rocky balboa review

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Picture courtesy of Hurtin' Bombs.

Average Ratings

Value for Money	7.4/10
Reviewer Rating	6.5/10
Overall Rating	7/10

50% Recommended3 out of 6 Reviews

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By Hank on 22nd Jan 2007

Hank's Ratings

Starring Actor/Actress	Sylvester Stallone, Burt Young
Where Did You See It?	Cinema
Value for money	10/10
Overall value	10/10
Hank's recommendation

Good Points

The Perfect Ending
Fight Scenes
Funny
The Score
Script

Bad Points

Would have liked an extended training scene

General Comments

The jerk at the BBC who gave Rocky Balboa a four out of ten needs his P45. This is a brilliant film and the perfect ending to a story that has spanned some 30 years.

Let me start by clarifying that although I've seen and enjoyed some of the previous Rocky films I am by no means 'a mark' or super-fan. I took this film on face value after being hooked in by the trailer that I first saw a few months ago. I was then even more galvanised to go and see it by the sheer mass of positive reviews I've read online (except the BBC punk). Thank God I did because for entertainment, enjoyment and emotion this film will not be beaten.

I won't spoil the film for people by going into acute detail but I will say the film is funny (for the right reasons), has a great soundtrack and script, well executed fight scenes and a brilliant ending which will have you feeling like your one of the crowd at the big fight itself.

The story picks up with Rocky just getting by, keeping his head down and running his restaurant 'Adrians', keeping the customers happy by regaling stories of past battles and posing for photographs with the clientel. Rock is a hurt man though, still pining for Adrian (who died of cancer) and trying to improve the difficult relationship he has with his son. The former champ also strikes up a bond with Little Marie which hints at future romance however he makes it clear that he isn't ready.

In the boxing world, the heavyweight division is in tatters, with Mason 'The Line' Dixon an unpopular champ who sweeps past all comers who are in fact all bums. The crowds have turned on him and his career is about to hit standstill. This all changes when a computerised fight catches the publics' imagination. The computer generated bout pitches The Line against The Italian Stallion and much to Dixon's chagrin, according to the computer, Balboa comes out on top.

Seeing this give Rocky the impetus to consider a return to the squared circle and take part in a few small time local fights for old times sake. When Balboa is controversially granted a boxing license the moneymen see the opportunity to cash-in and take advantage of the publicity generated by the computer fight and pit Rocky against The Line in an exhibition match.

This all plays out brilliantly on screen and is a well balanced film. The actual boxing aspect of the story only comes into play in the second half with the first half of the film giving newcomers the chance to meet the characters and giving old fans the chance to catch-up with the life of Balboa.

All in all a fine effort from all involved and you have gotta give it up to Stallone for not only starring in this, but also writing and directing proceedings. The pay-off is there for all to see and this film will rightly be a commercial and artistic success.

Total Respect: +2