Rocky (1976) - Movie Review

Summary

In this video, the host kicks off a review series on the iconic 'Rocky' film franchise, timed with Valentine's Day to highlight the love story between the characters. The script delves into the film's inspirational backstory, Sylvester Stallone's struggle to star in his own creation, and the movie's enduring impact. It discusses the relatable themes of the underdog, the realistic and human portrayal of characters, and the film's iconic moments, such as the training montage and the famous staircase scene. The host also touches on the challenges of certain scenes aging poorly, yet emphasizes the timeless appeal and the deep connection viewers have with the characters, especially Rocky and Adrian.

Takeaways

• 🎬 The script is a kickoff for a 'Rocky' review series, highlighting the significance of discussing the franchise on Valentine's Day and its romantic undertones.
• 🤗 The video is sponsored by geology, a skin, hair, and body care company, which the speaker highly recommends for its customized and effective products.
• 📝 Sylvester Stallone's personal story of struggle and success mirrors that of his character, Rocky, who rises from a lowly boxer to a celebrated figure, both in the film and in Stallone's real life.
• 🏆 'Rocky' is celebrated for its inspirational narrative, winning multiple Oscars including Best Picture, and has a lasting impact on audiences due to its relatable themes of underdog triumph.
• 🏋️‍♂️ The film is more than a sports movie; it's about personal growth, realizing one's potential, and the pursuit of love and respect, which are universal themes that resonate with viewers.
• 💖 The relationship between Rocky and Adrian is one of the most celebrated in film history, characterized by its realistic and grounded portrayal of romance, contrasting with typical Hollywood depictions.
• 🎥 The character of Rocky, played by Sylvester Stallone, is iconic and inseparable from the actor, embodying qualities that make him both relatable and endearing to audiences.
• 🥊 The film's training and boxing scenes are iconic, with the running up the stairs sequence becoming a symbol of the franchise and a must-do for visitors to Philadelphia.
• 🔥 The character of Apollo Creed, played by Carl Weathers, is a flashy and showman-like figure, providing a stark contrast to Rocky's humble and determined persona.
• 😡 The character Paulie is complicated and unlikable, yet remains an integral part of the franchise, adding a layer of tension and complexity to the narrative.
• 🚫 The script acknowledges that certain scenes, particularly the first date between Rocky and Adrian, may feel uncomfortable or even inappropriate by today's standards, potentially impacting viewer reception.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video script?

The main theme of the video script is a review and discussion of the film 'Rocky', its significance as a sports movie, and the impact of the film and its characters on audiences over the years.

Why is the 'Rocky' movie considered one of the greatest love stories in history according to the script?

The 'Rocky' movie is considered one of the greatest love stories because it portrays a realistic and relatable romance between Rocky and Adrian, which is grounded and faces everyday difficulties, ultimately showing growth and mutual support in their relationship.

What was Sylvester Stallone's situation when he wrote the screenplay for 'Rocky'?

Sylvester Stallone was homeless and in a desperate situation when he wrote the screenplay for 'Rocky'. It was his last lifeline before he was at the end of his rope, and he wrote the screenplay in about three days.

Why did Sylvester Stallone refuse a six-figure deal for the 'Rocky' film?

Sylvester Stallone refused a six-figure deal for the 'Rocky' film because the offer required him to give up the lead role to another actor. He felt so personally attached to the character and believed in it so much that he insisted on playing Rocky himself.

How did the character of Rocky influence the themes and messages of the 'Rocky' movie?

The character of Rocky influenced the themes and messages of the movie by embodying the underdog story, inspiring others, and rising from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs, which mirrored Sylvester Stallone's own journey from homelessness to becoming a successful actor.

What is the significance of the running up the stairs scene in the 'Rocky' movie?

The running up the stairs scene is significant because it has become an iconic moment in the film, symbolizing Rocky's determination and struggle. It is a scene that many visitors to Philadelphia feel compelled to recreate, and it represents an enduring image of the character and the movie.

How does the script describe the character of Apollo Creed?

The script describes Apollo Creed as an absolute icon and the total opposite of Rocky. He is all about flash, showmanship, and PR, with expensive trainers and a big presence, contrasting with Rocky's down-to-earth, street-level approach to boxing.

What is the role of the character Paulie in the 'Rocky' movie?

Paulie is a complicated character in the 'Rocky' movie. He is verbally and physically abusive, particularly towards his sister Adrian, but he also plays a significant role in the franchise, being Rocky's best friend and right-hand man throughout the series.

