One of Sylvester Stallone's best.

Rating: 8/10 (9 August 2015)

The original Rocky movie has small-time boxer Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) getting a rare opportunity to take on heavy-weight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), hoping this will be the one shot at the big time for the struggling debt-collector.
Like all the Rocky movies, you want to root for Rocky in the boxing matches, which I thought were well-choreographed, rousing and gets your heart pumping. Sylvester Stallone does great job in his Rocky role, which I think is one of his best acting performances. He gives a heroic depiction in his character as he strives for the big time, but also inserts drama where he tries to deal with his debt-collector boss Gazzo (Joe Spinell) and boxing club manager Mickey (Burgess Meredith), and tries to court the very shy sister of his best friend.
While this movie is not all about the fights but the struggles Rocky has to go through, the good acting and interesting plot makes this sports drama well-paced and captivating.
Grade B+