A Real Story

Rating: 8/10 (15 July 2019)

This is what people want, real stories about people that they can relate to. The original "Rocky" brilliantly captures one man's struggle so profoundly, so elegantly, that it is almost poetic. Stuck in a nowhere job, doing something for a living that literally makes him sick to his stomach, (who can relate to that?), Rocky is big and strong enough to work as a heavy...a debt collector for some nasty Philly loan sharks. The problem is, his personality doesn't fit with that kind of work, because he's a good guy, that likes people. So when he sees the opportunity to step into the ring with established Heavyweight Champion of the World, Apollo Creed, he takes his chance. Not for the opportunity to buy a Ferrari or gold chains or fur coats, but just so he can have a life that is better than the grinding poverty and hopelessness that he is living every day. He also has a good woman that he goes crazy for. Adrian isn't most people's idea of "beautiful," but Rocky loves this woman, and knows that he wants to give her everything.
Rocky enters the competition, and with the help of his trainer Mickey, (today an iconic movie character) he soon begins to believe in himself, and that he can win. And by some fluke...he DOES win, making Rocky Balboa a true local hero. His win also ENRAGES the Champ, Apollo Creed, who becomes obsessed with a rematch, in order to reclaim his title. That brutal second fight, is the culmination of one of the most dramatically powerful films of all time. It's conclusion literally had people cheering and rolling in the aisles. When was the last time you have seen that happen? "Rocky" is great because it truly makes the point that any dream is attainable, if you truly believe in yourself. This movie also put the city of Philadelphia on the map. It's hard to think of Philly without thinking of Rocky and all the sequels. A special nod goes to the cinematography, which captures Philly in all it's dark, atmospheric glory. Followed by many sequels, all of them having a certain value in it's own way, and making a statement about the time in which they were made. And "Rocky" was a film that had something that today's movies just don't have...it has a heart, and a soul.