Rocky III Review

Synopsis
After winning the title of heavyweight champion, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) falls into a rut.  When Clubber Lang (Mr. T), a formidable opponent challenges Rocky, he turns to a former adversary for help: Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers).

Review
After being a little disappointed with Rocky and Rocky II, Rocky III is more along the lines of what I was expecting from the series. My biggest expectation for the series was to see more boxing matches and a better relationship between Rocky and his trainer, which this film thankfully fulfills those expectation. Along with a different, tougher opponent, Rocky III ups the game.

There is much more time spent with Rocky inside the ring this time around.  However, this film still manages to focus on his relationship with his wife Adrian and best friend Paulie.  One thing I have liked about each film as the series has progressed is they have felt like natural story progressions of the characters.  In Rocky, Rocky was an unknown fighter, in Rocky II, he had to prove he wasn’t a one-and-done fighter. Now, he has been defending his title for three years and has fallen into a rut of sorts when a real challenger comes along.  It’s a story advancement that would be expected.  But best of all, there is a nice balance between the boxing matches and the rest of the scenes.

I don’t know why, but I really liked that Rocky trained under Apollo Creed.  It acts as a way to show another side of these boxers.  The team-up accomplishes two things. One, it makes Rocky a better fighter.  It becomes clear that Rocky needs to work on his technique and skill, and who better to help than another fighter who held the title of heavyweight champion. And two, it builds Apollo’s character.  After his defeat at the end of the first film, he had some words towards Rocky in the second film.  By becoming Rocky’s trainer, Apollo proved that he wasn’t a bitter person or sore loser.

You know Clubber Lang is a formidable opponent when two former heavyweight champions are afraid of him.  After having the same opponent for Rocky in two movies in a row, it was nice to see him working towards beating a different fighter.  Mr. T did a good job in the role, especially since it was his first role.  He didn’t get much deep development but I don’t think he necessarily needed it. Lang was simply an opponent to build Rocky’s character and his relationship with Apollo.  I did like how the sound effects were different for each fighter, making it obvious Lang was much stronger than Rocky.  It was a nice and subtle effect.

Rocky III finally gives more focus to Rocky inside the ring than the previous films and his relationship between him and his trainer, now his old adversary.  A new tougher boxer is just what the series, and Rocky, needed.

Rating
3.5/5

You can also read my reviews for the rest of the Rocky series: Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky IV, Rocky V and Rocky Balboa.

Trailer

Cast & Crew
Sylvester Stallone – Writer / Director
Bill Conti – Composer

Sylvester Stallone – Rocky Balboa
Talia Shire – Adrian
Burt Young – Paulie
Carl Weathers – Apollo Creed
Burgess Meredith – Mickey Goldmill
Tony Burton – Duke (Apollo’s trainer)
Mr. T – Clubber Lang
Hulk Hogan – Thunderlips
Ian Fried – Rocky Jr.
Al Silvani – Al
Wally Taylor – Clubber’s Manager

Lightning Review: Rocky II

Synopsis
After Apollo Creed’s (Carl Weathers) defeat at the hands of Rocky (Sylvester Stallone), Creed demands a rematch to prove that Rocky’s victory was a fluke.

Review
I wasn’t a huge fan of Rocky, I thought it was good but not great, unlike most people. As a result, I wasn’t excessively optimistic about Rocky II. Which I suppose was the right attitude to have because Rocky II is very similar in structure to the previous film. Nonetheless, it is a good, organic continuation of Rocky’s story. He feels more vulnerable this time around, which helps to really dig into his character. Adrian (Talia Shire) gets more development this time too. There also is much more Mickey (Burgess Meredith)! I wanted to see more of these two characters from the previous film and felt they were underutilized, so I really enjoyed their expanded presence. I was a little surprised by Mickey. He is sassy and made me laugh out loud several times throughout the movie. Meredith was absolutely wonderful.

