Grow to a man

Rating: 10/10 (16 August 2000)

I little surprised when I realized that Sylvester Stallone's break through Rocky (1976) is already over 20 years old. The movie hasn't got old but Stallone's performance is watched these days with different eyes.
Rocky was performed by charismatic and talented actor who had same kind of credibility as in young Marlon Brando. But viewer of the year 2000 has seen Stallone making same mannerisms in 20 movies and neither of them is the class of the Rocky, except in First Blood and Cop Land. Still in 1970's they weren't bored to Sly's mannerisms and they are suitable for the lead role.
When we still remember that rocky is also written by Stallone and he had to fight to have the role, 20 years ago it was easy to think:'Good guy this Stallone.' But know they generally think:'Oh, from TV comes another good damn Stallone movie.'
But give Sly a chance because Rocky appeals to our emotions deeply. This story has been made many times before and after but never as well as Rocky.
Stallone plays young boxer, Rocky Balboa, who lives in the slum area of Philadelphia. Rocky has some talents. But he has decided to waste his life to fights, booze and wrong kind of women. The man is also fell in love to a shy pet store clerk (Talia Shire).
Rocky gets a chance of a life time when Muhammed Ali kind of heavyweight champion of the world, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), decides to give an opportunity to unknown boxer to fight against himself. Rocky is chosen almost accidentally. Rocky starts to train for the fight with the help of local trainer Mickey (Burgess Meredith, excellent performance).
If Rocky would be only a story about boxing, it would be an average movie. But it is a movie about when man finds himself and especially his self-esteem, and that 's why Rocky works. Rocky collected three Oscars and one of them went to the director, John G. Avildsen, Stallone was nominated for the best actor, but unfortunately it went to someone else.
10 out of 10. Best movie I have ever seen.