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The last time I saw this film before tonight was about twenty years ago. All I remembered was that it was about boxing, is considered a classic and has Sly Stallone in it. It won the Oscar for Best Film in 1976, but to be honest, I can’t understand why.
Sylvester Stallone is Rocky Balboa, a 30-year-old guy living on the edge of poverty in Philadelphia. He does ‘bully’ work for a local loan shark and boxes on the side to earn some extra cash. It’s all rather depressing. Of course, underneath his tough exterior he’s basically a good guy, refusing to break people’s thumbs for the loan shark and courting the rather plain-looking Adrian (Talia Shire), who works in the local pet shop.
Apollo Creed is the world heavyweight boxing champ. When his challenger cannot fight in in the finals due to illness, he decides a good publicity stunt would be to give an unknown fighter a chance. That fighter is, of course, Rocky Balboa, the Italian Stallion.
It takes at least 45 minutes for anything at all to happen in this film. By now we all know Sylvester Stallone has the verbal capacity of a sea lion (apparently caused by complications during his birth in which forceps were used which paralysed part of his face and makes him ‘talk funny’), but it fits his Rocky character very well. Classic scenes are of him training: getting up at 4 am to drink raw eggs and go running through the dark streets of Philadelphia.
Stallone wrote the script for Rocky in 3 consecutive days and nights after seeing a boxing match between Muhammed Ali and an surprisingly resilient lesser-known fighter, Chuck Wepner. He offered it to a film studio under the condition that he was to play the lead. They loved the script but didn’t like that idea as they had envisaged Burt Reynolds, Ryan O’Neal or James Caan in the role of Rocky. Stallone stood by his decision though and eventually the studio took the chance, putting the direction in the able hands of John. G. Avildsen.
This was as much a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Stallone as it was for his creation, Rocky, and it worked. It launched his career as a tough, macho meat-head with feelings which obviously went down well in the late 70′s and throughout the 80′s as he became an American icon.
So why did this film win Oscar for Best Picture? According to the booklet in the DVD its success may have had to do with its heroic optimism in the cynical and pessimistic atmosphere after the Vietnam war. Whatever the reason, it escapes me nearly 30 years later.
It’s not a BAD film, don’t get me wrong, but seeing as it was up against others like Network, Taxi Driver and Marathon Man it baffles me that it won. There is one thing that has ALWAYS stayed with me from this film and is one of those ‘quotes’ that I regularly incorporate in my daily speech (don’t ask how 
); the final scene where Rocky shouts out incoherently for “Adriaaaaaan” through a split lip and a crowded boxing venue. I love that. It’s Sly’s monosyllabic grunting at its best.
All in all, not quite the classic I vaguely remembered it to be.
3 out of 5
suzero (90 posts)Suzanna Noort - TV/video director/editor and multimedia something. Amsterdam, Netherlands
20 Comments
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This a great movie and a classic.
I always get a lump in my throat when I hear the title-track en see Rocky training. It reaches its culmination when he runs up the stairs and holds his hand up high in the air. It’s a classic scene in movie history.
The story is simple, but effective. It’s the ultimate underdog movie with a great role from Carl Weathers (he really looks fit in there).
Comment by Paco — Mon March 8, 2004 @ 12:58@ Paco: I agree with you about the title-track… it works really well… but what else makes you consider it a great movie? It’s a tad too slow, is not beautifully photographed and it seems a little TOO simplistic a storyline to me. Or am I just being a snob?
Comment by suzero — Mon March 8, 2004 @ 17:02I think it’s a little easy to dismiss Rocky now simply because of what’s followed it. The amount of films that have copied not only it’s style but it’s structure (even the recent 8 Mile is a Rocky rip off) but when the film was released it really struck a nerve with a wide audience.
Comment by damian — Mon March 8, 2004 @ 17:26Watching the film now the film does seem dated, but that’s only because of the way things have developed in society and in particular the marketplace fo film.
Rocky is a simple rags to riches story, told with heart and passion. The cinematography is grubby, because it was meant to be. It’s simple, direct and doesn’t pretend to be anything more than it is. It’s one of the ultimate feelgood movies, which explains why it won the Oscar – cos they do love a happy ending the Academy.
It’s a genuine crowd pleaser and although it seems a little cliche (which it is) and slightly dated (which it is also) it still hits the buttons emotionally. If you were a fan of the film then, you’ll probably be able to see why now. If you’ve seen the thousand films that have rehashed it’s story since, you’ll probably wonder what all the fuss is about. Still, it’s a damn sight better than Rocky 4 and 5!
I see what you mean Damian, but I guess I was just a bit disappointed… Marathon Man and Taxi Driver still strike a nerve with me, despite being 30 years old. They age better than Rocky in my opinion, but that probably has more to do with them having rather more intricate storylines and less polarized characters… I dunno, I just still don’t think it’s Oscar material…
Oh, and don’t diss Rocky IV! hehehe… just kidding! Did you know of the story of Brigitte Nielssen and how she met Sly? Apparently she asked to be allowed up to his hotel room at reception (just like countless others). He refused. Then she sent up a photo of herself and he changed his mind and married her.
