Rocky Balboa

Alex · 12-24-2006, 11:15 AM

I'll put this in its own thread since it is a new movie and I can also see some dicsussion happening around the entire series.

When this project was accounced I, along with every other sane person, rolled my eyes and felt embarrassed for Sylvestore Stallone's sad grasp at the last few straws of fame.

Well, I'm shocked, but this is a good example of why whenever I hear about dubious projects my inclination isn't to say "that's a horrible thing to do" but rather "let them try, maybe it'll be interesting."

Rocky is an example of what we discussed recently. I love Rocky and that isn't diminished by the awefulness of Rocky IV and Rocky V (and mediocrity of Rocky II and Rocky III). I think many people look at what the series became and come to the conclusion that Rocky must have sucked as well. And for film buffs, since it undeservedly won Best Picture instead of Network (a much superior film) it is derogated as a bad movie instead of just a good movie that wasn't as good as another film.

As we were out wandering last night we ended up near a theater and the only convenient thing showing was Rocky Balboa. Despite the relatively good reviews I still wasn't super interested and Lani wasn't interested at but we decided to go anyway.

It isn't a great movie, but it is a satisfying one. First of all it does the smart thing and completely ignores the existence of Rocky V. Then it acknolewledges but doesn't dwell on the third and fourth movies. In an ideal world we would have had Rocky and Rocky II and then Stallone would have left it alone for 25 years to finish the trilogy here.

It isn't a great movie, and if you don't like any of the Rocky movies then you aren't going to like this one. But otherwise you might want to overlook your very reasonable distrust of such an endeavor and check it out.

tracilicious · 12-24-2006, 11:58 AM

I haven't ever seen any of the Rocky movies. Maybe I'll see one.

Alex · 12-24-2006, 12:12 PM

This one definitely shouldn't be your first (though, except for some of the character motivations it could stand pretty well on its own).

Motorboat Cruiser · 12-24-2006, 12:23 PM

I've actually read nothing but good things about this movie. I loved the first 2, though the 3rd was entertaining but not of the same caliber, and hated the rest. I'm actually pretty interested to see this one and probably will on Tuesday.

Strangler Lewis · 12-24-2006, 03:20 PM

All five Rockys are currently in the free movies section on Comcast's "On Demand" feature. I really liked Network, but it was a film of speeches and ideas, not characters. Well-delivered speeches to be sure, but speeches nonetheless. Rocky was a rare "classic 70s movie" that didn't have everybody yelling always.

scaeagles · 12-31-2006, 12:02 PM

Wife and I saw this last night....loved it.

First, something spoilery:

Spoiler:

What I liked was the return to the spirit of the original Rocky. As with MBC, I think the first two were just great films all around, 3 was good, 4 sucked, and I couldn't bring myself to see 5.

Motorboat Cruiser · 12-31-2006, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scaeagles

and I couldn't bring myself to see 5.

If only I had been so lucky.

Oh, and I just learned something new...

When you quote someone who has used a spoiler box, the info in the spoiler box becomes visible in the quote. I guess I should have realized that beforehand.

MouseWife · 01-09-2007, 09:51 AM

I just took notice of this since Pops got 'Rocky' for Christmas and we watched it this weekend. {we had a portable dvd player and were up in Garden Grove for two nights, always a good time to force the kid, I mean, share a good movie with the kid....}

I hadn't seen this movie since I saw it in the theaters when it came out. I barely remembered it.

It was great. My son stayed up way past Pops to watch it end. Then we watched the second half again the next morning. We've been searching for the second movie but Blockbuster only has it on line, I've been told. {don't have Comcast}.

The movie also had commentary~I hadn't realized that SS wrote the script? That he had gone to meet with someone about acting but he wasn't what they were looking for. A nice guy, but nothing. So he said he was also a writer and brought the script back and wow. I think that all impressed me even more than the movie itself.

So, will it be awful for me to see this latest film before any of the others? {specifically the second one} The movie came with a free ticket and that makes it one cheap date.

LSPoorEeyorick · 01-09-2007, 12:32 PM

SS also directed Rocky II.

Not that I have seen it. I just edited an encyclopedia entry about it for work last month.

MouseWife · 01-09-2007, 04:47 PM

You must have a cool job.

I know I've seen all of the Rocky movies but I can't remember them. I think this is good so that I can be surprised, etc.

