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Rocky Balboa (2006) has been heralded by a number of film critiques as “the best (Rocky) since the original.” It is certainly high praise as its predecessor (Rocky (1976)) is now enshrined in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress “as being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Rocky (1976) also garnered three Oscars including Best Picture, Best Film Editing, and Best Director. As for Rocky Balboa (2006), it gave the viewing public one last chance to say goodbye to an icon as the film devotes a considerable amount of time to several of the franchises characters and landmarks as “Rocko” revisits a few sentimental sites (e.g., the old Balboa apartment, Adrian’s pet store, ice skating ring, etc.) as well as catches up with past characters (who have reprise their roles) such as his brother-in-law Paulie Pennino (Burt Young), ex-boxer Spider Rico (Pedro Lovell), Duke the trainer (Tony Burton), and “little Marie” (Geraldine Hughes). In many respects, Rocky Balboa can be likened to an aging Michael Jordan who came out of his second retirement to play for the Washington Wizards in 2001. Both men’s legacies—regardless of the outcome—were still apparent and secure. The crowd adored them—and like Jordan (who said upon his return to the game of basketball, “…what I’m trying to do is get that last scratch in,) Balboa had his own quotable quote when he said, “there is some still stuff in the basement…right here (pointing to his gut).” Thirty years since his first fight against Apollo Creed and twenty years since he turned back the might of Russian’s Ivan Drago—the 60 year old Robert “Rocky” Balboa, Sr. (57 wins, 23 losses, 1 draw, 54 by way of knockout) still needed to prove something to himself by getting the tar kicked out of him. Needless to say, the unlikely endeavor exorcise the beasts from within and helped "Rocko" find what he was looking for… Peace.Read full review
Hm. When we all said goodbye to a remarkable hero many years ago, we got around to accepting that this might be the last we see of Rocky for awhile. And good-he was hanging onto his glory if by a shred. Here's another movie, and true to form, this wonderful movie is as much or more about what happens outside of the ring as in it. Good inspiration once again, and streetwise wisdom from a guy whose hardships highlight his glory. There is plenty of both. The problem is, we all know Rocky can't be in the ring forever, but the constant harping on his age and his status as a has-been (albeit a loved has-been) get old. We got the point after the first few jabs. And we'd rather not see Rocky that way. His glory must change-we know that. But the focus should be on what he's doing now, not on what he can't do. And for the guy who "still has stuff in the basement," his anticlimactic stroll out of the ring without even knowing whether or not he won is disappointing. And the final scene (I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it) make us wonder if this is going to be the end of the Rocky movies. If it is, we didn't need this movie. We said our goodbyes long ago. If we will be delighted by more, however, a future movie will need to focus heavily on the real issues and struggles pertaining to what he's doing now-not another painful stroll down Nostalgia Lane. Still, if you're a Rocky fan, you need to see this movie. You owe it to yourself.Read full review
The good news is that after all these years, Rocky Balboa wasn't a terrible movie, that bad news is that it hasn't improved too much. If you were a fan of the old, underdog boxing films that were rampant throughout the 80's, then don't miss this final installment in the life of everyone's favorite underdog. If you found the earlier films too melodramatic for your tastes, your opinion probably won't have changed much in the last 20 years. If you are new to the series, here's what you need to know. Rocky Balboa is a long time retired boxer. He had some incredible fights as a younger boxer, competing with opponents who were much stronger favorites than he. He's been retired for years, but now as a much older man, he feels the need to come back for one last big fight. Most of the movie has very little to do with boxing and a lot to do with the little lessons you learn in life. That means the film is less about face paced sporting events and more about relationships and drama. This can be either a good or bad thing depending on what you are expecting and what you like. All in all, Sylvester Stalone does a great job directing and staring in this final film and there's a little bit here for everyone. As I said at the beginning, the movie isn't terrible, but it's not very original either. In the end though, Rocky Balboa good enough to recommend.Read full review
Rocky Balboa is pretty decent. It won't win any awards but it is definitely worth a watch or two. Although it was nothing special and was really just a rehash and mashed up version of previous Rocky films it still had that little something special. I'll have to be honest though, I thought the concept was stupid and completely unbelievable until I saw Randy Couture knock Tim Sylvia into next week at UFC 68. This movie had a decent story and some pretty good performances. The boxing action wasn't up to par for me but this movie is more about the story and less about the boxing. Although it's not my favorite Rocky film it still ranks up there with all the others. Final Verdict: 4/5 Worth buying? I'm not a huge Rocky fan so I won't be buying it, but anybody who loves boxing or the Rocky series will feel the need to invest in a copy.Read full review
"Rocky Balboa" is not only the best sequel since "Terminator 2" and the best movie of Writer-Director-Star Sylvester Stallone's career., it's one of the best American Films of It's Kind. Massively entertaining and deeply heartfelt, it's a formula movie that rarely feels clichéd., thanks to Stallone's genuine love for his characters and his determination to end the series on a high note. After a decade Stallone uses "Rocky Balboa" to wipe clean the sour slate of artistic failure in the poor diminished decision called "Rocky V". (Winch As You Say It). As "Rocky Balboa" begins, Rocky is living a comfortable dull life as a restauranteur., mourning the death of his beloved wife, Adrian. Desperate to prove "to himself" that he is still "a somebody", Rocky applies for a new boxing license and eventually ends up in the ring with the Current Heavyweight Champion of the World., as the result of a computer-simulation game that touts "Balboa In-His-Prime would beat the Current Heavyweight Champion". The boxing story is fun, and Director/Star Stallone stages the final match with energy and style., but the movie's real heart is in the scenes leading up to the fight. After the nightmarish sequel "Rocky V", the Rocky franchise returns to its origins as a series that's more about behavior than action, and the scenes in which Balboa visits Adrain's grave is very moving. Flashbacks and references to events from the earlier films mean a lot to fans of the series, as Stallone uses a kind of cinematic shorthand to quickly get to the heart of any given scene. He packs a surprising number of subplots and emotional high points into the film., and he's able to do this by building on what has happened in the previous films. He doesn't need to waste a lot of time on what Rocky has lost or where he has come from, because those of us who have seen the other movies can fill in the blanks. Stallone and composer Bill Conti also skillfully appropriate musical themes from the original film to trigger an almost Pavlovian response in the viewer. (I defy any filmgoer over the age of 25 not to erupt into spontaneous applause when Conti's main theme leads into the inevitable training montage.) Stallone explores all the things that matter to him as an aging legend: missed opportunities, lost and found loves, and the desire to give what he was born to do "One Last Big Shot"., Not for the Title., but for "Himself". The film contains several significant relationships, from the expected sparring with brother-in-law Paulie (Burt Young), to a new romance and a sweet Father-Son connection, and in each of these storylines the dialogue is perfect and drives home hard. Stallone's own strengths as an actor plays flawlessly — but perhaps the biggest shock of "Rocky Balboa" is the rich lead performance. Stallone is an exceptionally generous actor, allowing his superb supporting cast to shine along with him in dozens of truthful moments that are right up there with the best scenes in the original Oscar-Winning film that kicked off the series. Reminiscent of another Actor-Turned-Director's Masterpiece, "Unforgiven"., "Rocky Balboa" is its author's meditation on getting older. Paying homage to "The Underdog" - "Rocky Balboa" is "ALL-HEART"., a "Love-Letter" to us ALL, from Stallone/Rocky. Boxing has long been a metaphor for life., "Life Hits Harder Than Anyman"., "NEVER STOP FIGHTING BACK" !! -- and Stallone pays Homage to us ALL. Thank You Sly !! Thanks Rocky !!Read full review
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