Solid Film for the Underdog

Rating: 8/10 (16 May 2007)

This is the original film that launched a series. While the series has hit rocky bottom (pun intended), this film & the second film are the best ones in the series. I prefer this first one as it is the most original.
Lucky for Sly Stallone that he found a fine cast to support him. Carl Weathers is excellent as Apollo Creed. Talia Shire is great as his girlfriend (and in real life becomes his wife). Burgess Meredith, a real veteran character actor, brings off being Rockys manager very well.
The script is uplifting and the viewer gets a high out of this at the ending. In 1976 & even today well all need this uplifting from the underdog overcoming the odds to become something no one thought he could be. This one catches that emotion the best of any film in the series.