12-24-2006, 11:15 AM	#1
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Rocky Balboa I'll put this in its own thread since it is a new movie and I can also see some dicsussion happening around the entire series. When this project was accounced I, along with every other sane person, rolled my eyes and felt embarrassed for Sylvestore Stallone's sad grasp at the last few straws of fame. Well, I'm shocked, but this is a good example of why whenever I hear about dubious projects my inclination isn't to say "that's a horrible thing to do" but rather "let them try, maybe it'll be interesting." Rocky is an example of what we discussed recently. I love Rocky and that isn't diminished by the awefulness of Rocky IV and Rocky V (and mediocrity of Rocky II and Rocky III). I think many people look at what the series became and come to the conclusion that Rocky must have sucked as well. And for film buffs, since it undeservedly won Best Picture instead of Network (a much superior film) it is derogated as a bad movie instead of just a good movie that wasn't as good as another film. As we were out wandering last night we ended up near a theater and the only convenient thing showing was Rocky Balboa. Despite the relatively good reviews I still wasn't super interested and Lani wasn't interested at but we decided to go anyway. It isn't a great movie, but it is a satisfying one. First of all it does the smart thing and completely ignores the existence of Rocky V. Then it acknolewledges but doesn't dwell on the third and fourth movies. In an ideal world we would have had Rocky and Rocky II and then Stallone would have left it alone for 25 years to finish the trilogy here. It isn't a great movie, and if you don't like any of the Rocky movies then you aren't going to like this one. But otherwise you might want to overlook your very reasonable distrust of such an endeavor and check it out.
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12-24-2006, 11:58 AM	#2
tracilicious avatar transition Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in-between Posts: 2,487	I haven't ever seen any of the Rocky movies. Maybe I'll see one. __________________ And now Harry, let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure! - Albus Dumbledore
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12-24-2006, 12:12 PM	#3
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	This one definitely shouldn't be your first (though, except for some of the character motivations it could stand pretty well on its own).
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12-24-2006, 12:23 PM	#4
Motorboat Cruiser Cruiser of Motorboats Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: So Cal Posts: 3,665	I've actually read nothing but good things about this movie. I loved the first 2, though the 3rd was entertaining but not of the same caliber, and hated the rest. I'm actually pretty interested to see this one and probably will on Tuesday.
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12-24-2006, 03:20 PM	#5
Strangler Lewis Doing The Job Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In a state Posts: 3,956	All five Rockys are currently in the free movies section on Comcast's "On Demand" feature. I really liked Network, but it was a film of speeches and ideas, not characters. Well-delivered speeches to be sure, but speeches nonetheless. Rocky was a rare "classic 70s movie" that didn't have everybody yelling always. __________________ Live now-pay later. Diner's Club!
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12-31-2006, 12:02 PM	#6
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	Wife and I saw this last night....loved it. First, something spoilery: Spoiler: I'm very glad they resisted the temptation to let Rocky win that fight. That would have ruined it completely. I thought the beginning of the movie with the Adrian "tour" was longer than it should have been. Went from touching to sappy and overdone. Other than that, there was nothing else that bothered me. What I liked was the return to the spirit of the original Rocky. As with MBC, I think the first two were just great films all around, 3 was good, 4 sucked, and I couldn't bring myself to see 5.
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01-09-2007, 09:51 AM	#8
MouseWife Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Da' Beach Posts: 2,957	I just took notice of this since Pops got 'Rocky' for Christmas and we watched it this weekend. {we had a portable dvd player and were up in Garden Grove for two nights, always a good time to force the kid, I mean, share a good movie with the kid....} I hadn't seen this movie since I saw it in the theaters when it came out. I barely remembered it. It was great. My son stayed up way past Pops to watch it end. Then we watched the second half again the next morning. We've been searching for the second movie but Blockbuster only has it on line, I've been told. {don't have Comcast}. The movie also had commentary~I hadn't realized that SS wrote the script? That he had gone to meet with someone about acting but he wasn't what they were looking for. A nice guy, but nothing. So he said he was also a writer and brought the script back and wow. I think that all impressed me even more than the movie itself. So, will it be awful for me to see this latest film before any of the others? {specifically the second one} The movie came with a free ticket and that makes it one cheap date. __________________ Summa' time....when the livins' easy.........
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01-09-2007, 12:32 PM	#9
LSPoorEeyorick scribblin' Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in the moment Posts: 3,872	SS also directed Rocky II. Not that I have seen it. I just edited an encyclopedia entry about it for work last month.
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01-09-2007, 04:47 PM	#10
MouseWife Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Da' Beach Posts: 2,957	You must have a cool job. I know I've seen all of the Rocky movies but I can't remember them. I think this is good so that I can be surprised, etc. __________________ Summa' time....when the livins' easy.........
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