Great film

Rating: 8/10 (27 December 2010)

I never thought I could take Sylvester Stallone seriously, but I was wrong. Rocky seems to be his most sincere and dedicated role. It's also a role with much more depth than what Stallone usually subjects himself to, which isn't saying a whole lot considering the mindless tripe we see macho-man Stallone in, but I regained a lot of respect for the guy after seeing Rocky. It's one of the greatest underdog stories you'll ever see, following the story of Rocky Balboa, a small time boxer who is given the chance to make it big when all-star boxer Apollo Creed challenges him for a publicity stunt. Rocky takes this chance to become somebody and trains his heart out to beat Creed. It is a story of triumph and solid determination to overcome personal tribulations. It is an inspiring and well made film.
Not only was I impressed with Stallone's ability to act but also write. Rocky has a fantastic script which drives the film and gives it its very natural flow. There is a specific cadence to the dialouge which flows in a very consistent manner and never gets tiresome or dull. On the surface there isn't a whole lot to the story, but the script carries it in a very unique and compelling manner. There are some very memorable lines as well as very memorable scenes that have been ripped off, given homage, and parodied so many times since 1976. Probably the most memorable aspect of the film would be its main theme. The robust trumpeting theme gives the film its powerful and inspiring edge. We've all heard it before, and in the context of the film it is even better to listen to, and has even more of an emotional influence on the listener. Because of this great theme, Rocky amazingly makes the montage work. Montage scenes can be a cheap and easy way out of actually developing characters, but Rocky utilizes its montage scene in the best way possible. It makes for probably the most memorable scene of the film.
The script in Rocky is magnificent, but it's the characters where the film falls a little short. The character of Rocky Balboa is a very fleshed out and fully realized character. He develops very well and is written with the most care. Unfortunately, the supporting cast can't hold a candle to our protagonist. They aren't nearly as well developed and don't seem to serve nearly as significant of a purpose as Rocky does. The actors themselves do a fine job, but the characters are left a little shallow and slightly two-dimensional. By the end of the film it was safe for me to say that Rocky was the only truly compelling character in the film. This would have been a much bigger issue of Rocky wasn't the main focus of the film. Obviously he is, seeing as the film itself is called Rocky. The characters weren't so underdeveloped that it took away from the film, it was just an unfortunate circumstance that they couldn't be as compelling as the protagonist. It's really not something to complain endlessly about.
Rocky is a great film. What it lacks in supporting characters it makes up for in its fantastically deep and compelling protagonist, Rocky Balboa. The script is great and it gives a lot to a story that is relatively simple. The whole film stays exciting and kept my attention from start to finish. It also has an abruptly appropriate ending. It was one of those films where I was surprised when the credits began to role, but in no way disappointed. This is a true gem of the 1970's.