Comments on: Rocky Balboa

By: Fence

Fence — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 09:33:46 +0000

I read the start of your review Carl, but hadn’t seen Rocky at that stage, must pop back and take a look. Thanks for the reminder.

Rocky wasn’t huge in my childhood, but he was present, and it was so nice to see the little touches from the previous films, whether that was something like the tortoises or the shots from the earlier films.
Rocky really is a great character and I love the way Sly plays him.

By: Carl V.

Carl V. — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:19:32 +0000

As you know if you read my review I laughed hysterically when I saw the first trailer. I thought Stallone had lost every last brain cell. Then the trailers started showing that there might actually be a story in the film, so much so that I was there to see it opening weekend. It is such a fantastically nostalgia-inducing film for those of us who grew up with Rocky in our childhood. This is one I cannot wait to see again on DVD.

By: Fence

Fence — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 18:34:58 +0000

That jacket was a fine thing wasn’t it I read review too, but only after I’ve written mine.
Steps wasn’t much of a character, I agree, but that didn’t bother me in the slightest.

By: Maolsheachlann

Maolsheachlann — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 16:56:12 +0000

A 12 certificate, I meant.

By: Maolsheachlann

Maolsheachlann — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 15:41:33 +0000

I didn’t think Punchy was ugly, either, but he was ugly in the story.

Whenever I see a film I look up reviews of it, usually to splurt in indignation. Nice to see this one is getting the credit it deserves. Yo!

Another thing I didn’t like was the characters of Steps; he seemed kind of superfluous, he wasn’t really developed.

And then there was the jacket Rocky wore in his restaurant. It deserved a 12 rating just for that.

By: Fence

Fence — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 14:15:42 +0000

Hi Mal, still hanging around the blogosphere are we

I actually liked the scenes in the credits, sure a little hokey, but its fits perfectly with the idea of Rocky being this inspirational character.
And I didn’t think that Punchey was ugly at all

I’ll stick with my sweet assessment. Sweet as in nice and just full of awwww moments.

By: Maolsheachlann

Maolsheachlann — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:38:14 +0000

Boom boom! For once I can agree with you whole-heartedly. The original Rocky has always been one of my favourite films. Anyone who can watch it without being moved is a low-down durty cynic.

Rocky II was damned fine, too, but after them they became risible. I didn’t see the one before this, but I remember seeing Rocky IV (during that same RTE season, I think), and almost dying of laughter when Rocky says to the Russian fans: “If I can change, and you can change, then everybody can change!”. Not to mention the KGB agents being moved to a standing ovation.

I even love the title: “Rocky Balboa” announces it’s going to be a character study, and not a mere tub-thumper. About half-way through this film I thought it had even surpassed the original, but I thought the final third let it down slightly. (And as for the end credits sequence, with a load of eejits running up the museum steps, no words can be harsh enough. It almost ruins the film.)

Not sure I’d call it “sweet”. I watched it through moist eyes most of the time, especially the scene in the pound, when Rocky identifies with the ugly and runtish dog. The best scene was the heart-baring encounter between Rocky and his son.

Easily the best film of the year, so far. I wouldn’t be surprised if nothing strips it off its title. Geddit? Eh? Geddit? It’s a boxing metaphor!