Review of Rocky (1976) by Scott K — 08 Feb 2014

PART OF MY CLASSIC VIEWINGS OF 2014 LIST.

"Yo Adrian! It's me Rocky!".

Call me crazy, but prior to typing this review, I have never seen this icon of a movie called Rocky. It's ironic cause it's one of my dad's all-time favorite movies. Was it my not-so fond interest in classic films at the time or I was too busy watching stuff that I despise nowadays like Thomas and the Magic Railroad, I don't know, but after my sudden interest in older films, Rocky has been a film I've been wanting to watch for quite some time. Ever since its release in 1976, time has been really kind to this movie; it made Sylvester Stallone a breakout star, earned the Oscar for Best Picture, notoriously beating Taxi Driver (and forever making Scorsese fans really angry), spawned 5 sequels, and has become a cultural icon. Films that feature this kind of acclaim in the business either tend to actually be worth the acclaim or be overhyped, such as that overrated Citizen Kane. As for Rocky, it is definitely worth it's acclaim, it definitely deserves it's title for Best Picture, even if I hadn't seen Taxi Driver, and makes me proud that I finally went into older films that have defined what Hollywood is today.

Meet Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), an amateur boxer in Philadelphia who has a reputation for his extreme toughness. At the same time, he develops a crush on Adrian (Talia Shire), a shy girl who works in the local pet store. Rocky gets his shot at fighting in the big leagues when he's offered to compete in the ring against boxing champ Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), who strongly believes in the American Dream and wants underdog fighters a chance to make it like he has. To prove that he can fight in the ring with someone like Apollo, Rocky has to train at his hardest, such as gaining more support like getting a manager (Burgess Meredith) and impressing the girl he loves.

Rocky also stars Burt Young as Adrian's meat-packing brother Paulie who gives Rocky the raw meat to train with.

The film Rocky was born after Sylvester Stallone watched a boxing match featuring Muhammad Ali and an underdog boxer named Chuck Wepner. Inspired by Wepner's strength in the ring, Stallone decided to write a movie about it featuring fictional characters that would soon become one of the most famous sports movies ever made. The film was directed by John G. Avildsen, who would later go on to direct another one of my favorite sports movies, The Karate Kid (which has been described as "the teenage Rocky" movie), and like The Karate Kid, Avildsen does a fantastic job at creating the real impact of what it's like in the arena.

Rocky was entirely filmed on location in Philadelphia, which was a very smart decision on the filmmakers part. The New Hollywood era, which specialized in making the films feel real, gritty, and authentic, was at its peak when Rocky was being made, so it was obvious that Rocky would get the same treatment. And what a great treatment it got indeed. From the opening shots of Rocky walking down the Phily streets, that rough and gritty atmosphere makes Rocky seem like it's a real movie. And real is the term to describe how excellent of a movie Rocky is. The characters seemed like real people, the finale boxing match is extremely realistic, and the whole story is just that feel-good American Dream story that makes me proud to live in a country that features those "golden opportunities" that has made America strong for the past 250 years. I loved every minute of this movie.

When Sylvester Stallone wrote the story for Rocky, the studio did not want an unknown for the role. Actors in consideration for the part include actors like Robert Redford, Burt Reynolds, and James Caan. Stallone eventually convinced United Artists that he should play the role of Rocky, and what an excellent decision Stallone made. Roger Ebert once called Stallone "the young Marlon Brando" when reviewing this movie, and in a way, Rocky is like Brando's character in On the Waterfront, though while Terry Malloy regrets his decisions that me makes with that famous "I coulda had class" speech, Rocky puts on that realistic dream that everyone should have in life. No matter if he wins or loses, he knows that he will make it out strong in the end cause of his love for Adrian. And what a wonderful performance Sylvester Stallone makes in this film. He may have become a wild and obnoxious action star in modern times, but Stallone will always be remembered for the role of Rocky Balboa. As for the rest of the acting, like Stallone, they all have that realism that makes Rocky such an excellent movie. The best of which is Talia Shire as Adrian and Burgess Meredith as Mickey the manager.

Who could not talk about a film like Rocky and not talk about its score? Bill Conti, who would be extremely well-known with this film, does an excellent job in the music he scores here. The beginning is nice and quiet, but as the film progresses, his music features sounds of triumph and cheer that fits in with the American Dream concept. Plus that theme song, "Gonna Fly Now", is one of the most awesome, feel-good songs ever written, used in the now-famous moment where Rocky succeeds in climbing up a lengthy set of stairs. What a wonderful little movie!

It took me years to finally watch Rocky, but it was definitely worth the wait. The underdog story has not been the same after Rocky, as it has been abused to death in sports movies today, some not being as effective (like that horrendous Real Steel, which basically is a robot rip-off of Rocky), but Rocky manages to tell that familiar underdog story and create a sports masterpiece with realism and grit that perfects the era of the 1970's.