Review of Rocky II (1979) by Alan M — 18 Nov 2009

The 'Cinderella' story of the Italian Stallion, Rocky Balboa, continues to land spirited jabs at adversity in the second round of the thrilling franchise.

The golden glow of Oscar shone favourably on 'Rocky' and now 'Rocky II' picks up the baton from its multi award winning predecessor by revisiting the climax, rousing the watching crowd into an eager anticipation of a sensational rematch.

Sylvester Stallone takes over directorial duties from John G. Avildsen, assuming complete control of his creation and spinning a fabulous yarn that both preserves and celebrates the fairytale themes of the first movie. Stallone handles proceedings with a dedication and passion befitting his Philadelphia slugger, showcasing his flourishing creative talents with a barrage of emotional twists and stimulating blows, intensified by the inspired use of slow motion during the boxing sequences.

As writer, Stallone does not simply repeat the formula that brought him success first time around; he evolves his characters by continuing the journey from zero to hero, through continuously altering circumstances.

Stallone begins his first act by answering the question lingering on everyone's lips after the phenomenal success of the first movie, what happens next? - Building upon the emotional platform established in 'Rocky'.

The second act is slightly laboured, occasionally veering towards convoluted melodrama. However, it is rescued from the brink by an exhilarating third act that culminates in a tense and spectacular finale, as Rocky and Apollo Creed go head to head once more in an explosive showdown.

Bill Conti reprises his inimitable music score from the first movie and reinforces it with powerful new arrangements, creating a score of incredible dramatic weight that accentuates the mood throughout the peaks and troughs of Rocky's turbulent life. However, the triumphant essence of Rocky is encapsulated by Conti's dazzling training montages, which stir you into a vigorous frenzy of excitement that is a blazing symbol of the magic of movies.