Review of Rocky Balboa (2006) by Dom N — 03 Sep 2015

After "Rocky V", I never thought I'd see Rocky Balboa back in a boxing ring again. In fact, I don't think I wanted to see Rocky back in the ring. So if you're anything like me, you probably rolled your eyes at the thought of yet another entry in this worn-out franchise. But don't be quick to jump to conclusions because "Rocky Balboa" is worth examining!

"Rocky Balboa" brings back a focus on the drama; something that made the first two films great, and has been missing ever since. Specifically, this is a film about aging and about how the old ways of doing things are better. The result is a film full of great character development and a meaningful analysis about the joys and sorrows of aging, complete with lots of great callbacks to the original film. There is a subplot involving Rocky Jr. that never gets fully resolved, but other than that, this is a well-crafted story. Once you get past the creepy, almost-romantic relationship Rocky has with a woman half his age, you will see that - although it is not the greatest Rocky film - "Rocky Balboa" is Sylvester Stallone's finest work as a director.

"Rocky Balboa" is a film that, at its roots, is a tribute to the era when Rocky was an American hero. It takes advantage of nostalgia, but it works because "Rocky Balboa" is the best Rocky film since "Rocky II". Rocky's story finally gets the conclusion it deserves, and I truly do believe this franchise will be retired, so that Rocky's legacy can rest peacefully.