Review of Rocky Balboa (2006) by Melinda R — 08 Apr 2012

I thought there's no way to make another Rocky movie. But somehow this story works, revive the good old memories of the franchise. The fights are less impressive. The opponent less memorable. This is about a man who has gone up and down, trying to get a life back.

Antonio Tarver the new hotshot heavyweight champion isn't well like by the people. He won the fight by KO but is booed. Sylvester Stallone now live alone after his wife die of cancer few years ago.

He miss her alot and will visit her grave often. He go find his son Milo Ventimiglia at his office but he felt uneasy. He told Sly he will meet him at night at his restaurant. In his own restaurant, Sly will often tell people his stories and take pictures.

Milo called and say he cannot make it. Burt Young doesn't like to be reminded of his dead sister. Sly alone go o a bar and the bar lady Geraldine Hughes knows him. She met him when she is very young.

A few drunks disturbs them and Sly go over to make them apologise. Antonio finds his ex coach for advice. Geraldine and her son James Francis Kelly III visited his restaurant. The sports channel shows a virtual fight between Sly and Antonio with the former winning.

Sly tries to befriend James and they adopt a dog together. When Sly saw the virtual match, he have some idea and ask Milo opinion. He told him to get real. Sly tries to obtain the boxing license but the panel refuse him.

He blabber on why his own right isn't granted and got the license. Antonio's manager want him to fight Sly for money and fame, to save his reputation. Sly ask Geraldine to work in his restaurant.

Burt got sacked from his job and gets cranky. Still he wishes Sly good luck. The manager find Sly and ask for the match. He had doubt and Geraldine advise to him is to fight, do something that he feels need to do.

Sly accept the exhibition match. Milo isn't happy of it. He says as his son, he feels so pressure. Everything he can do is because of the name, not on his own merit. Sly tell him back to stop blaming others and be who he is before.

Next day he quit his job and patch things up with Sly at the grave. The old trainer Tony Burton, of Carl Weathers - Apollo Creed is back to train Sly. One host ask why is it call exhibition. The other reply so it won't be call execution.

Antonio warn Sly to take it easy and he will give him face but if he fights back, he will pound him flat. The match begin to outstanding crowd. Sly is able to knock Antonio down in the 2nd round. Sly go the distance till the last 10th round.

Both didn't go down. Antonio win by points 2-1. Sly is just relieve to release the beast in the cage and didn't care if he win. He go the distance, prove he can still do it, that's his wish.

He place flowers at the wife grave and thanks her.