Best sports film- A LANDSLIDE

Rating: 10/10 (28 April 2000)

John G. Alvidsen's Rocky is as memorable a piece of cinema can get. Who can forget Rocky's run up the steps in Philadelphia and the crowd cheering and Burgess Meredith's confidence. I know I can't. Ever. The tale involves a famous local boxer named Rocky Balboa who is in love with a local girl, Adrian and is content, until he wants more, to be the best champ ever. So, he decides to take on the heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. With the help of his trainers Micky and Pauly, he trains for his fight, but like most masterpiece's he doesn't achieve the gold (yet).
This film has almost everything picture perfect. Sylvester Stallone gives his ultimatum here as the rough and tough Rocky, Talia Shire is good as the straight faced Adrian, Burgess Meredith gives his best performance ever as the pushing yet focused Micky, and Carl Weathers is great as the over-achiever Apollo Creed. All the elements are in place here for a not only great sports film, but a great cinema piece as well. AND IT WORKS! A++