Solid film with a new challenge for the character

Rating: 6/10 (2 January 2016)

In many ways, Rocky III gets back to what made the first film so great, whilst also straying further away from the classic formula. I'll just make an aside here to say that I don't understand why we need to replay the last scene of the preceding movie to open this movie. If I'm watching the third film of a franchise, I think its safe to say that I know how the previous ones went.
The opening montages for Rocky III show us a lot about what Rocky has become and teaches us so much about the stratospheric rise of James "Clubber" Lang. Rocky poses for commercials while Clubber thrashes himself in his rigorous training schedule. Even the film's first fight is a flashy showcase for charity, featuring great entertainment value in watching Hulk Hogan and Sylvester Stallone face off. Whilst its cheap fun for us, what it says about Rocky makes it worthwhile as well. In the lead up to Clubber's battle with Rocky, Burgess Meredith's revulsion is the focal point for the audience who are also disgusted by how showy Rocky has become. The Rocky franchise has always excelled in contrasting the two boxers and their training, and seeing Clubber's simple but determined workout contrasted with Rocky's light punches in between photo ops speaks volumes about what is to come.
Clubber Lang, played adequately by Mr. T, poses the exact challenge that Rocky as a character needed. When Clubber rages against Rocky's refusal to give him the shot that Rocky himself was given, it makes Clubber a deeper character than if he'd just been a brute with a haircut. Clubber wants to be the best, and its that which we remember even amongst his showy, bullying persona. He becomes a far less interesting character once he wins the title from Rocky as we see nothing about who he is or where he comes from like we did with the opponents in Rocky and Creed, but enough has been done that we're pumped for his defeat.
The most memorable moment in Rocky 3 is the death of Micky, and this was a bold, confident and absolutely essential moment for the character of Rocky to proceed. Losing his title and his manager in one miserable evening, Rocky is broken down and can begin to rebuild, setting the stage for a movie without it feeling like a lazy rehash. The decision to place Paulie in Rocky's corner while the fight is going in was a brilliant move by Stallone, as Paulie is completely incapable of talking Rocky down and keeping him focused. The death scene, with a grieving Rocky howling over Micky's body is powerful.
Apollo stepping in to train Rocky was a plot point I was very pleased to see and it had great potential at the start and paid off nicely, but the piece about Rocky's heart not being in it didn't feel right. It felt like it existed only to give Talia Shire something to do, because Adrian sits firmly in the background this time, a place she'll be for the rest of the franchise. Her concerns about Rocky's health completely evaporated - a fault of Rocky 2's inexplicable ending, rather than this film - her role mostly consists of reaction shots and tragically too- few sweet moments with Stallone. The speech she gives Rocky about getting his head in the game has some power to it, but it feels forced.
Rocky 3's iconic Eye of the Tiger is a delight to listen to but I feel that it could have been better used throughout the Clubber fight rather than at the opening. The recurring point about Rocky's hunger was one that was touched on nicely throughout the film, and playing it when he finally gets it back (even at the expense of the gorgeous Bill Conti score) would have felt more appropritae.
Overall, Rocky III is a solid film. It's got its flaws, but it's a new challenge for Rocky and a new direction for his character.