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Movie of the Year in 1976 - The Best of the Rocky Movies

James Koenig | Minnesota | 01/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The original "Rocky", released in 1976, is without a doubt the best of the series of six Rocky movies. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1976, and fully lives up to its billing.

Sylvester Stallone wrote the script to this inspiring movie based on the Muhummad Ali - Chuck Wepner fight in 1975, where the unknown and out-matched Wepner dropped Ali, and then went 15 rounds with the Champ. Instead of seeing another boring boxing mismatch as most reporters and fight-fans did, Stallone was instead inspired by the doggged determination of Wepner, the knockdown of Ali, and Wepner's 15 rounds of fame. After seeing the fight in person (he was working security in the sports arena), Stallone holed himself up in his apartment and feverishly wrote the script to "Rocky". Many rerwrites later, Stallone presented the script to a production company and they liked it so much, they offered Stallone up to $330,000 dollars for the script. But there was one catch, Stallone wanted to star as "Rocky" in the film. Not wanting to chance the production on an unknown like Stallone, MGM had its eyes on Ryan O'Neal or Burt Reynolds as the star. Despite being financially impoverished, Stallone so believed that this was his one and only shot at getting into the movie business, he turned down the money. MGM liked the script too much to let it go, so they reluctantly accepted Stallone's terms, and work began on the low-budget movie.

Although inspired by Chuck Wepner, Stallone's Rocky was not based on Wepner's personality or life. Rocky is a rough, tough, street-wise character who works for a loan shark breaking people's thumbs when they don't pay up on time. Yet beneath that rough rocky exterior exists a soft-hearted gem-of-a-man just waiting to be discovered and inspired. Rocky finds his inspiration in his sweet, innocent, and pure love for his girlfriend Adrian (Talia Shire), and also in his trainer, Mickey (Burgess Meredith).

You all know the plot, the amateurish Philadelphia club fighter, Rocky Balboa, gets picked by chance to fight the reigning heavyweight boxing champion, Apollo Creed. Creed is clearly a Muhummad Ali character, played to absolute perfection by another unknown - Carl Weathers. Rocky knows he has no chance to win as he is clearly outmatched ability-wise. Instead, he sets as his goal "to go the distance" (15 rounds), for no one has ever gone the distance with Creed. If he can survive 15 brutal rounds with Creed, then Rocky won't be "just another bum from the neighborhood".

The musical score by Bill Conti is tremendous. The score matches the emotional tone of the movie perfectly. It will have you hurting with every step as Rocky starts his training run at 4 AM, cheering with raised goosebumps during the training scenes with Mickey, and will have you on the edge of your seat with anticipation during the fight with Creed. (You will want to own this soundtrack!)

The casting is perfect. Stallone makes the perfect Rocky Balboa, Shire is wonderful as shy Adrian, who goes through a visual and esteem transformation throughout the movie, and Meredith is the hard-nosed Mick, who transforms the rock of a fighter into a polished gem. Rounding out the cast is Weathers, who is a fantastic "Ali", and Burt Young, who poses perfectly as Adrian's troubled and emotionally abusive brother Paulie.

Don't think of this film as a boxing movie; it is so much more than that. It's a tender love story, a story of a man finding purpose and meaning to his life, and it's an inspiration to all of us who have ever aspired to be more than we can be.

Rocky is a 5-star Academy Award winning movie, and if by chance you have not seen it yet, it is a must-see. If you watched it long ago, it is so good, it is worth another look. I guarantee you will be inspired, excited, and thoroughly thrilled with "Rocky". The movie was a million-to-one shot in 1976, and no one, including MGM, thought they were producing a classic. How wonderful to know that miracles still happen.

Jim "Konedog" Koenig

p.s. Great trivia question for the Rocky fan in your life: What is Mickey's last name??? (Goldmill)."

Inspiring as Rocky Tries to Go the Distance

A.Trendl HungarianBookstore.com | Glen Ellyn, IL USA | 12/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rocky Balboa, now an icon of American culture, began his story here. Apollo Creed, a fighter with the class and style of Muhammad Ali, needs a boxer in the heavyweight championships when his opponent breaks his hand. He chooses Rocky, an unknown fighter with a marketable nickname, "The Italian Stallion."

Rocky is just a decent boxer from Philly who could have achieved something if he had more drive. He lives a futile life of discouragement, surviving on hard work and honor. He's a collection agent for a loan shark, and tries, even then, to treat his clients right, giving them the chance to pay up.

When Creed makes his offer to Rocky, Rocky realizes this is his door to freedom, to all he has dreamed of reaching. Creed, though, is the best, and Rocky knows it. He trains hard, but can't forget how good Creed is. His goal isn't to win; that seems unachievable. It is to go the distance, to last through every round. No one ever lasted that long with Creed.

Subplots that help provide depth are his love interest with Adrian, perfectly played by Talia Shire, and Paulie's (Adrian's brother) temper and sense of feeling disenfranchised. Burgess Meredith as Rocky's trainer, Mickey, is a stereotypically sour old man who talks in rough phrases from one side of his mouth who sees Rocky as the embodiment of his own failed dreams.

Rocky's relationship with Adrian is classy. He is a gentleman, albeit simple, and even slept on the couch when Adrian stayed at his place. That kind of class is refreshing to see.

Meredith, perhaps best known until this as the Penguin on the 1960s' Batman TV series, is a great compliment to Sylvester Stallone's Rocky, bringing a father-like wisdom and care to their relationship.

Stallone's own comment on Rocky says it is, "All about: pride, reputation, and not being another bum in the neighborhood." I saw it as an American dream. He worked hard, had a dose of luck, and when it mattered, was all heart.

The music is as strong as the movie. High school bands played the "Rocky Theme" by Bill Conti for many years. Watching Rocky's workouts, especially the running and pushup scenes, is inspiring. Mixed with the music, you might catch yourself suiting up and hitting the streets for a few miles after the final credits roll.

I fully recommend "Rocky."

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com"