The first film was fantastic and I obviously had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had my predisposed opinions about these movies and the first one changed that. The characters were very well devloped and the story was nicely put together. The writing in general was very top knotch. And since the first one came out in 1976, it instantly stands out for me. I'm a 70s fan, myself.
The second one is a little less than the first, but it is a worthy sequel. That's about all I'm gonna say on this one, I'm not gonna get too detailed, because I have a lot of ground to cover and in general I think if you are gonna watch one you have to watch them all anyway. Even if there are some that are a little worse for wear.
In the third film, Mr. T (a childhood icon for me) pops in to take some potshots at Rocky. This one may be my favorite, next to the first one. I hate to say it, but even if Mr. T does manage to "pity the fool", he really did an amazing job as the crazed fighter. This was a very exciting film, because of the energy of Mr. T and the energy between the two. I really enjoyed this one much, probably too much since my brothers and I loved Mr. T as kids.
In "Rocky IV" (that's "4" for all you non-Romans), tragedy strikes when figher Apollo Creed (a close friend of Rocky's) dies in a match against a Russian fighter. This one is pretty stinking cheesy, especially with its (what I'll call) "over the top" patriotism coupled with political "niceness." Still, though, it's an exciting movie and still worth the watch. All of these movies are worth the watch, by the way.
Well, but then there is the "first last one." "Rocky V" was pretty bad. It was pretty stinking cheesy and... well, not too great. Rocky ends up training in this a figher after his family is forced to move from the nice home and money back to the old neighborhood. It was a little shameful, but knowing there was a 6th one already, I wasn't too worried. I figured the 6th one was in existence to take care of that bad taste this one left.
"Rocky Balboa", which came out in 2006, does make up for the 1990 "Rocky V." Stallone did a wonderful job playing the now old and washed up, but still remembered fighter. There are many great moments in this film, but to be perfectly honest there was something I was hoping for that didn't happen. So, be forewarned, I'm going to insert a spoiler--
SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!
I warned you. You have no excuse.
In the film, there was a lot of concern that fighting again might result in death for the aged fighter. I had a feeling it would, that he would go out as his good friend, Apollo Creed, went out. I was hoping that he would, because it would have been a very formatible way for the character to go. And I'll confess, I might have cried. With the way they keep his story going, it ain't over until it's over. And since he didn't die, I feel as if it ain't over. I just really wished he would have died and we could have put Rocky to rest, it would have been very nice and beautiful. Instead, it was a happy ending with more life ahead. Which, is not what I think we needed. We needed an appropriate ending. Anyway, that's my opinion. It would have felt more resolved, for me, if we would have got to put him to rest alongside his wife, Adrian. And, if he would have gone out like Apollo Creed... in the ring and fighting when the towel should have been thrown. But, that's just my two cents. Other than that, the film was very admirable and enjoyable as was the entire series.
Well, I'm gonna fly now. LAME.
