Great stuff.

More cracking music, more people following Balboa as he runs through the strrets of Philedelphia and more excellent boxing action make this a worthy follow-up to the classic first. Indeed, some, myself included, would argue that this is the better film of the 2. There is more humour to the film, and Mickey and Apollo are given the more prominant roles that they deserve from the first. The fight itself is better than the first, witht the goading and cock-sure Creed playing to the audience with great effect. Top, stuff.

ROCKY 3

Ten title defences later, Balboa has become domesticated:he has made his money, has the big house and is on top of the world. However, just as he begins to lose the hunger and desire, a new, brutal opponent comes to the fore. With enough goading, Balboa gets into the ring, only to be soundly thrashed as news of Mickey's imminent death reaches him. Just as he is about to call it a day, an old foe returns to give him a few pointers and surprises everyone by having another crack at the titl
e.

Sly Stallone returns in this third installment of the Rocky series alongside the usual suspects to face Clubber Lang, played by Mr T of "A-Team" fame. The action is as fast and furious as always, and we get the bonus of two fights instead of the usual one. Also worth noting is the Oscar winning anthem "Eye of the Tiger", which was to become the anthem played in every single sweatbox gym where boxing is the sport of choice.

However, this is where the series becomes a little bit daft. The serious, "realistic" tone of the first two is replaced by the "underdog will always win" mentality which dogs many Hollywood productions. There is no real attempt at character development, it merely becomes eye candy. Mr T, for example, is explained in the simpliest of terms. He wants to be the champ, and that's about all we know, other than the fact that he is brutal and ruthless- the typical stereotypical "baddie". He says next to nothing, other than a couple of rather silly one liners.

Despite this, the film is entertaining enough, good enough to watch if you can, but not a patch on either of the first two. The soundtrack just about makes up for the silly acting and the sillier script.

ROCKY 4

Rocky comes out of retirement to travel to Russia to avenge Apollo's death at the hands of the "Siberian Bull", Ivan Drago, the Russian champion. Rocky must not only go back to basics to prepare for the fight, but he must defy the critics and defeat a seemingly invincible opponent and a very hostile Russian crowd. Will the Italian Stallion be able to overcome this deadly foe?

This film is hilarious. The tagline:"East meets west" should tell you all you need to know about a film which was made in the height of the Cold War.

Dolph Lundgren is perfectly cast as the vicious Russian Ivan Drago. His wooden acting has no bearing on what he is re
quired to do: act scary, say a few one-liners, punch things hard and flex his muscles once in a while.

The whole thing is rather unbelievable. The film tries to convince us that while Apollo is a load mouthed walking, talking human punchbag, Rocky Balboa is the hardest man of all time, ever. This is despite the two evenly matched bouts between the two in previous installments.

It is also the most propaganda based film I have ever seen. While Rocky is facing the elements, snow and hills of the Russian winter, Drago is punding sparring partners mercilessly while pumping himself full of steroids. The Russians are throughout portayed as arrogant butchers, intent on trouble. When Creed is lying on the canvas, breathing his last, Drago is ridiculously telling reporters:

"I defeat all man!...If he dies, he dies!"

Well quite.

The soundtrack, so long a Rocky trademark, also goes the same way, despite the efforts of "Living in America" and "there's no easy way out". Listen to the bouncy, encouraging riffs played over Rockies training, and compare them to the heavy, dark, menacing ditty played over Drago's preparations.

Well quite.

Talia Shire as Adrian is fast becoming an irritating side show. After screaming at Rocky for his suicidal trip to Russia ("You can't win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" she bellows at him), she then turns up and just as Rocky comes back into the fight, she changes her mind("You're gonna do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!").

Well quite.

Even the fight is over the top in a ridiculous way, with Rocky surviving the kind of barrages that would floor most polar bears(where the f**k is the referee?). This has always been a thing of the Rocky movies, but in others there was a plot culminating in a fight, here there is a fight with a bit of build up mascarading as plot.

Despite this, the film remains immensly popular. Taken as
what it is, a big budget Hollywood theatre filler, it is good enough. People flocked to see it, and it is entertaining enough to watch a fair few times. But it is not in the same mould as the first two, and suffers as a result. Win an oscar this certainly didn't!

ROCKY 5

Rocky returns to America after his fight in Russia to find that Paulie has cocked things up, and a fraudulent accountant has cleaned him out. Not only is he bankrupt, but he has suffered brain damage and can no longer fight. He returns to his old neighbourhood and spots a young prospect, Tommy Gunn, who he guides to the top at the expense of his son and his family. All is well 'till a ruthless promoter tries to engineer a split between the two, hoping to get a lucrative fight. Will Balboa win his final battle?

This film is awful. The whole thing is a shabby attempt to recreate the plot and atmosphere of the first twp films, and it fails utterly.

Character development returns, and you almost wish it hadn't. Sage Stallone enters as Rocky's son, and is without doubt one of the most irritating characters ever seen in a film. He is a whining, ignorant, stuck up little turd. I personally would have enjoyed beating the living s**t out of him. When he is picked on by bullies(also intensly annoying characters), you side with the bullies. He's that bad.

Talia Shire seems to be old and bored with the whole charade, and it shows.

Tommy Gunn is the least interesting "Bad guy" out of all those in the series. His acting is as poor as his fighting, and his performances in the ring and with a script are shocking. He just looks like a flabby idiot, and it is unbelievable to think that audiences are meant to compare this bloke with the hulking opponents of the past.

George Washington Duke is the most lazy, stererotypical character you will ever see. Think of a boxing promoter. I bet he looks like, walks like,
talks like and acts like Duke. He might as well be called Don King, and be done with it. It is the most over the top performance by anyone in the whole series.

The soundtrack, saviour of the last film, is completely missing.

The script is just full of cheese, and is delivered in the same, horrific fashion.

The writer (Stallone) seems to have realised the missing presence of Mickey, and uses the cheapest trick in the book to revive this massive presence, flashbacks. It is these which give Rocky the insipration he needs at the end.

As I said, this is a lazy, awful, monney spinning end to a classic series. It says everything about it that the best part of the film are the flashbacks which show classic clips from the other films. In the original script, Balboa dies in his hour of triumph. Failing that, lets just hope that rumours of a sixth film are just that, and that Rocky's gloves are hung up for ever.

AND SO...

Rocky has given cinemagoers some classic moments of tension, drama and excitement. It has also given us some of the greatest soundtracks ever created. However, it is an eternal shame that as is often the case, it seemed to outstay its welcome and slide into a dismal finale. It remains, however, a classic series, and is one which should be viewed again and again (bar the fifth!).

P.S The computer game is excellent!

Thank you for reading and commenting on this opinion.

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