Review of Rocky (1976) by John F — 11 Jun 2013

This is a simple, straightforward story, told with unapologetic affection. I was inspired by this movie when I first saw it as a young boy, and it still moves me when I see today. Rocky is not a glossy fairytale of a movie; in fact it is often quite harsh. But this story is about hope and the simple idea that love can save even the most hapless of people.

This movie may not be for everybody. I can see how some viewing it today for the first time might find their opinion affected by knowing how silly the sequels were. Or perhaps your views of Sylvester Stallone (Rambo, conservative politics, etc) skew your opinion of Rocky. That's a shame, because you are missing out on a movie that is sweet without being saccharine, tough without being brutal, and uplifting without pandering. There is no storybook ending here; just a happy one. If you don't like rooting for the underdog, or if you don't like walking away from a movie with a smile on your face, than Rocky might not be for you. Me? I like it just fine.