Rocky Balboa

Plot synopsis:
In the past 15 years (1990-2005) since the end of the last Rocky movie, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stalone) is a retired boxer who owns an Italian themed restaurant in Philadelphia named after his beloved wife Adrian (flashbacks to the original portrayal by Talia Shire), who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2002. He visits her gravesite regularly, and takes a tour of notable landmarks in Philadelphia that remind him of their time together. Their only son, Robert (Milo Ventimiglia), has entered the corporate world and works at a firm in downtown Philadelphia. The relationship between father and son is strained; Robert feels resentment about living in the shadow of his famous father.Rocky still sees his brother-in-law Paulie (Burt Young) on a regular basis. He begrudgingly joins Rocky on the tour of his life with Adrian, but it pains him to do so because he knows he did not treat his sister very well. Rocky reminds him that Adrian loved him too. At the end of his yearly tour, he stops at the Lucky Seven tavern, which he would pass by on his way to Mickey's gym during his boxing career. The bartender is Marie, a grown woman Rocky hadn't seen in decades. Back in 1975 during the first Rocky movie, she was a young teenager who Rocky admonished her to quit smoking and clean up her act. Now, she is a down-on-her-luck bartender and single mother of a (presumably) teenage child named Stephenson (or "Steps", his nickname). Partly out of a desire to help her, as he did before, and partly out of the need for a friend and confidant, Rocky befriends Marie and tries to provide a role model for Steps. When his assistant at the restaurant goes on maternity leave, he invites Marie to work there as the hostess and barmaid.The sense of stagnation that has gripped Rocky since Adrian's death begins to lift when ESPN televises a computer simulation of a fight on a television program hosted by Brian Kenny. The virtual fight pits Rocky (in his prime) against the current Heavyweight champion, Mason "The Line" Dixon (Antonio Tarver). The simulation causes a change of heart in Rocky; though he has not fought professionally in years, he begins to believe he still has "some stuff in the basement," and "and that he has a beast inside that needs to be released he" decides to start fighting again, but only on a small scale.Rocky goes to Robert and Paulie to ask them to be in his corner and to help him train. Robert feels that the whole notion is crazy and that the feelings his father is having will soon pass. Paulie also thinks the idea is crazy and tells Rocky the reason for these feelings is because "Adrian left him." Rocky sharply corrects Paulie by saying "She didn't leave me, she died." In an emotional scene, Rocky breaks down and admits that he has found life without Adrian unbearable and much harder than he thought it would be. As a result of that, a "beast" has grown inside him and it is tearing him apart. Rocky needs an outlet to vent his anger and pain. Paulie wishes to help Rocky but all he has time for is his work at the meat plant and cannot afford to help.Rocky applies for his license to fight and although he passes all of his medical tests he is still refused a license beacuse of his age. After an impassioned speech to the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission, in which he accuses them of acting in bad faith by knowing full well that they will deny him a licence even if he passes, he is allowed back into the ring.The simulation, and the news that Rocky has gotten his license, gets gears turning in Mason Dixon's camp. Dixon is viewed as soft because he hasn't had any "true" competition - all of his opponents have provided him little challenge, and generated scant interest from the public. Dixon's promoters inform him that HBO won't televise any more of his fights because they don't make any money; most of the available challengers have little marquee value. They convince him to participate in an exhibition bout against Rocky, to take advantage of the buzz generated by the computer fight. At first, Dixon refuses: he has no desire to beat an old man. But he realizes that, if he is ever to respect himself as a fighter, he needs to test himself against a true challenger.Dixon's representatives come to see Rocky in his restaurant and offer him the chance to face Dixon in the ring in a charity exhibition bout. At first, Rocky is unsure - this is far bigger than what he was planning to do - but Marie advises him to take this last shot. Paulie doesn't believe it is possible, but when he is fired from the meat plant, he comes back to Rocky and, in a drunken rant, pledges to help him. Robert is harder to convince: though he is his own man, he has resented living in the shadow of his father, and though he knows his father doesn't mean for it to happen, the notion of a new fight threatens to make it worse. For both their sakes, Robert begs Rocky to not fight. Rocky answers his son with one of the more inspiring lines of dialogue in the film:"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that!"Robert understands and quits his job to join Rocky in his corner. Tony "Duke" Evers is once again his head trainer, and gears his training