Rocky

        The greatest underdog story ever told is also one of the greatest films ever made with one of the most inspiring backstories. Of course, I am talking about the quintessential boxing film, Rocky. If you have never heard the backstory to this, it is pretty dang amazing. Sylvester Stallone wrote the screenplay to Rocky in about three and a half days, and after presenting it to his representatives, they began to shop the screenplay out with a lot of studios showing interest, with one problem. Stallone was adamant that he needed to play the lead roles while the studios were dismissive of the idea, thinking that the role would be better suited for a well-established star. In the end, they managed to get an agreement for the film to have a little over a million-dollar budget and Stallone to be cast in the lead role. Not only did this film launch Stallone’s megastar career, but the film also went on to gross 225 million off the 1-million-dollar budget, making it not only a huge success, but also one of the most profitable films of all time, as well as spawning a franchise that continues to this day.

The film starts off simple enough, heavyweight boxing champion Apollo Creed, played by the talented Car Weathers, is informed that his original opponent for his title defense in Philadelphia is injured and has to pull out from the bout. With all other options tied up, Creed decides that he will give an unknown fighter a shot at the title and chooses Rocky Balboa strictly for his nickname, “The Italian Stallion”, which, fair enough because that is a damn fine nickname. Rocky ultimately accepts the fight and begins his training with longtime owner of the gym he attends, Mickey Goldmill, a trainer who has always been hard on him because he saw Rocky as wasted potential. The rest of the film ultimately revolves around Rocky and his emotions during the lead up to the fight. He has an interest in his best friend’s sister, so we get a little look into his romantic side, and he confides in her his fears and dreams, which are honestly some of the better scenes in the film because it really humanizes Rocky and makes him that much more relatable. Talia Shire also does a great job in these scenes as you can see how much she genuinely starts to care for Rocky and that ultimately makes the climax of the film all the more enjoyable.

Now, the training sequences in this film are the basis for which all training montages down the line will forever be judged. When you think of training montages, your mind immediately goes to the Rocky franchise, and for good reason. These montages combined with the stellar music by Bill Conti just get you pumped. You are ready to go start your own workout just from watching them. The boxing match is also incredibly well-directed. It has such a big fight feel to it and serves as the perfect ending to the film. This is a film filled with a lot of heart, and at its core that is what it is, a film about heart, passion, grit, and determination. From Stallone’s perfect performance to the great direction, this is by far one of the best films of all time, regardless of genre. Official Rating: 5 Stars.

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