The most difficult fight is against our inner demons ...

Rating: 7/10 (29 November 2011)

In "Rocky III", we're so far from the atmosphere of the previous films that the result could have been disastrous if it wasn't (again) for the characters and their genuine appeal. They're all here, Rocky, Adrian, Paulie, Mickey and Apollo, the fantastic five embarked for the last time together for one of the most defining film of the flamboyant 80's, the third opus of the "Rocky" series.
On the surface, Stallone really took the distance from the first two films, featuring a Rocky Balboa at the pinnacle of his boxing career, the undefeated Heavy Weight Champion of the World. The Italian Stallion's success even mirrors Sly's iconic status in the 80's: the movie begins with a clever montage featuring Sly himself after the first "Rocky" launched his career, it's a whole different mood, forget the austere Philadelphian streets and say hello to the 80's with its lot of action, glitter and cringe-worthy over-the-top moments (gay ballade on the beach, the infamous boxing/wrestling gala fight etc.) and of course, the hit-song that plays as a fitting subtitle: "Eye of the Tiger". Say anything about Stallone and his "Rocky" series, but no one can deny that the guy named Sly knew how to create an impact.
The first booming notes of "Eye the Tiger" resonate as a hymn for passion, hunger for fight, and thirst for victory, the 70's are over when the world needed an underdog hero going the distance, no place for the small players, it's all about winning and fighting and defeating, while Stallone created another cinematic icon that defined the 80's through John Rambo. "Rocky III" had to stand out for some values that are less appealing now, and this is why the first opus is still the one that stood the test of time. Still, the catchy Oscar-nominated 'Tiger' song injects some pep in our veins and makes "Rocky III" the solid conclusion of a great trilogy. And that's why we notice the flaws of "Rocky IV" more than in "Rocky III", it didn't have "The Eye of the Tiger", much more than a song, a concept as powerful and defining as Dirty Harry's 'Make my day' quote in the Reagan era.
Now, should I really enumerate the flaws of "Rocky III"? As for "Part II", does it really matter? I guess yes since a review asks for a minimum of objectivity, I have to mention that again, the movie sins by a predictable script whose structure parallels the second film's plot, who would have bet on Rocky after watching the first training montage? Anyway, it went like this, first act : Rocky is good, second act : he's down, third act: he's back, with all the cheers and applauds Â… and despite all the obviousness, it works. The "Rocky" sequels illustrate the idea that the greatness of a film can rely on its 'wowing' conclusion. On that basis, "Rocky III" is a winner, not a Heavy Weight champion like "Rocky" but still, a film that works, and unlike "Rocky II", it doesn't work less thanks to Rocky Balboa, than to all the other supporting characters around him. For once, Rocky is central to the plot but not to the appreciation of the film. You can tell that Mr. T, Burgess Meredith, Carl Weathers and even Talia Shire steal the show.
The most memorable aspect of the film is the antagonism and how a good replacement Clubber Lang is to Apollo Creed. Mr. T is like a mean-spirited but more determined version of Apollo, and despite what he said, I'm sure he just didn't pity but probably hated the fool he thought Balboa was. There's an interesting contrast set between Lang and Rocky. Lang is closer to Rocky's roots while Rocky became too smart, well-dressed and self-confident, it might discomfort some viewers in his first scene with Paulie but I guess it helps to build the new personality of Rocky, something that will be echoed in a poignant discussion with Mickey, who informs Rocky that he got civilized, in other words, he doesn't have the muscle anymore to fight killers like Lang. Psychoanalytically speaking, Clubber is what Rocky lacks. Logically, Rocky loses his match against Clubber and when it couldn't have been any worse, he loses even more.
The movie takes an emotional way, which is what the "Rocky" series have done best and after the tear-jerking farewell to Mickey, the grumpiest and most lovable sports coach, Rocky face a serious existential crisis. This is where Apollo makes his entrance, and closes the story's arc of his relationship with Rocky. As I said in my review of the first film, "Rocky" has always been about relationships and interactions, this is what makes the movies work, despite their flaws. And in the third opus, it's an extraordinary idea to allow the defeated Apollo to take a share from Rocky's victory, reminding us that Apollo's last defeat was a very close call and the Rock still have something to learn, to take his pride back. But it ain't easy fighting his own demons and this is when the shy good wife Adrian let Rocky open his heart, admit his own fears and set his mind up to challenge Clubber Lang again. The eye of the tiger is a burning flame that got ignited in the heart.
So it's easy to criticize "Rocky III" and mock the evolution of the characters, but the movie is still a good cinematic achievement, more entertaining and heart-warming than your average sports films, it works because the first two films built a gallery of unforgettable characters, we learned to know, to appreciate and to love, as if unconsciously, we never wanted the series to end