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Created Aug 14, 2009 06:48PM PST • Edited May 27, 2010 10:08PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Really Great 4.5

   Rocky: An all time classic depicting a Cinderella story in the boxing world. Perfect story, perfect acting, and the fight of all fights resulting in Rocky going the distance but losing by split decision. Now…..the rematch!

   Since I was born in 1985, the same year Rocky IV was released, I missed out on these films in theaters and the Rocky mania that was sweeping the nation. I grew up watching the films but never “got them.” Being a child, I just watched the movies for the music and the fight at the end. Once I started watching the films again out of high school, I really felt for the films in a way I never did before. I understood them. I knew Rocky, I knew Mickey, I knew Adrian, I knew all of these people and I felt for them and their situation. Hell, I even knew Apollo and despite him being labeled the “bad guy” for the first two films, I can’t help but love the guy. So after the big superfight in the first film, what’s next for the Italian Stallion? A trip to the hospital.

   The damage inflicted and sustained by both men has left them battered, beaten, and in need of medical help. Rocky is in worse shape though, after doctors tell him the vision in his right eye is severely distorted. In short, he’s practically blind in his right eye. So what is left for Rocky? After talking it over with a more social Adrian, the couple decide it’s best for Rocky and his health if he just retires. Soon after, Rocky proposes to Adrian and the couple get married but money is still something they don’t have enough of. Things quickly start looking up though, seeing how well the fight went and the large amount of publicity it got, Rocky has now become a big celebrity and is offered all kinds of commercials and endorsement deals. He signs the deal and starts shooting commercials and the money starts coming in. They move into a nice house, get a bitching Trans Am, nice clothes….life seems to be going good for the Balboas, but it doesn’t last. Rocky soon gets fired on the set of a commercial when he can’t read his lines. He sells his car to Paulie so he can make ends meet and to make matters worse, Apollo wants a rematch. Rocky starts working at Mickey’s gym cleaning the floors and such and is mocked by the young boxers as being a bum. After a harsh advertisement picture of Apollo fighting a chicken with Rocky’s head on it, both Mickey and Rocky decide it’s time to clean his clock.

   Rocky begins his training and similar to the first movie he struggles at first but then he…..struggles some more….keeps struggling and he shows no signs of improvement. It soon appears that Rocky is half-assing his training and isn’t giving it his all. Why? Adrian had a problem while giving birth to Rocky Jr, yes Adrian became pregnant and is now in a coma after some complications during labor. After she falls into the coma, Rocky gives up on training altogether much to the dismay of Mickey. In a last ditch effort, Mick visits Rocky at the hospital and tells Rocky whether he fights or not, he’ll stand by him but he believes that Rocky can beat Apollo if he can believe in himself like before. Soon after, Adrian comes out of the coma and puts Rocky back into the fight when she tells him to do one thing…..WIN!

   It’s on now! Start the “Gonna Fly Now” theme and get on with the montage! Rocky runs, lifts weights, beats the punching bag, the speed bag, chases chickens, jumps a park bench and has the youth of Philadelphia right behind him. He was just one man with a dream in the first movie, now he’s the leader of every man, woman, and child who wants to make something out of the very little they have in life. The fight starts and both men take it to each other like never before. Apollo wins a round, then Rocky, then Apollo, on and on they go. The rounds don’t flyby as quickly in this one and as we approach the final round, it seems that Apollo has the match in the bag. The two men trade the last bit of energy they have but it’s Rocky who throws the final punch as both men collapse in the ring simultaneously. The referre starts counting, both corners of the fighters are yelling, the audience is in complete pandomonium…who will it be? Rocky or Apollo?

   Despite the seemingly obvious outcome of the film, I still felt the drama during the fight. Every time Rocky starts landing those punches you say to yourself “Come on Rocky, do it!” Maybe that’s just me though lol. Rocky II is a terrific sequel to a film that really didn’t need a sequel. Rocky II however, didn’t shame the first film in the least bit and would’ve been a great way to end the story of Rocky Balboa but as we all know, the Italian Stallion has many more journeys before he hangs up his gloves. This movie was just as good as the first outside of the fight. Seeing Rocky and Adrian adapting to this new celebrity status and all of the fame and money was done well and smart by Sylvester Stallone. Rocky, the character, is still just as simple and gullible as he was prior. Everyone is the same really except for Adrian. She seems to finally be comfortable around Rocky and is more talkative this time around and she takes on a lot of grief as everyone points the finger of blame towards her when Rocky loses his job and resorts to mopping floors at the gym. Everyone did a great job but the predictable ending tainted this, otherwise, perfect film.

4. Acting

   Really Great 4.5

   Stallone, Meredith, Weathers, everyone was terrific. Rocky is still the lovable simpleton as before as you almost feel sorry for the guy when others exploit the fact that he’s not exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer. Stallone was meant to be this character. Out of the many roles he’s played, Rocky Balboa is the one role I honestly can’t imagine another actor taking on and wouldn’t want another actor to do it. With all of the remakes that are being made, I hope and pray that Rocky will not become one of those films because I know that there isn’t another actor or screenwriter that can recreate the same drama and hope that first film accomplished.

   Carl Weathers as Apollo certainly steals the show when on screen. His cocky attitude returns with him despite getting his face punched in from the first fight. He trains harder this time around and even though he is considered the antagonist of the film, you still respect him for being a fair and square opponent who shows repsect and good sportsmanship towards Rocky. He doesn’t take cheap shots, he doesn’t use steroids, he doesn’t attack Rocky outside of the ring, he’s a boxer and a damn good one. Out of the cheesy and over-the-top bad guys to follow in the Rocky sequels, I still say that Apollo Creed is the baddest bad guy of the series. It took Rocky two fights over the span of a year to beat him and he just barely got by on the second fight. He didn’t knock him out in the 5th, he beat Apollo by one second from being counted out. Weathers really brought Creed to life and is another character I can’t imagine being played by anyone else. Weathers had the calm, cool, and collected mentality that Creed is. While he’s no Oscar nominated actor, Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed is his best work in film.

   Burgess Meredith as the Mick was another home run. He’s just as crazy and beligerent as before only this time he seems a little more laid back with Rocky and not so cold to him. We call him nuts but Mickey knows best. Hard to believe Burgess Meredith was already 72 years old when he filmed this movie and would continue filming in his late 80s until he sadly passed away at the age of 89.

   Talia Shire and Burt Young were equally great as Adrian and Paulie.

5. Male Stars Really Great 4.5

6. Female Stars Really Great 4.5

7. Female Costars Really Great 4.5

8. Male Costars Really Great 4.5

10. Film

    Perfect 5.0

    The music, direction, dialogue and visuals are all perfect. Everything fit into place causing Rocky II to play through like a well oil machined with no bugs or glitches.

11. Direction Perfect 5.0

12. Play Perfect 5.0

13. Music Perfect 5.0

14. Visuals Perfect 5.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.2

    Sex is not needed. Therefore, it is not shown or even hinted at. The language is tame for the most part until Mickey and Paulie start their offensive slanderings. Violence is also at a minimum until the fight and even then, the cuts and blood are shown realistically and wonl’t likely offend anyone.

17. Sex Innocent 1.0

18. Violence Fierce 1.6

19. Rudeness Polite 1.0

21. Reality

    Glib 1.2

    Rocky II is a fantastic film but the preseverance of a half blind man against “the most dangerous fighter in the world” is a little difficult to believe but I’ve seen more ridiculous things.

22. Circumstantial Natural 1.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Glib 1.5