Follow your Dreams

Rating: 10/10 (27 June 2011)

Rocky has always been one of my favorite movies of all time. I first saw the film just over 5 years ago and since then I have experienced it an incalculable number of times under many different emotional and locational circumstances. I recently got the chance to watch the film on Blu-Ray and it's just as good as it ever has been. In my eyes, the entire franchise is among the greatest ever, but the original Rocky film from 1976 will forever stand out as more than just a boxing movie, but as a triumph in human spirit and one of the most inspiring movies ever made.
The story follows a smalltime club boxer named Rocky Balboa. His life isn't the most desirable one could have. He lives in a small apartment in Philadelphia and makes a cheap living off of club boxing and collecting debts for a local loan shark. After heavyweight boxing champion, Apollo Creed, offers Rocky a shot at the title, he pledges to go the distance and become a 'somebody' rather than a 'nobody' despite the odds.
The plot comes off as being very basic, but the main appeal of the film isn't the overall narrative structure, but rather the details of character development, acting, writing, music, atmosphere and iconic imagery.
As a character, Rocky would be assumed to be just a dumb brute in the way that he lives his life, but it is revealed that he has a lovable, sympathetic and tolerant nature that is revealed through his relationships with other characters. For example, when collecting a debt he finds that the man is $70 short and rather than break his thumb like you would expect, Rocky lets him off the hook. We also learn about Rocky's patient nature in his efforts to achieve a relationship with a shy store clerk named Adrian. I've always viewed Adrian's love for Rocky as a catalyst for his eventual heroic triumphs. Rocky's accepting qualities are also represented through his relationships with Paulie and Mickey, both of which are strained to an extent. Regardless, Rocky is accepting of them.
These character traits in Rocky Balboa effectively develop him as a character wonderfully and immediately allow us to sympathise with him, but what's also to note is the brilliance of Sylvester Stallone's performance. Many criticise Stallone's acting abilities, but I do feel that he is a great actor. His performance as Rocky is fantastic because of his realised potential as well as his understanding of the character (Read up on the making of the film and you'll understand what I mean by that).
Next to Stallone, the performances by Talia Shire (Adrian), Burt Young (Paulie), Burgess Meredith (Mickey Goldmill) and Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed) are all fantastic. One of the best things about this movie is that every member of the cast fits their character like a glove and I can't imagine any replacement.
Another notable aspect is the outstanding soundtrack composed by Bill Conti. 'Gonna Fly Now' is one of the best pieces of music I've ever heard and always gets me in the mood to amount to something big (when it's not getting me in the mood to watch this masterpiece). The montage that accompanies it in which Rocky runs up the Philadelphia museum staircase is one of the best scenes in history and for good reason has been embedded into our culture to the point in which people run these steps every day. Running those steps is officially one of my life goals.
I've always wanted to work in the film industry, and I know that achieving a big time directorial status is a real challenge, but I have this movie to act as a constant reminder that anybody can amount to anything despite the odds that are against them. After being so exposed to this film on so many occasions I view it as a real motivator and look back at regardless to what I am doing, whether it be exercising, doing well in school or going for a job. It's a movie about following your dreams and the effort it takes to achieve them.
Rocky will forever remain one of my favorite movies of all time for these inspirational qualities that I find to be unmatched and that I can watch it regardless of how I feel and be left astonished, inspired and refreshed. This movie changed my life in many ways and my love for this movie isn't about to change. I cannot recommend this movie more.
10/10