specifically toward his ability to generate power.Rocky's age (he is 58) precludes him from training for speed, and sparring will not help him any, drawing on Rocky's experience and ring smarts. Duke's strategy is to start "buildin' some hurtin' bombs;" in other words, try to beat Dixon with brute strength and put him away early in the fight before Rocky's stamina gives out. After a grueling training montage mirroring many elements of that seen in the first film, Rocky is ready for the ring.The Balboa-Dixon exhibition match is broadcast over HBO Pay-per-view from the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino in Las Vegas. The two respective fighters enter the ring to their own respective themes - Rocky enters to the tune of Frank Sinatra singing "High Hopes" (Paulie's selection) while Dixon enters to an agressive number--"It's a Fight" by Three 6 Mafia. Celebrated sports announcer Michael Buffer opens the event with his usual flair, including his trademarked catchprase, "Let's get ready to rumble!" The fight itself starts slowly - Rocky is thrown off balance by Dixon's speed. He does land a few punches in the first round, but it is in the second round that Rocky starts to do some damage. After Rocky is knocked down twice by Dixon, a hook to Rocky's body breaks Dixon's left hand, and allows Rocky to charge in and throw some devastating punches.The fight is back and forth, until the tenth (and final) round when it appears that Dixon will outlast the tired Balboa. A hook sends Balboa to a knee where he has a flashback, and within his head he returns to what he said to his son when asked not to fight again:"What is it you said to the kid? It ain't about how hard you can hit; it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward...How much you can take and keep moving forward. Now get up, get up!"In this Rocky finds the strength to continue; he stands up, and Dixon is visibly stunned at the aged former champion's determination. Rocky fights back, throwing punch after punch. Balboa taunts Dixon to get him to give everything he has, knowing this is the last round of his life. The fight ends with both fighters trading blows in the center of the ring, and it is Rocky that throws the last punch of the fight, knocking Dixon to the ropes as the bell rings, singling the end of the fight. The spectators cheer wildly. Rocky tells Paulie that the "beast" that was living inside him is now gone. Rocky exits the arena as the decision is read; Dixon wins in a split decision. Rocky, who has already begun leaving the ring, turns back to the crowd, taking one more curtain call before finally leaving, as the crowd roars their approval. The final scene is a frozen screen of Rocky holding a fan's hand as he walks into the tunnel.The movie concludes as it began, with Rocky at Adrian's grave. He leaves a flower for Adrian, saying, "Yo, Adrian, we did it", a reprise of when he said "Yo, Adrian, I did it!" when he won the title in 1976 in Rocky II. Then he turns and walks away, stopping for a moment to turn once more to the gravesite and wave, before fading from focus altogether, seeming as if he asends. The last shot of the film, and of the saga as a whole, is of the flower on the headstone.During the end credits, there is an acknowledgement of the iconic status the Rocky series has achieved, through a montage of people following in Rocky's footsteps, charging up the front steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, concluding with a reprise of the famous stair sequence from the original film. The credits fade to black from a still shot of Rocky standing in silhouette at the top of the steps, facing the skyline of Philadelphia as night falls.

Tags: inspiring, cult, sentimental, violence, flashback

Review:
"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over"Thirty years after the ring of the first bell, Rocky Balboa comes out of retirement and dons his gloves for his final fight; against the reigning heavyweight champ Mason 'The Line' Dixon.
Balboa is gonna hit so many people in different ways.I suppose you can look at any great film and see a message in there, but the Rocky franchise is so inspirational, even the 5th one.This new film has had me thinking, and though some reviews have said it's a trip down memory lane and a rehash of the 1st, well the point is, as reflected in the film, that Rocky IS living in the past, like so many of us do for one reason or another.The message as stated in the film "you gotta keep moving forward", I don't know if its me or just pure genius, but if you LOOK you will find something that touches your soul throughout the franchise ..So i wont drag this out...........I left the theatre kind of stunned.
The film doesn't focus so much on boxing as it does on the actual character of Rocky and the trials he faces having one day been on top of the world and now he leads a simple life and thrives on his memories.I am a huge Stallone fan but I realize his career has been in a slump lately, but this film would be a perfect resurrection for him.
It made me feel as good as I did after watching the 1st Rocky years ago - hopeful, grateful - it made me believe in myself & others!Kudos to Sylvester Stallone for fighting like a Lion to get this film made the way he wanted.
