Rocky Balboa

Its only screening here this week... I've been a Rocky fan since the beginning, but really didn't like much of the sequels. Liked 1 4 and (I'm gonna suffer for this :) )five. One was a great movie. Four was a cheesy revenge movie that was exciting to see. Five was an interesting down to earth movie. Six sounds good. A bit disappointed no Appolo Creed shots on it.

As for Rambo, I think it makes commercial sence fr a come back, with america at war and all. However, knowing Stallone is not an unintelligent individual, I would like to see how he pulls of a "One man army" story in the current real world political environment. Things are happening right now, while in the former Rambo's, the wars portrayed were over.
 
i saw this film on opening night and then got the new rocky 1 special edition dvd for christmas a few days later and i'll have to say that rocky balboa is very similar to rocky 1 on alot of levels, but i love how both films are more character driven than action driven. of course there were times where things were a little cliche (but who wasn't expecting that?) but i felt the movie was a very accurate as to what kind of life rocky would be leading now days and i also like that they kept alot of the original stuff, but added some new technology to the film
 
Just saw the film yesterday (Late late release over here). All I have to say is... This was a trip down memory lane.

(MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS)

Rocky Balboa is made in a fashion that seems to be forgotten in today's age. No fancy camera angles or editing with over the top shots with very heavy color correction (i'm not talking about the fight...yet :). Just pure old fashioned storyteling, hollywood style.

I grew up watching Rocky movies, and it has always been a likeable character, to me. The way the story developed was, indeed, fit to the imaginery I had of Rocky. Of course, there are some inconsistencies, but it was very well suited to the build up and overall feel of Rocky's journey.

Its a movie that tries to talk to everyone, with a simple language. Its a coming of age story, but told in a heartfelt, down to hearth, unpretentious way. I always tought it was more difficult to do a simple and meaningful movie than to do an intelectual piece about the same subject that only speaks to fewer people. Rocky is a story that inspired millions and talked to millions of people about a mans journey (please do not consider 3 ands 4, which were cash in movies with one or two relevant character development points, like Appolo's death and Mick's death). Of course the movies tries hard to pass its point,with excessive analogies to Rocky's own struggles (the dog, paulie, Marie), but as corny as some of them are, they somehow work, for me.

It also has some very inspiring one liners. One can interpret some of Rocky's speeches- specially to his son- as fortune cookie style lines, but I tought it was inspiring, and it felt genuinely heartfelt.

Overall, I really enjoyed the movie, and its that kind of movie that gives you that feel good "lets do it" emotion, and that grin on your face to go after something.

Just a point I wanted to say that got me just a bit disappointed: I tought the fight was badly done, the punches didn't seem to connect and it all just wen't trough very fast. Also, didn't like the "Raging Bull" moments. Rocky movies had its own style of shooting boxing, and it didn't need to copy a movie that appeared after the first Rocky. The camera flashes sound was just unnecessary.

Thumbs up!
 
I really enjoyed this film. As a writer I think my only problem was the antag development. I would have villified Dixon more. I did enjoy the way we actually felt for him a little and saw that he was human, however that's not why I watch Rocky films. We loathed Mr.T, the Russian and Appolo Creed. Ask yourself if you loathed Dixon? I didn't and I wish I did.

Like I said though, I get it, this was a more cerebral take on characters, but that's not what I wanted to see. I like to hate his opponents. It normally makes me jump out of my seat when Rocky (predictablly) kicks his arse. I yawned when he beat Dixon.
 
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