Right, I've done the Back to the Future trilogy, so this next set of posts is a bit more ambitious as it will cover the Rocky film series, which is six films! So this will keep me going for a bit and take some time over the forthcoming days (before Christmas no less) but should be fun (hopefully!). So let's start with the beginning with the original Rocky film, which was a sleeper hit released back in 1976 and kick started Sylvester Stallone's career as he starred in the lead role of Rocky and also wrote the screenplay for which he received an oscar nomination.
OK so a bit about the plot, the film is set in Phialdelphia in 1975, where Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) a small time boxer, who also acts as a collector for a local loan shark Anthony Gazzo (Joe Spinnell). Rocky lives in a local neighbourhood, where he hangs about with his good friend, Paulie (Burt Young) a meat packing planet worker, and he also vies for the attention of Paulie's shy sister, Adrian (Talia Shire). And soon a big opportunity opens up for Rocky as the heavyweight box champion of the world, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) offers an underdog a shot at the title, and as Creed is taken by Rocky's nickname "The Italian Stallion" he offers the chance to Rocky. After Rocky receives some publicity for the fight, he is approached by his local gym manager, Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith) who offers to train him, although Rocky is reluctant at first, he accepts Mickey's offer as he was also a former boxer. Rocky later get's the attention of the press as Paulie invites a news reporter to watch Rocky punching hung up slabs of meat, which also catches Apollo's eye. Rocky in the meantime develops a romantic relationship with Adrian, as he manages to draw her out of her shell, they become a couple. And as the fight night nears, Rocky trains as hard as he can, but he admits to having his own fears about fighting Apollo and can he beat him. And come with the night of the fight, when Rocky get's into the ring, he ends up giving Apollo more than he bargained for as the film culminates in its emotional climax.
To this day, Rocky still remains a hugely iconic film, which introduced cinema to one of its most endearing characters and underdogs. Stallone himself got the inspiration for the story after watching a fight that took place between Muhammad Ali and a realtively unkown boxer, Chuck Wepner, who surprisingly took Ali the distance (15 rounds) before losing. The first Rocky however for me actually still remains one of my least favourites out of the six films, despite the usual rule that the first film in a trilogy or series is always the best, every now and then this isn't the case (well not for me anyway). But regardless of that, there is still alot to admire and like in Rocky, and one of the things that makes the film work well is the down to earth and realistic qualities the first film has, as it shows Rocky really coming from a very modest working class background, as a small time boxer who is given a big opportunity. Rocky's character is also a bit like an unpolished gem in the film as well, as he is pretty rough round the edges, but his heart is definitely in the right place, especially as he encourages Adrian to come out of her shell as the two of them fall for one another. The other characters are also really well drawn out too, with the bitter and jealous Paulie, a down and out meat plant worker, who is Rocky's good friend, but he ends up feeling resentful as he sees the opportunities Rocky has. Adrian is also an endearing character as Rocky's girlfriend and future wife, and as the films progress, so does Adrian from a very shy, timid woman into a strong and confident person. And Apollo is a great character who's charisma and arrogance is self evident in the film and he ends up being more than surprised by Rocky's resilience in the ring. And Mickey, the hard headed yet compassionate owner of the gym Rock trains at, who eventually manages Rocky and trains him for the fight.
So getting onto the performances which are excellent, starting with Sylvester Stallone who is perfect in the role as Rocky, the uneducated, somewhat rough, yet big hearted boxer who get's the offer of a lifetime. Stallone insisted that he got the opportunity to play the lead role and it would be impossible to imagine anyone else play the part so well. Stallone also get's some great dialogue in the film from his screenplay, such as in the scene where he watches footage of Apollo on the TV, while in a bar, the owner calls Apollo a "jig clown" and Rocky throws down a dollar note and says "Stick that in your business!". Stallone also has a nice scene where Rocky has his first date with Adrian and they later go back to his flat, where he wants Adrian to stay with him, but Adrian is reluctant as Paulie will wonder where she is, and Rocky says its no problem as he shouts out the window "Hey, Paulie! Adrian is staying over here tonight, see you later!!". Also during the fight scene with Apollo, after a round he sits down and he says "He broke my nose, how does it look?" and Mickey says "well its an improvement!". Stallone has another really good scene where he stops a young neighbourhood girl, Marie, from being harrassed and he walks her home and lectures on how not to be and as they arrive at her home she turns and says "Hey Rocky. Screw you, creepo!". And there is the big fight scene with Rocky and Apollo which is done really well and is staged quite realistically unlike some of the fights in the later Rocky films, which leads into the film's emotional climax with Rocky shouting "Adrian!!" as they run up to one another and declare their love. Stallone's scene in the meat factory is also memorable as he punches the meat repeatedly, which Stallone later admitted to saying that it flatted out his knuckles!