When I watch a boxing movie, I look forward to the boxing matches. Like Rocky, Rocky II spends more time developing Rocky outside the ring than inside. However, the final match between him and Apollo was much longer and didn’t feel rushed like the last movie. There was also much more of Rocky’s training with Mickey, which I found lacking in Rocky. Almost as much as I like watching the matches, I like to see the relationship between boxer and trainer flourish, so again, this was a nice step up. In the end though, I did enjoy Rocky more. Although Rocky II made some improvements, it fell into the trap of many sequels and feels too similar to what came before without offering much new.

Rating
3/5

You can also read my reviews for the rest of the Rocky series: Rocky, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V and Rocky Balboa.

Trailer

Cast & Crew
Sylvester Stallone – Writer / Director
Bill Conti – Composer

Sylvester Stallone – Rocky Balboa
Talia Shire – Adrian
Burt Young – Paulie
Carl Weathers – Apollo Creed
Burgess Meredith – Mickey
Tony Burton – Apollo’s trainer
Joe Spinell – Gazzo

---

Drew’s Movie Reviews is now on Google+.

Rocky Review

Synopsis
Rocky (Sylvester Stallone), a small time boxer from Philidelphia, is given the chance of the lifetime when he is chosen to fight the heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), in the heavyweight championship title match for the title of Heavyweight Champion.

Review
It’s movies like this that are making me think about alternate rating scales for my reviews. I liked Rocky but this review is going to sound like I didn’t. There is a lot to like here but I think I don’t jive with it as most others do. It’s not that it was bad, I simply wasn’t blown away.

I understand that this movie is titled Rocky and the “Italian Stallion” is supposed to be front and center but this comes at the cost of almost every other character in the film. Not many characters besides Rocky are well developed. This is especially hurtful for Rocky’s girlfriend, Adrian, who is almost as recognizable thanks to the iconic line “Yo, Adrian.” The film really pushes her shy personality early on and she obviously becomes less shy around Rocky as the movie progresses. This is a huge part of her character and watching her come out of her shell would be excellent to see but we don’t.

Another great character that gets robbed of screen time is Mickey, Rocky’s trainer played by Burgess Meredith. Meredith was nominated for a Best Actor in a Supporting Role Oscar for the part and it is well deserved. However, I would have liked to see more of him. He’s really good in the screen time he has… but he’s hardly seen. Some of my favorite characters from boxing movies are the trainers and the potential was here to see a close relationship build between Rocky and Mickey, especially since it is on rocky ground (no pun intended) when the movie starts.

After some reflection on this film while getting ready to write this review, I’ve realized that Rocky is supposed to be about Rocky the person, not Rocky the boxer. All the same, the non-boxing portions, which comprises probably ninety percent of the film, feel rushed and, at times, unfocused. For example, not much is seen of Rocky and Adrian’s relationship. One scene they are reluctantly going on a date, the next they are dating. Another instance is Mickey, like I mentioned above. Mickey explains how he has fifty years of experience but we don’t see him pass that knowledge along. There are a handful of scenes but most of the training consisted of Rocky running along to the epochal theme by Bill Conti.

Let me end on a positive note before I piss too many people off. Rocky is a genuine feel-good movie. It is a great story about going the distance and beating insurmountable odds. The score is fantastic and I guarantee that the theme is on every workout playlist out there. Also, Sylvester Stallone is Rocky. Stallone wrote the script so it’s no surprise that he plays the part so well.  Talia Shire does great as Adrian. I tend to keep to myself but open up once I get to know someone, so I easily related to Adrian and I liked Shire’s performance with that similar personality.

I realize people may be getting the torches and pitchforks but I did enjoy the film. And I know that what’s above may not reflect that but I really did. I just felt the focus was in the wrong spot and the character development was one-sided. Rocky‘s message is an inspirational one that can stir many emotions in many people and I think that’s something that should be taken to heart.

Rating
3.5/5

You can also read my reviews for the rest of the Rocky series: Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V and Rocky Balboa.

Trailer

Cast & Crew
John G. Avildsen – Director
Sylvester Stallone – Writer
Bill Conti – Composer

Sylvester Stallone – Rocky
Talia Shire – Adrian
Burt Young – Paulie
Carl Weathers – Apollo
Burgess Meredith – Mickey
Thayer David – Jergens
Joe Spinell – Gazzo
Jimmy Gambina – Mike