Dunno if that’s a monkey-burger as the Dutch say, but I can kinda believe it.
Comment by suzero — Tue March 9, 2004 @ 14:52Rocky is the best set of all time!! i could watch it soo many times and never get sick of it. Sylvester Stallone is great and whoever doesnt think this movie is great, they dont kno what they are missin.
Comment by Steve — Sun March 21, 2004 @ 1:02The thing about Rocky is that it was so damn ugly but at the same time beautiful. The film’s shots were rough and almost looked grimy, but thats how life was in Phili. The shots where Appollo lived were all much cleaner, much easier on the eye: less messy. Talia Shire was plain jane, not even her own brother thought she was good-looking, but she was actually a beautiful woman. And, of course, Rocky himself. A beaten-down, good for nothing nobody who couldn’t do anything right, except of course take a beating and dish one out, until he blossoms into a man in love with his woman-afterall, Rocky was more love story than action… “Adriaaaan”
Comment by BillyBob — Mon April 5, 2004 @ 20:51all of the rocky’s are ab fab!! Sly looks gr8 in all of em and the story line is amazing!
Comment by Gemma — Sat October 2, 2004 @ 21:47I love ROCKY, 1,2,3,4,& 5
Comment by Jason Bodiford — Tue March 8, 2005 @ 6:01and no matter what anyone says I can what all of his movies 24/7
O my god i loooooove Rocky filmz der hevi, the onley film tha i cn watch ova&ova again. es a wkd actor and fucking kicks ass dun e. and i loves da bit where e says “yooooooooo aaaaaadreeeeeeeian” if u like Rocky den watch the contender its soooo good Rocky is a bad ass film m8 byeee xxxxxxxx
Comment by SAMANTHA — Wed May 18, 2005 @ 20:23i am prasanna im living in india .first i saww the film rockey. i feel very proud how he trained him self .and later i fight with my mom to buy orginal rocky collection.then i will practice daily like him to beat my friends.on week ends i used to see more than 4 times .i love you stallone.
Comment by prasanna — Mon January 2, 2006 @ 10:00i love rocky movies . i like the music verymuch.and i like his training very very much
Comment by prasanna — Mon January 2, 2006 @ 10:33i like italion stalion rocky balboa.rocky’s whole life was a
Comment by prasanna — Mon January 2, 2006 @ 11:11million-to-one shot!
my mark to rocky is 100/100
Comment by prasanna — Mon January 2, 2006 @ 11:17TEN GOLDEN RULES for rocky and my friends
1.MOST SELFISH ONE LETTER WORD
Comment by prasanna — Mon January 2, 2006 @ 11:28I
AVOID IT.
2.MOST SATISFACTORY TWO LETTER WORD
WE
USE IT.
3.MOST POISONOUS THREE LETTER WORD
EGO
KILL IT.
4.MOST USEFUL FOUR LETTER WORD
LOVE
VALUE IT.
5.MOST SPREADING FIVE LETTER WORD
SMILE
KEEP IT.
6.FASTEST SPREADING SIX LETTER WORD
ROMOUR
IGNORE IT.
7.HARDWORKING SEVEN LETTER WORD
SUCCESS
ACHIVE IT.
8.MOST ENVIABLE EIGHT LETTER WORD
JEALOUSY
DISTANCE IT.
9.MOST ESSENTIAL NINE LETTER WORD
PRINCIPLE
HAVE IT.
10.MOST DEVINE TEN LETTER WORD
FRIENDSHIP
MAINTAIN IT.
MY TYTLE FOR ROCKY 6 IS
ROCKY THE GREAT.
Comment by prasanna — Mon January 2, 2006 @ 11:33ROCKY MY HEART PLEASE RELESE ROCKY 6 SOON OTHER WISE I WILL DIE
Comment by prasanna — Mon January 2, 2006 @ 11:37rocky today i saw your film.realy you will belive it or not its 124 time.from rocky1to5.
Comment by prasanna — Sat January 7, 2006 @ 17:48OMG HOW ARE PEOPLE SAYING IT ISN’T A FREAKING CLASSIC.
Comment by BIGGEST ROCKY FAN EVER — Sun February 5, 2006 @ 1:41I’M 15 YEARS OLD AND I JUST STARTED BOXING MYSELF AND I LOVE IT.
SYLVESTER STALLONE AND HIS MOVIE SERIES ROCKY MADE ME WANT TO BE A BOXER.
Rocky was an Inspiration to me and always will be.
Comment by Paul Wilkins — Sun February 19, 2006 @ 22:03sly is great. all the rocky’s are fablous except 5.its ok.if it wasnt for sly we wouldnt have an amazing underdog story bout a bum nd how boxing changed his life.sly is sooo hott. im only 13 soo u no!!! i love all the movies that he was in. GO ROCKY GO!!!!
Comment by ashley pierro — Sat June 30, 2007 @ 4:14