Product Description: Rocky Balboa' examines one of America's greatest icons at a vulnerable period in his life--middle age. A former heavyweight boxing champion, known and renown throughout the world for going the distance, Rocky finds a new venture: giving back to his community. This is where he, once more, finds himself at the opposing side of opportunity, not unlike the one he has seen decades ago. Heavyweight champ Mason Dixon and his representation offer Rocky a shot for the title. For Balboa, it'll be one last hurrah he'll never forget.....but with his glory days far behind him can he withstand the inevitabilities of what's to come? A look at going full circle and wanting more, when life turns out how you least expect it and then some.
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The sixth installment of the Rocky series picks up the story of the Italian Stallion 16 years after the morose Rocky V. And sure, at his advanced age, Sylvester Stallone now looks like one of those sides of beef his character used to pound on. No matter. Somehow you buy the premise after all these years, even if it takes forever for Rocky Balboa to stop wallowing in self-pity (Adrian is dead, his old haunts are demolished) and get down to the business of drinking raw eggs and running up staircases. The business at hand is an unlikely exhibition fight with champion Mason Dixon (Antonio Tarver), which the near-sexagenarian Mr. Balboa has no business accepting. Of course, just as sure as the horns of Bill Conti's theme music are even now trumpeting through your head, the ol' Rock might have a punch or two left in him. Stallone wrote and directed, and there isn't much to say except that the movie steps in its pre-determined paces with a canny sense of what has come before (it's practically an homage to all the previous Rocky pictures, complete with fleeting flashbacks). Burt Young is around again, and Geraldine Hughes makes an appealing, rather chaste female companion for Rocky. Stallone's Rocky has gotten suspiciously articulate over the years, but he still knows how to slouch. If Stallone never forgets that, he can probably keep the franchise rolling. --Robert Horton
self-help with Rocky "Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life, but it ain't about how hard you can hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. It's about how much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now if you know what you're worth, go out and get what your worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him or her or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that!" -Rocky.
So this movie... is not too bad, actually. Rocky is an old dog now, still got some good mileage left, but clearly he has taken his hits, and then some. In fact he seems to be pretty much done, his glory days long since past. But of coarse we know he's got some fight left in him and watching him pull himself up by his boots straps like the all American hero is, get back into shape and get into that ring one last time(?) you may actually feel respect for this character and enjoy the film. The greatest moment comes when his son shows up and Rocky delievers a truly inspired speech that serves as the message of the film. Stallone made a decent film and heartfelt send-off for Rocky.
The Final Bell I know alot of people thought that Sylvester Stallone was too old to play Rocky Balboa. I thought that he did a good job in "Rocky Balboa". Stallone did a good job of wraping up the Rocky franchise. I think that Rocky Balboa is just as good (if not better)than some of the other Rocky movies. I reccomend that before watching "Rocky Balboa" you watch the first Rocky movie. The reason why is because there is alot of referances back to the first Rocky movie.
Saving Rocky Sylvester Stallone is feeling nostalgic lately. Between "Rocky Balboa" and the latest Rambo installment, he's trying to resurrect past glories and reconfirm that his skills as a writer/director/actor are worth recalling as solid. "Rocky Balboa" goes a long way towards re-establishing Stallone's credibility for the better.
"Rocky Balboa" is a well done, feel good sixth chapter, redeeming the sometimes absurdity of the later Rocky films. Rocky is an older man, he's lost his Adriane but named his restaurant after her, has a son who hates living in a shadow. (Weird irony - years ago when Weird Al did a Rocky parody song to Eye of The Tiger, he sang about Rocky opening a deli.) But 'Rock' wants one more chance to show what he's made of after a simulated "Then Vs Now" simulation shows a fight between Rocky and current champ Mason Dixon.
Cue Bill Conti and Stallone is sweats. Virtually a tribute to previous Rocky flicks (complete with multiple flashbacks and Burt Young/Paulie), the movie offers feel-good comments and philosophical asides like a zen-boxing Master. Rocky befriends Marie (Geraldine Hughes) and her son as an antidote to his loneliness, but is far too honorable to move beyond just helping her out. Showing the arrogant champ that the must important muscle being a real champ has is his heart. Proving to glib cynical sportscasters that age is just a number. The movie is very predictable, refuses to play into a maudlin ending, and - most importantly - absolves Stallone from the last few years of sleepwalking through his 90's movies.
Interesting note - the filming in Philadelphia had already wrapped when a snowstorm hit that day, and the opportunity for more dramatic settings had arrived. The crew quickly grabbed a camera and filmed an impromptu re-shoot of the street-running scenes, ending with Rocky charging up the steps of the Art Museum in the driven snow.
Win by losing? This movie is about 'heart'; to take it and still fight back. Boxing is a bad metaphor for it as the current legal situation is a financially mediated joke with three recognized champions. Most people have turned to things like kung fu, karate or kick boxing: even women's boxing has more draw than a fixed or fixated heavy weight fight. So why do we still see the hopes of the fighters as something we will watch? Am I spoiling it by saying Rocky loses? But he also delivers his message of heart and courage one more time. I can't give it more than three stars because it is the same old same old...with a new younger woman for love interest.
GOOD FINISH FOR A GENERATION VERY EXCITING AND MORE REALISTIC THAN THE PREVIOUS ROCKY MOVIES. LETS REMEMBER FOR THOSE WH GAVE IT 1 OR 2 STARS, WE ARE NOT IN THE 80'S ANYMORE. MUCH MORE EMOTION ON STALLONES PART. A GOOD FINAL ACHIEVEMENT IN HIS LIFE. I RECCOMEND IT TO ANYONE WHO LIKE ROCKY.
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