Rocky Balboa

It all started way back in 1976 when Sylvester Stallone - who wrote the script and took the leading role - created the character of the Philadelphia low-grade boxer who managed, against all the odds, to go the distance with world heavyweight champion Aollo Creed and give the world a new kind of underdog to support. In "Rocky II" (1979), after 15 brutal rounds, he defeats Creed and takes the title. In 1982, "Rocky III" sees our hero lose to Mt T before Apollo helps him bounce back. By the time of "Rocky IV" (1985), the franchise had acquired an international dimension as the Cold War is acted out in the ring with Rocky squaring up to the Russian Ivan Drago. Another five years passed before Stallone felt that he had to return to the iconic role - in "Rocky V", he adopts a young fighter who turns on him.

That really should have been it - but, as the tagline for "Rocky Balboa" puts it, "It ain't over till it's over" so, 16 year after the last film and an amazing 30 years after the original movie, he's back. It seems that Rock is so missing his wife Adrian that, in spite of running a successful restaurant named after her, he finds that he has something "luking in the basement". On this sixth outing, the narrative arc is just the same as first time round - again a complete no-chancer facing a world champion after a gruelling training routine involving the same frozen meat, the same one-armed press-ups, and of course the same race up the Museum of Art steps - and the same music.

What's different is the advanced years of Rocky and of course Stallone himself - but he looks good, the film looks good, and you'll feel good at the final bell. As the man says: "It ain't about how hard you hit, it is about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much can you take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

Sylvester Stallone completes his Rocky Epic with a stirring conclusion. I saw a special sneak preview in Detroit at a Kronk Boxing Gym benefit. Although the first 45 minutes kind of dragged, and at times the dialog made me cringe, its at least as worthy of Rocky II or the original Rocky. A lot of flashbacks, but it definitely wraps up the series a lot better than Rocky V did. It won't win best picture, or any great acting awards, but the cinematography was better than I've seen in a lot of the previous 5. As far as the big question in the blogs, does Rocky die in this one, you'll have to wait till Christmas and see for yourself. The music was great, the final scenes were great, and Paulie was great! It was also interesting to reintroduce the characters of Little Marie and Spider Rico from the first movie.

Rocky now retired lives from records his deceased wife(Talia Shire in archive footage). Again he deals with alcoholic Paulie(Burt Young),and his estranged son(Milo Ventiglimia, substituting to Sage Stallone), a cocky executive. He's owned a restaurant where is homaged as one of the greatest boxing champions in the history. Meanwhile he knows a single mother(Geraldine Hughes)and falls in love with her. But Rocky comes out from retirement to combat strongest, youngest and faster contender ; he's Mason 'The line'Dixon(Anthony Taver). Rocky attempts to prove himself and his son.Then he's trained by veteran boxer named Duke(Tony Burton, as Burguess Meredith had dead).

This agreeable predictable entertainment displays splendidly the 'formula Rocky'. The movie works at usual manner, fitting appropriately to franchise. Writer-director-actor Stallone new outing is surprisingly entertaining and packs good feeling. Usual and nostalgic musical score by Bill Conti and atmospheric cinematography by Clark Mathis. The motion picture is lavishly financed by the producers complete saga, Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler and well directed by Stallone who along with John G Avildsen made the six Rocky.

While here the opponent is an invincible young boxer,champ of the world, in former entries the contenders were the following : Rocky 1, a corpulent Carl Weathers; Rocky II again Carl Weathers through a rematch; Rocky II against Mr T from A Team; Rocky IV against a massive Russian boxer played by Dolph Lundgren; and Rock 5 against an ingrate young fighter who he trained played by Tommy Morrison.

I had the opportunity to see a screening of this movie. Having been thoroughly disappointed with Rocky five, I didn't have high hopes for this movie. I am very happy to say this movie brings the Rocky series to the rightful close that the fifth left so empty. This movie isn't so much about the boxing itself, but getting back to the roots of the Rocky story...that determination and courage with the love and help of others makes Rocky a winner no matter what.

This movie is rated PG, and parents will be happy to see that the graphic nature of boxing has been toned down quite a bit in this movie compared to others in the series. If you're looking for a touching family movie with a powerful message, Rocky Balboa is definitely a movie to see. I think adults and children over the age of 10 will throughly enjoy this movie.

I really don't know what people were thinking about giving this film such a hard time. None of the other Rocky films were horrible, why would this one suddenly be? I agree, there were some cheesy things that obviously would have to happen to justify him fighting so old. But, he did a very good job writing in certain twists to make the story make a bit more sense how it could actually happen. I went into the movie expecting scene after scene to be cheesy. I was actually surprised by the lack of cheesiness, granted it had a bit.

This was a very heartfelt film. It was definitely going back to the kind of movie the first one was, not spending too much time on the fighting part of the story. The fighting was toned down quite a bit in this one, probably so Stallone could acquire a PG rating.

The film is rightfully rated PG, and I would recommend it to any age group. Just a touching story about caring, friendship and love. An excellent way to end the Rocky series...