When the 4th came out and was rock-solid (!) Hollywood was stunned.Rocky 5 was a bit of a lemon but again Stallone never quits.If you have seen all the Rocky films and they are still fresh in your mind, then his film will be a treat.If you on the other hand are not a fan, or just arrived from another planet, then what you have is a well-told and well-acted drama that builds into a pretty good boxing film.Either way you win..
People were in the theater making fun of Rocky saying, "Oh, so when is Rocky XIX coming out?!" "Come on you old man!" But I think anybody who liked the story and could relate to it would actually walk out of the theater and say, " That was a darn good movie" It had a lot of the silent sort of scenes where that early morning Philadelphia song would come in.
Another five years passed before Stallone felt that he had to return to the iconic role - in "Rocky V", he adopts a young fighter who turns on him.That really should have been it - but, as the tagline for "Rocky Balboa" puts it, "It ain't over till it's over" so, 16 year after the last film and an amazing 30 years after the original movie, he's back.
On this sixth outing, the narrative arc is just the same as first time round - again a complete no-chancer facing a world champion after a gruelling training routine involving the same frozen meat, the same one-armed press-ups, and of course the same race up the Museum of Art steps - and the same music.What's different is the advanced years of Rocky and of course Stallone himself - but he looks good, the film looks good, and you'll feel good at the final bell.
But its the insight that Stallone brings to this script, his heartfelt "speeches" to the Licensing board, his son and of course, Paulie, that are the real knockouts in the film.I am so glad this turned out to be the fitting farewell that an icon like Rocky and Sylvester both deserve..
And when I heard it for the first time in the movie theatre, I knew that whatever would happen from that point, I was probably watching the greatest "Rocky" film since the first one, which is saying a lot, considering how deeply rooted in pop-culture the sequel were.Coming from the famous speech Rocky gave to his son Robert, the monologue that started with "let me tell you something you already know, the world ain't no sunshine and rainbows" cut straight to my heart.
Then Rocky Balboa, the character who was introduced to cinema thirty years before in an underdog story that would be the inspiration for all the 'little guys' in the world, Rocky, the ex-Heavy Weight champion and now a father and widower, straightens his son out, explaining him that there is no other person to blame in our misfortune than ourselves, and learning that is an important step for maturity.
And this is another aspect of the 'rainbow' speech that makes it so powerful, it also works on a self-reflexive way, it's not just Rocky talking for his son or for us, viewers, it's Stallone's response to all the crap and all meanness he received in his life, to all these Razzies nominations that elected him as the scapegoat of 'bad cinema', to all the mockeries and incessant comparisons with Arnie, Stallone took all the hits and moved forward with a last provocation, a movie with a sixty-year old "Rocky" and managed to make it believable his challenge against the young Mason 'the Line' Dixon, less flamboyant but more realistic than any other Rocky's opponents.And to understand the reasons of this insistence, one has to take into consideration the scene when he expresses his desire to join the Boxing League, explaining that no one should interfere with his personal vision of happiness; this is again, Sylvester Stallone speaking for himself, for why he did "Rocky Balboa".
I can't deny that it's sad to see him go away , but with the completion of this last part I'm sure that Rocky Balboa will always remain in our hearts and minds as one of the most famous, outstanding and remembered characters the film industry all over the world will know .
I hope Mr. Stallone visits these boards....There is something I'd like to tell him.I have never felt inspired to comment on a movie here before but after seeing Rocky Balboa I just couldn't let this opportunity pass.
I know that I must have watched Rocky over 200 times over the last 30 years and seriously, although I am a fan of the series and always stop on the channel that any of the Rocky I-V movies are being shown on TV, I cannot tell you fellow IMDb members/visitors just how blown away I and my whole family was after seeing this masterpiece of writing/directing/acting.
In Philadelphia, the retired former champion Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) misses his beloved deceased wife Adrian; tries to get closer to his son Robert (Milo Ventimiglia) and has a routine life helping people, running his restaurant telling his past glories to clients and taking pictures with his fans.
"Rocky Balboa" (Sylvester Stallone) on the other hand has been retired for a long time but still believes he has one good fight left in him.
Rocky Balboa, independently from Stallone's acting ability to reinterpret a character last played 10 years ago, independently from the entire crew's ability to shot this movie, manages to teach us a really important thing: you don't have to care if you are old, if you have to suffer, if your life is difficult...if you really have will you can succeed.
