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Rocky: Special Edition by Dominick Rubble 10.05.01 |
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Long before our eyebrow-raising,
smackdown-laying, trash-talking People's Champion graced the WWF ring, the "Rocky, Rocky, Rocky" chants were for the most part attributed to one man. Okay, maybe two. One being Rocky Marciano, "The Brockton Blockbuster", who knocked out Joe Louis and beat Jersey Joe Walcott to become heavyweight champion of the world (I'm not sure exactly whether fans chanted his name, not having really seen any of his matches, but I'm sure enough that he was a fan favorite). The other being Rocky Balboa, the grungy looking, soft-spoken "Italian Stallion", who would, in a future of less-par sequels, would beat Apollo Creed for the world title, knock the hell out of Mr. T, prove to He-Man Dolph Lundgren that HE had the power, and show Tommy Morrison that you're never too old or retired to give a good ass-whoopin'. But let's ignore the sequels and bask in the greatness that is the first Rocky. If you have read Mick Foley's book "Foley is Good", you will see that he has created different "top ten" lists, which include his favorite wrestling matches, favorite carnival rides, and favorite movies. His top movie is "Rocky", which comes as unsurprising since it's a movie that embraces the glory of the underdog, the story of Mick Foley's life. Carl Weathers, forever Apollo Creed, made a statement during a program honoring the AFI's picks for Most Heart-Pounding Movies (Rocky ranked 52), saying how "Rocky" did not only entertain those who watched it, but changed their lives entire. Well, I didn't derive anything aside from extreme pleasure and emotion watching the film, but I do see where Weathers is coming from. "Rocky" is THE inspirational movie. Rocky Balboa, played with flinching honesty by Sylvester Stallone, is a man living on the cruddy side of town. He lives alone save for his pet fish, and he makes end's meet by being a thug for a bookie and through local boxing matches that don't amount to much of anything. He has a crush on Adrian, the shy girl working at the pet store. Her brother Paulie is a friend of Rocky's, who is suffering from his own personal problems. Rocky works out at a gym, but is upset to find out that the locker he has claimed to be his is no longer after his trainer of sorts, Mickey (Burgess Meredith), gives it to another man. Mickey sees Rocky as wasted potential, and refuses to waste another second grooming him. Rocky is a good man and kind-hearted man, though. When assigned by Mr. Gazzo, the bookie, to break a man's thumb due to late payment, Rocky relents after seeing the fear and desperation in the man's eyes. He pulls aside a girl for a pep-talk when he catches her smoking a cigarette and talking trash. His lecture drags through his tough-guy accent, but his message is clear. He hasn't made much of himself in the world, but he knows how shit goes down. Rocky tries and acts jovial with the shy Adrian (Talia Shire), and it's through his honesty that he breaks through to her. He remains patient with her brother Paulie (Burt Young) even though Paulie has his spastic moments and mood swings. Sylvester Stallone has written a script in which he truly cares about the characters. Seriously. Even the bookie, who you would figure to be one-dimensionally mean and crude, shows some compassion and care towards Rocky as a friend. The characters are plagued with insecurity. Watch how hurt Rocky is after the girl he gives advice to, repays him by saying, "Screw you, Rocky. You creep-o." Once she's gone, Rocky sadly says to himself: "Yeah, who're you to give advice ,creep-o?" In the background, we hear a gentle, piano solo version of the Rocky theme and it is perfect manipulation, adding that lovely extra effect. Paulie and Adrian also drip with insecurity. They live together, and he blames her for his shortcomings, for his inability to start a marriage and family, and for the all-out inertia that has become his life. Adrian is the shy woman who ducks behind her thick glasses, rarely making eye contact, and replying in monosyllables just to let you know she's alive even though it doesn't really seem that way. She takes Paulie's verbal abuse, and is, at first, adamant in her refusal to go out on a date with Rocky. But he wins her over, to say the least. The character most sure of himself is Apollo Creed, champion of the world, who decides, for a benefit show, that he will fight a local underdog. He figures it will be good publicity. After rejecting several options, his eyes fall upon the nickname "Italian Stallion", thinks it sounds marketable enough, and Rocky is given the offer of a lifetime. And of course, Rocky accepts. I won't get into great detail, but expect Rocky to go through strenuous training under the wing of Mickey, and eventually get his shot at Apollo Creed. "Rocky" is not a "boxing" movie. It's what our hero is good at, but the movie is not a focus on the beauty of the sport, or its history. Rocky is the movie of a man who, through luck, gets a chance at the big times. Does he feel better about himself? "There's not gonna be a rematch." "I don't need one," says Rocky. Okay? "Rocky" was honored Best Picture 1976 by the Academy Awards, and John G. Avildsen collected a Best Director Oscar that year as well. The performances are top-notch, especially those of Shire, Young, and Meredith. Burgess Meredith's supporting role will not be forgotten in the annals of film history. A perfect film? If not, it's the best of its kind, and that's the damn truth. ((1976 was a great year for movies, by the way. Taxi Driver, Network, Rocky, Marathon Man, All the President's Men, Silent Movie, as well as others. As a Sopranos character might say, "MADONN'!!!!")) MOVIE RATING: ***** out of ***** DVD FEATURES: Making-Of Documentary Commentary by director and cast members Video Commentary by Stallone Deleted Footage Tributes to Burgess Meredith and James Crabe Advertising Materials Theatrical Trailers of all the Rocky sequels. The special features are excellent, and this is nothing short of a must-have DVD. I didn't seem to have a problem with the audio or picture quality either so that's a plus. I guess I'll give a brief rating on the Rocky sequels. "Rocky II" is quite good actually, though of course not as moving as the original. Its main purpose is to illustrate that fairy tale ending many were hoping for in the original. Rocky and Adrian have a kid and Adrian goes into a coma. Rocky cries for her, and she wakes up. A mildly touching scene, I guess, if not formulatic. Yay for them. "Rocky III" shows us Rocky in the face of fame, the face on pinball machines, the guy on the billboards. Mickey dies from heart failure, and the villain of the day is Clubber Lang, played by Mr. T. I pity the mothafucka who has to fight him. Rocky, with the help of Apollo Creed, trains vigorously and does he win? What the hell do you think? Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" song grew on me sickeningly enough. "Rocky IV" has its stream of fans. A lot of people honestly like it. The villain Ivan Drago, Russian boxer with a killer punch. Literally. Apollo Creed makes the most humiliating return match in history as Drago pummels him to death in the ring. And of course, Rocky sets to avenge his friend's death, the threat of blindness or brain damage hanging above him. Implausible movie, no doubt. "Rocky V". Why even bother? Rocky's protege I guess, Tommy Morrison, is a boxer definitely headed for bigger things but remains in Rocky Balboa's shadow. So he challenges Rocky, and their climactic fight is not in the ring but rather on the streets. Oh, and Rocky's son goes through his own teenage problems. Ahh, youth. Bad movie. Don't slim your wallet down by renting this piece of garbage. Thanks for listening. I'm out. |