So much more than a fight for the title

Rating: 8/10 (16 May 2005)

Some people will rub this off as just another standard fighting film, but it's so much more.. This movie is about a standard club boxer, Rocky Balboa. He's been trained for six years by Mickey before Mickey decides he's wasting his time, and gives away Rocky's locker to someone with more potential.
Meanwhile, the world Champ, Apollo Creed, is preparing for his title fight, when news arrives that his opponent has an injury. Desperate to find another challenger, he stumbles across the Italian Stallion, our hero, Rocky. World Champion against a complete unknown - on Thanksgiving he decides to give a doubting underdog a great opportunity.
So there's the story. I consider it very involving, for such a simple premise. For Stallone, who hadn't written or acted in anything before, this is a mind-blowing movie. The acting really is top rate, as the doubting hero trains himself up to world class. Mickey gives him back his locker and seeing his new potential, takes him under his wing once more and trains him harder than ever. Along the way, his friend Paulie convinces his sister Adrian to go out on a date with Rocky, and they fall in love along the way. Don't be misled - this is not a romance film, but some of the sweet moments between them both really make the movie shine.
Even the casting is spot on - Mickey is played perfectly by Meredith, and I honestly don't believe a single character could be played by anybody else, especially Apollo and Mickey.
The soundtrack supplied by Bill Conti is worthy of your attention, and really adds to the emotional content of the film, as Rocky becomes a hero. The final fight is intense, but nothing really award winning in itself, except for the intensity. Be warned, you're certain to find yourself screaming at the TV to "HIT THE SOB!" If you've never seen a Rocky movie, and you're a fan of Sly, or of boxing, or of just a damn fine film, I highly recommend you buy this, and with the 5-DVD box set now available for an awesome price, there really is no excuse to go without the series that made Sly awesome.