The character, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) started a series of "cheer the underdog" films.
So with a certain incredulity, this aging film critic watched Rocky Balboa with initial skepticism and final admiration for a small, underplayed drama about an older man who still has life and more importantly spirit.As Marie (Geraldine Hughes) tells her new friend and potential lover, Rocky, "Fighters fight." Such simple wisdom helps us understand why this middle-aged ex- heavyweight champion would go into the ring with the young current champ.
But actor /director Stallone gives a sweetness and almost Zen-like wisdom to the boxer's decision, which has little ego and even less foolishness than the clichés would allow anyone dramatizing such a well-worn setup.There is more sanity in Rocky's willingness to fight one last time (as his son points out it will be) than in the reasoning of the current champ, Mason "The Line" Dixon (Antonio Tarver), who wants to endear himself to a boxing world that has not warmed up to him.
Sylvester Stallone takes complete control once again by starring in, writing, directing and serving as executive producer of this flawed but well-crafted and solidly entertaining audience-pleaser.I say flawed because of several (mostly plot-related) factors: firstly, Stallone is 60 years old and while not especially looking it, his physique has taken an undeniably flabby appearance (particularly the face) which does not exactly lend credence to the fact that the Boxing Commission eventually permits him to ply his past trade once more; the brain damage implications which arose in ROCKY V (1990) are completely omitted here; Rocky is now a widower and, although we see him sitting by his wife's grave several times throughout the film, Stallone could not resist giving in to convention and minority groups by introducing an unlikely - and saccharine - love interest in the figure of an old acquaintance (Geraldine Hughes) and her half-Jamaican son; his ringside opponent here (Antonio Tarver), while still colored as had been Rocky's most formidable nemesis Apollo Creed, sports none of Carl Weathers' charisma or panache (which made one care for the character if not exactly cheer for him), even if this could constitute a sarcastic jab by Stallone at today's utterly colorless {sic} celebrities in most entertainment spectrums.Even so, the film has other assets in Stallone's own determined, even moving performance, the presence of the grouchy (but always welcome) Burt Young and, most surprisingly, a well-written, perceptive script which highlights not only the plight of an ex-World Champion prize-fighter in today's disrespectful age dominated by computers and the search for increase of wealth over the old-fashioned values of dignity and pride but also, in the film's emotional highlight, the strained father-son relationship which arises when the younger generation has to regretfully live under the old one's (however pale) shadow.
Rocky Balboa is a great movie I never would've thought it would be you may think that a 60 year old guy fighting would be bad but Sylvester Stallone make you buy into it I love this movie and is one of the best in the series!.
The fight between Rocky Balboa and Mason Dixon was very intense and it's almost as if you can feel Rocky get hit as you get more attached to the character,Overall, I would recommend this movie because it's an action-packed, inspiring homage to an awesome series.
And how he lives with these memories and tries to cope with them becomes his piece's main appeal.With the fading cuts, he takes us through the story once again; developing parallel plot lines within the big plot line: the troubled relationship between Rocky and his son (played convincingly by Milo Ventimiglia), the relationship with an old and now virtually nonsensical Paulie (Burt Young, of course), the life and issues of Rocky's new rival Mason Dixon (Antonio Tarver) and also a little bit of love for Rocky's heart.It's true that everything is a little bit egotistical, with practically every person congratulating Rocky all the time at the beginning of the film, asking him for autographs and old stories about fight, but Stallone finds a balance and makes good use of the ego element.
The great two speeches...The one to his son and the one when he was getting his boxing license....I saw tears in peoples eyes ...my family and I loved it..my 6 year old loved it....I personally love all of the Rocky movies...his character has always been so down to earth and sweet, really kind -hearted...I hope it's not over...seconds after the movie ended...people were screaming and clapping and I wanted to watch the movie again...it was just soooo good...IT WAS SINCERELY BEYOND EXCELLENCE!!!.