Talia Shire is also really good in her role as Adrian, Rocky's rock (if you will!) a very shy pet store worker, who falls in love with Rocky. Shire's two best scenes are her date with Rocky at the ice rink, as they start their first date on a deserted ice rink, and later Rocky gently seduces her in his apartment. And of course the last scene of the film where Adrian turns up at the arena after the fight has finished and she calls out for Rocky and runs to him and tells him she loves him. Burt Young is also great in his role as Rocky's best friend, who is a cynical bum, who is desparate to work for the loan shark Gazzo and is jealous of his relationship with Adrian. Young's best scenes come in the meat factory where he first get's angry with Rocky as he punches a slab of meat hanging up, and Rocky moves toward him and starts punching the meat.
Carl Weathers is also great as Apollo Creed, the world champion heavyweight boxer, who offers Rocky a shot at the title. Weathers also sparred with Stallone in different practice sparring sessions, which were shot by the director John G. Avildsen on 8mm film (or 16??). And during filimg the actual fight sequence, Stallone and Weather also suffered injuries, as Stallone had bruised ribs and Weathers a damaged nose. And their fight scene is a memorable one, which brings up one of Weather's most memorable lines at the end of the fight, as Creed exhausted from the fight says "There ain't gonna no re-match!" and Rocky replies "Don't want one!". And finally Burgess Meredith is terrific in his role as Mickey, Rocky's turned manager, whom he shares some good scenes with. With their best scene probably when Rocky finds that his gym locker has been cleared out and Rocky angrily asks "You know you've been sticking it to me for years and I wanna know why?" and Mickey says "You don't wanna know" and Rocky shouts "I WANNA KNOW!". And Mickey replies "You had the talent to be a good fighter, but instead you became a leg breaker for some cheap second-rate loan shark!" to which Rocky relies "Its a livin!" and Mickey spits back "Its a waste of life!!".
Getting onto the direction, John G. Avildsen does a fine job with Rocky and he brings the characters vividly to life on screen. Avildsen also stages the fight scene really well as well as capture the famous montage sequence of Rocky training really well. In fact Rocky's training scenes where we see Rocky running and jogging through the streets were shot by Garrett Brown, who used his steadicam invention to film this sequence along with some of the shots from the fight scene. The film also features a memorable score by Bill Conti, and the theme tune remains unforgettable to this day, although admittedly the lyrics in the song are a bit cheesy such as "feeling strong now/won't be long now!".
Which brings me onto the flaws of Rocky. Does it have any? Well I have to say for me there are one or two, as the film is a bit guilty of meandering in places, and the pace does feel a bit sluggish and it takes a fair bit of time before it starts to go anywhere. And there are times where the film is also just a bit too low key in its tone that it threatens to even be a bit boring in places, as the sequels had a stronger sense of urgency like Rocky had same place to go, but here there is alot of slow going back and forth, with Rocky saying "Should I do this or that??". It also has to be said I have a problem with Rocky's character in the film, as while he has his rougish charm can also come across as a bit more cynical than he does in the following films, and in that regards he isn't quite as likeable or endearing as he is made out to be in the sequels. But perhaps that is where Sly tries to make Rocky like the unpolished gem, who comes from humble beginnings and is also a collector for a loan shark who spends his time chasing payments and breaking thumbs if they don't pay up, so he has got to have some cynicism and its up to Stallone to ensure the character shakes it off. But for me it has to be said that Rocky as a character isn't quite as likeable in the film as maybe he should be and perhaps that's one of the reasons why the first Rocky isn't among my favourites.
All that aside however, Rocky still remains an entertaining and at times charming film, which kick started the series and introduced one of cinemas most memorable characters. And on that alone Rocky is still worth watching to this day.
Next up round two.... (or Rocky II even).
Bye for now!
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