Rocky Series

Was checking out Rocky Balboa on the DVD this weekend. Although had read reviews that the movie was good and worth checking out , most impressed was by James Berardinelli's views in this matter. (It is another matter that I almost agree with him almost everytime I read one of his reviews.)

The movie was good , surprisingly it showed good emotional depth and ability to again bring Rocky as the top of the line character. This aspect being one of the highlights of the movie. Stallone had a very "punchy way of unfolding the narrative , though the films started going low on substance from the second film onwards and made a mockery of itself with the fifth instalment ; Rocky balboa redeems an otherwise downhill story.

The best part of the films is that Boxing is used as a cathartic expression of an aging but gallant hero. Rocky's need to again apply for his licence is not shown as an attempt by an Old action star to reclaim some lost glory , it is an attempt by a warrior to show to the world that the heroism is intact however gnarled and geriatric it may have become. Rocky's beloved better half Adrianne is dead and the pugilist is fighting bouts of depression with a feeling of emptiness and the apathy of dealing with a son who considers his father's legacy a burden.

The emotional aspects of the story start drawing when Rocky tells his son about the gallantry of taking life's hardest punches and still getting up to fight another day. This was my favourite line in the movie , though some may consider it over the top , it never is banal . Stallone makes the utterance of the lines very credible in deadpan but emotional "Rocky Balboa" style. This is the essence of the whole series when Rocky was able to win against better opponents through willpower , grit and the ability to take the 'worst hits' and still come back strongly and win.

This movie is not about winning or losing as Rocky again proves to the world that by lasting for 10 rounds against a champion half his age , and giving him the toughest fight of his life he proves to himself and his son that Life is about taking punches and still giving it back. Rocky Balboa is a fitting tribute to end this series as the last one was a disaster. This movie redeems the protagnist before our eyes and not because he is a great Boxer but he is one of Life's great champions.

I have always been a Fan of the Rocky series and apart from the fifth instalment , I believe that the series was very good. People can argue that the second , third and the fourth instalments were creatively dead and had little meat , I would like to differ. Agreed! the three mentioned instalments were certainly not in the league of the first which was really the Original "Italian Stallion" but these movies were about the triumph of the Human soul and certainly were decent no matter "Warts and all". Rocky and Rocky Balboa are the movies which use boxing as a way of Rocky's redemption whereas the rest can be viewed as pure visceral fun which is nevertheless endearing.