The greatest underdog story ever told.

Rating: 8/10 (11 December 2006)

Rocky tells the story of Rocky Balboa, a low life who works as a loan shark for the mafia while boxing on the side as a hobby. He earns the once in a lifetime chance to become something more when the heavyweight champion of the world Apollo Creed decides to give a local underdog fighter a shot at the title and selects Rocky. Rocky accepts the challenge and with the help of Mickey, the owner of the local gym, he begins training his body and mind for the fight of his life. Rocky is a great character story that still holds up today.
If there's one thing that critics and audiences agree on, it's that an underdog story usually makes a good film. Well, this is truly the greatest underdog film ever made, and it deserved every bit of praise it received. Rocky Balboa was a nobody, and to him it wasn't about the title. It was about having his name up in lights next to Apollo Creed. It was about doing something with his life other than roughing people up for money. This isn't an action packed boxing movie. It's very character driven. This doesn't even necessarily have to be called a boxing or sport movie. It's more of a drama that just happens to involve a man who boxes. The movie is well paced and well directed. Sylvester Stallone wrote a pretty good script with some good dialogue.
The movie is very well acted. Whenever people think of Sylvester Stallone they think of Rocky's voice, but most people should know that that's just the character, and Sylvester Stallone plays it well. Talia Shire does a good job playing shy and making the transition to outspoken. Burt Young is good as Rocky's best friend Paulie and Carl Weathers is good as heavyweight champion of the world Apollo Creed.
Rocky is a great classic that still holds up as a good movie today, and I look forward to seeing the latest entry in the series to see how Stallone ends the franchise.
8/10