Rocky was the inspiration for many.It was the ultimate underdog story.It was a touching portrait of a loser,a bum, who gets a chance ,by freak luck, to compete with the world champion and prove that he's no bum.I really did shed some tears for Rocky as it touched me.I saw myself in him,one man's struggle and fears to prove his worth and to prove to the world that he's not a loser.That anything is possible if you try,and that everyone deserves a chance.The innocence of that character matched Stallone's portrayal of Rocky so well that you see Stallone in Rocky.And people connect with Rocky because it told their story about struggle in life,about their love and will to become somebody.It was the right movie to inspire people.What was so phenomenal about that film was that Stallone based it on his life and his struggle that reached out to the audience.He was Rocky,the underdog.His story is the rags-to-riches story.He showed his life to us,and the lives of many underdogs out there,looking for just one chance to prove what they can do.And he overcame an even bigger obstacle than the character,when he went on to nab the best actor/writer nods and winning the film the best picture beating high profile films of that year.That was a triumph for Rocky and Stallone.I weeped for him,for both his struggle and triumph to go the distance and hold on.I loved it and it gave me hope and inspired me to chase my dream.Rocky was in my memories....But what followed after that was Hollywood sucking the life out of Rocky and making him just another fighter in the sequels.They should've stopped after the first sequel,which was fine,but they just kept degrading and degenerating his legacy in the sequels.Well,blame Stallone.Rocky owns a restaurant now,named after his late wife.Rocky mourns the loss of his wife.He's lonely again,even lonelier than the first film.He visits her grave from time to time,like he visits her pet shop.Paulie's still the same old Paulie.Rocky sees a computer fight that pits him against a present champion and shows Rocky triumphant.This ignites the passion and determination in Rocky to fight again in the ring.Everyone think he's lost it but Rocky moves on to prove that impossible is nothing.He gets the support from Paulie and Marie,the girl from the original film that Rocky kindly walked back home and gave advices.But Rocky misses Adrian and doesn't know if he could do it without her.But he gives it a shot to go the distance and tries to risk his life for the love of the game and for Adrian.And you can pretty much predict what happens in the end after the rigorous training,if you've seen the first film.I would suggest that you watch the original and its sequel and skip 3,4,5, and watch this for a very satisfying ,if not rewarding, conclusion.It's worth it.It's Stallone's show all the way.I think he makes better films when he's not so famous and all forgotten.He didn't take a high salary for this film ,and why would he?I mean who'd pay him another 20 million to do another dud?.He proves,like Rocky,that he can go on forever.The spirit of the original echoes throughout the film.You see Stallone in Rocky once again.And I must say,it's the most faithful and respectful sequel to the original.Rocky's only grown older but hasn't lost any of the charm and innocence.Stallone manages to pull off some very touching and emotional scenes.One really memorable scene is where he tries to secure his license for boxing.He proves that he can still act,after all those films he's done that brought him back to the rags from the riches.It's somewhat a surprise with only half-successful results.It certainly ain't going to Oscars or anything.But for the sake of old memories,it's worth a visit.I watched the original before I went to see this,because both films have something in common.This could've been a great film or as good as the original,had it been written by someone else.But with a good start and build up it descends into the predictable.It's sometimes cheesy and laughable if you take the story and the set up too seriously.And by the end it gets so predictable and obvious that it makes you want go back home and watch the original for full satisfaction.The writing is weak,that I can assure you but the spirit is high.There are some flashbacks worth remembering.But what succeeds here is Sly's dedication.It could've been a lot worse.Watching so many films about Sports coming out that are all the same,Stallone goes against that formula (kind of) and tries to present Rocky in a different manner.The rest of the cast is fine,nothing special to mention,except Burt Young's faithful reprising performance.The performances are all decent.Sly has really has learned a lot about boxing these past years after not doing another Rocky movie.I can tell you that you will enjoy and appreciate the amount of realism and intensity that went into the final showdown.At 60 he's still got it.And that's the only fight you'll see throughout the film.It was satisfying and well executed,but too predictable and borrows too much from the original.He may just fly high again at the box office.But I'm sure he's gonna fly in audiences' memories now ,as the legend once again tries to prove that impossible is nothing and restore hope in all those underdogs and people who need inspiration.I have great respect for Rocky since the original film and still do.Rocky is still an iconic figure in America culture,and Stallone just makes him fresh in our memories again.This film could've been great but in the end it's above average and decent.It is well intentioned and better than most sports dramas.It eats lighting,but it doesn't crap thunder.Still,do watch this film,just for once,just for Rocky.Once is enough and you will be satisfied with this final chapter and fine conclusion to the Rocky saga.Good luck Flying high now.6.7/10 B- 3/5.
At the end of the day we want to love Rocky Balboa the character and the movie.