The first time I watched Rocky, I expected it to be another dumb guy movie. It isn't at all. Rocky is a nice guy, who is overlooked. Up until the point that his grizzled trainer Mickey tells him the only reason he hasn't trained him, he doesn't get trained. He even loses his locker at the gym, because it's given to someone more important. Adrian is a really shy, nerdy, if not homely girl, who works at a pet shop, and he falls for her, while he gets food for his turtles. Somehow he sees potential in this girl.
He's obviously not intelligent. He realizes this, but seems to have a good sense of humor about it. When asked where he came up with the name the Italian Stallion, he responds "About 7 years ago, I was eating dinner and I just thought of it" You can't help but feel sorry for him, as he tries to roll with the punches I no pun intended), as he is consistently told he is dumb and worthless. He works as a "tough guy" collector for a loan shark, and he isn't even mean enough to break the guy's thumb like he was supposed to. When Mickey the trainer, finally takes the time to train him properly, he berates him the entire time. The grizzled Mickey is almost never nice to him through the entire fight. One of the famous lines of the movie is "That's what I just said! Ya dumb Dago".
This movie isn't about fighting. It's about heart. Rocky isn't amazing, because he's a wonderful fighter. He's the underdog, and he doesn't even win in his first fight. His promotional poster is painted incorrectly, and his robe is far too large for him. He isn't expected to last more than 3 rounds with the famous showboat Apollo Creed, played by Carl Weathers. He lasts through the 13 rounds, and while he's knocked down he does get up. Apollo only wins based on the judges points. His face is absolutely demolished. His eye is so swollen they have to cut it open during the match so that he can see. Yet when the match is over, he doesn't care about his own well-being, he doesn't talk to reporters. This is the moment where he calls for "Adrian!!!
This movie was shot in 28 days on a fairly low budget, and was actually written by Sylvester Stallone (a fact, which I only learned this weekend. This gives me so much more respect for him. Although tons of men love the Rocky movies, I still feel like it is underrated as an overall great film.
The other movies are never as optimistic. Rocky II begins with him going to the hospital for his injuries. Rocky does propose to Adrian at the zoo in front of the tigers, which is obviously symbolic. He attempts to do commercials to make money. He is dressed in ridiculous costumes. He has so much trouble reading the lines, they have to stop shooting after four hours. This is when he says the line, "I aint punchy, I just got whatcha call a relaxed brain". Rocky III is my least favorite movie. Mickey dies. He lets Rocky fight his first fight against Clubber Lang (Mr. T), while minimizing his chest pains. After the fight Mickey asks how the fight went, and Rocky lies telling Mickey that he won. Mickey dies immediately after. (I'm seriously getting emotional typing this. Damn). I'm not going into that one anymore, because I'm not a fan. Apollo, his previous opponent, ends up training him and he wins. There.
Rocky IV is a fun film although even with a tragedy beginning, it really can't be taken seriously. Apollo fights the new fighter in town Drago (Dolph Lundgren. He is a "machine" trained by scientific equipment to test his skills. His manager is played by Brigitte Nielson, and the two look oddly alike. Apollo was not ready to fight Drago, and he is killed during the fight. While waiting to see the outcome of the fight, Drago responds to his concerns by saying "If he dies, he dies". Although Rocky has "retired", which he does at the end of almost all of his movies, he feels the need to avenge Apollo by fighting Drago. The entire movie is based on the U.S. vs the Soviet Union to an embarrassing and somewhat offensive extent. There is literally a song in the movie played while Rocky is training, which says something like "is it man vs. man? is it east vs. west?" My favorite part of the movie is at the very beginning. It is Pauly's birthday (Adrian's brother who originally helps Rocky in the early movies, but eventually becomes a burden through most of the others'). Crazy 80's synth music plays, and Uncle Pauly's gift is a 5 ft or so Robot, which rolls in saying "happy birthday, Pauly". It's hilarious. Later that night, Rocky gives Adrian a gift. He gives this to her by saying "Open your prize". It's adorable. Rocky beats Drago, yeah yeah yeah.
Rocky V is pretty lame, but I can't get through the beginning. After trying twice, I finally got through it this time. I always cry (and I mean hard) through this flashback scene with Mickey. Rocky, who at this point has a ton of brain damage, which is acknowledged through out the film. It shows Mickey being nice to Rocky for one of the very few times. watch the 3 min clip
Yes I cried again through this part while making this blog entry. Before this scene Rocky has lost all his money, because Pauly signed all his money over to his accountant who fucked him over. He ends up back in his old neighborhood. He takes a young boxer under his wing, named Tommy "the machine" Gunn (no shit. real name Tommy Gunn). Just when he become good, he's taken away by a character based on Don King. The fight scene in the movie ends up in the back of a bar, where Rocky can win against Tommy, but his manager will not benefit from it.
All and all the movies do get cheesier. Rocky Balboa has been described as really depressing. I think this is said, by the people who only remember the scenes where he's running up the stairs of the Philadelphia Art Museum. The picture him in stills with his hands in the air. There is nothing happy about the original Rocky, not in the traditional sense anyway. These movies are about love, tragedy, heart. If you haven't seen the series, I would suggest watching at least the first one. Many of you have probably seen these already. If so what's your take on the Rocky films?
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