A bit rawer

Rating: 6/10 (12 March 2010)

The 3rd installment is better and also a lot more exciting than the previous one, here you at least get some brutality, albeit conventional one, instead of family drama; also, Talia Shire looks way better in this flick.
A statue is erected in Philadelphia's favorite son's honor. Balboa drinks the cup of the glory.
Balboa, now enjoying the benefits of the celebrity and of his fellow citizens' sincere gratitude, is challenged by Clubber Lang, a loner. Clubber, an iron-fisted giant, crushes Balboa in their first encounter.
Apollo Creed, insulted by the insensitive and paranoiac Lang, joins forces with Balboa and becomes his trainer, after Mickey's death.
Balboa and Lang offer textbook examples of how to behave and how not to; how to train, and how not to. While the overambitious Clubber Lang is a dedicated loner, and a jerk, Balboa's success comes also from a collective effort; the neighborhood joined him in the 2nd movie, his wife and Creed and others help him now. Balboa's victories aren't those of a grudging loner, but those of an open and friendly person.
To me, the 3rd flick is the jewel of the franchise. You get three matches (one with the wrestler, a couple with Clubber Lang). Otherwise, it remains a flick for kids, not something very raw or realist, not HOMEBOY material.
It remains of course unexplained how Balboa recovered his impaired sight.