Never Gets Dull

Rating: 9/10 (19 October 2006)

Who could dislike the film?, because it is just impossible to hate! Sylvester Stallone is nothing short of perfect in this one, still most properly his best performance to date. It would be very easy to compare Rocky with that of Raging Bull, only that would be an injustice because both films have completely different motives.
Rocky, a down and out boxer from the streets of Philadelphia, surrounded by poverty finds himself in the fight of his life against the champion of the world. Seems like such a simple premise, yet so much is happening between all it's characters, that the film never gets dull. The supporting cast is one of a kind. Talia Shire, Burgress Meredith, Burt Young, along with many others, all play roles that can be found down most streets whilst Carl Weathers wonderfully paints a picture of the ego that goes with fame and fortune as the Champ determined to give Rocky a hard time.
Unfortunately, this film has been overlooked in terms of great films because of it's lesser sequels. It's a shame, because when you watch the film on it's own merit, it truly is one of the best romantic sports dramas ever made. I dare anyone to find a more heartfelt climatic ending in a film than this one. It's climax; a battered and bloodied Rocky frantically calling out for his real true love...Adrian!
The memories that viewers take home with them however continue to be director John G. Alividsen's training montage sequences, and of course, the final climatic fight. All hallmarks from a hallmark movie.