Rocky
"A Knockout!" -Janet Maslin, Newsweek
It's the film that inspired a nation - and won the 1976 Best Picture Oscar®! Audiences and critics alike cheered this American success story of an "everyman" triumphing over all odds. Featuring a dynamic musical score, a thrilling fight sequence and four Oscar®-nominated performances, this rousing crowd-pleaser will send your spirits soaring. Fighting for love, glory and self-respect, Rocky scores an exultant knockout!
Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) is a Philadelphia club fighter who seems to be going nowhere. But when a stroke of fate puts him in a ring with the world heavyweight champion, Rocky knows that it's his one shot at the big time - a once in a lifetime opportunity to "go the distance" and come out a winner!
Member Reviews
Hey, it still works! - KevinJaques
I went to this reluctantly in the 70's, after it had already acquired what I assumed was massively excessive popularity. I didn't like the fad of men's body-building, didn't like Stallone, don't like anti-intellectualism, didn't like depressing and grainy movies.
You may not have realized this. You know how it has been the rage to add faux-authenticism to movies by using 'jerky-cam'? Well, of course, that is because it reminds people of home movies, cell phone movies, and video exposé pieces, all of which are almost exclusively authentic. Well, back in the 70s, home movies and exposés were shot with consumer grade Super 8 movie film, which had that grainy look. So a lot of movies were shot deliberately grainy for the same reason as jerky-cam.
Anyway, I disliked all those things, but I liked Rocky. You can't not like it. It's moving, heroic, how a man can win even when he loses. It's not anti-intellectual, it's about making the most of what strengths you have and accepting the weaknesses you have.
So, I tried it again in September 2011. Yup, it still works. I got tears on cue. I was stirred by what might be THE original sports montage. I noticed a lot more subtlety in the craft of the movie this time, not counting the graininess, which still does suck. Actually, I wonder this time if the victory scenes weren't non-grainy, deliberately to contrast them. To be honest, I was too flushed with victory to be thinking of the craft at the moment.
It still works.Don't mistake it for a man movie! - MrandMrsSmith
Let me start by saying that before I watched this movie I didn't get boxing at all. And I don't think I really got Sylvester Stalone either. I was kind of like Adrianne. But by the end of this movie, I sort of got both - and that's a great accomplishment!
This is a traditional story of the underdog. However, it is not the least bit manipulative of the audience. Instead, it is lovely and understated.
I found myself cheering, "Rocky! Rocky!" along with everyone else during the big fight. I had a lot of emotion invested into that man. Now, that's some great filmaking!
I was most impressed by the acting. It is subtle but made the characters come to life in a real, wonderful way.
It's such a simple little film but it has become one of my favourites. I am shocked that I actually liked it, let alone loved it more than 99% of all other movies I had ever seen.
It's easy to see why this is a classic. Don't overlook it or mislabel it as a testosterone-filled man movie. Absolutely don't miss it.Stalone's best by far - XTRUClerk
Rocky is the one. The only one. The role that Stalone was born the play. The role he himself created with such depth and passion that every moment feels real and every line is unforced. You feel for him here, you really feel for a three-time loser who's going for broke. I've seen this film so many times I've lost count. I always enjoy it. I love the relationship between Rocky and Adrian the most. Two losers finding each other, winning through each other. On one of the more recent viewings I realized something for the first time. When Rocky tries to break the ice with Adrian he tells her this terrible joke about a turtle (I hit a turtle on the back so hard he got shell-shocked, get it?). For the first time I noticed that he actually rehearses this joke in front of the mirror in his bathroom the night before. The joke is so terrible who would believe it was rehearsed? Rocky is a wonderful film. The characters are real, gritty, dirty, low and gutsy. This is the movie that made Stalone's career and rightfully so. This is the one that deserves to be called great and will be remembered. Cheers.
Member Reviews
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Hey, it still works! - KevinJaques
I went to this reluctantly in the 70's, after it had already acquired what I assumed was massively excessive popularity. I didn't like the fad of men's body-building, didn't like Stallone, don't like anti-intellectualism, didn't like depressing and grainy ...Don't mistake it for a man movie! - MrandMrsSmith
Let me start by saying that before I watched this movie I didn't get boxing at all. And I don't think I really got Sylvester Stalone either. I was kind of like Adrianne. But by the end of this movie, I sort of got both - and that's a great accomplishment! ...Stalone's best by far - XTRUClerk
Rocky is the one. The only one. The role that Stalone was born the play. The role he himself created with such depth and passion that every moment feels real and every line is unforced. You feel for him here, you really feel for a three-time loser who's ...