What is the script's view on the first date scene between Rocky and Adrian?

The script acknowledges that the first date scene between Rocky and Adrian is uncomfortable and has aged poorly by today's standards. It discusses the scene's necessity in the context of the movie to push Adrian out of her shell, but also recognizes that it might be off-putting to modern audiences.

What is the script's final assessment of the 'Rocky' movie?

The script's final assessment is that 'Rocky' is not only one of the best sports movies ever made but also one of the best movies in general. It appreciates the film for its timeless themes, iconic moments, and the impact it has had on multiple generations.

Outlines

00:00

🥊 Kickoff of the Rocky Review Series

The speaker introduces a Valentine's Day themed review series on the 'Rocky' film franchise, starting with the original film. They express their enthusiasm for the series and the upcoming 'Creed 3' movie. The first 'Rocky' film is highlighted for its inspirational story, both on-screen and off-screen, with Sylvester Stallone's own struggles mirrored in the character's journey. The film's enduring impact and its status as a beloved sports movie franchise are also mentioned.

05:02

🏆 The Inspirational Underdog Story of Rocky

This paragraph delves into the deeper themes of the 'Rocky' film, emphasizing that it is more than a boxing movie. It discusses the character's personal growth, his pursuit of love and respect, and the relatable struggles that resonate with audiences. The speaker also appreciates the realistic portrayal of the character's life, his relationships, and the challenges he overcomes to achieve a better life.

10:04

🎭 The Timeless Appeal of the Rocky Character

The speaker reflects on the enduring appeal of the Rocky character, attributing it to Sylvester Stallone's authentic and relatable portrayal. They argue that the character's underdog story, simple worldview, and good-hearted nature make him timeless and inspiring. The paragraph also touches on the character's development throughout the franchise and the audience's emotional attachment to him.

15:04

❤️ The Grounded and Realistic Romance of Rocky and Adrian

The development of the relationship between Rocky and Adrian is discussed, highlighting its realistic and relatable nature compared to typical Hollywood romances. The speaker appreciates how their differences complement each other and contribute to their status as one of the most celebrated movie couples. The challenges they face individually and as a couple are also examined.

20:04

🏆 The Iconic Elements and Characters of the Rocky Franchise

This paragraph celebrates the iconic elements of the 'Rocky' film, such as the training montages, the running up the stairs scene, and the character of Apollo Creed played by Carl Weathers. The speaker also discusses the complex character of Paulie, the trainer Mickey, and the discomforting yet realistic relationships portrayed in the film.

25:06

🤔 Mixed Reception to Certain Characters and Scenes

The speaker expresses mixed feelings about certain aspects of the 'Rocky' film. They acknowledge the complexity of the character Paulie and the discomfort some scenes may cause modern audiences, particularly the first date between Rocky and Adrian. They discuss the potential for these scenes to be perceived as creepy or inappropriate by today's standards, while also defending their importance in the context of the film and the character development.

🌟 A Timeless Classic and Its Enduring Legacy

In conclusion, the speaker reiterates their admiration for the 'Rocky' film as a timeless classic and a top sports movie. They acknowledge the film's flaws but emphasize its overall positive impact and the legacy it has built through the franchise. The speaker also invites viewers to engage with their other content and reviews, highlighting the importance of diverse opinions.

Keywords

💡Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14th, associated with love and affection. In the context of the video, it serves as a thematic backdrop for discussing a 'love story', specifically the affection between the reviewer and the 'Rocky' film series. The mention of Valentine's Day sets a romantic tone for the video's subject matter.

💡Rocky

The 'Rocky' film series is a beloved franchise centered around the character Rocky Balboa, a boxer from Philadelphia. The term 'Rocky' in the script refers to both the character and the films, symbolizing an underdog story and personal triumph. The video discusses the impact and resonance of the 'Rocky' series, particularly the first film, which is a classic in sports cinema.

💡Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone is an American actor, screenwriter, and director, most famous for his role as Rocky Balboa in the 'Rocky' film series. In the script, Stallone is highlighted for his personal connection to the character of Rocky, as well as his inspirational journey from being homeless to becoming a Hollywood star, mirroring the character's own rise from obscurity.

💡Underdog

The term 'underdog' refers to a person or team that is considered unlikely to win but surprisingly does so. In the video, the underdog concept is central to the 'Rocky' narrative, illustrating the character's journey from a low-ranking boxer to a contender for the heavyweight championship. The underdog theme is a key element that continues to resonate with audiences.

💡Inspirational

Inspirational describes something that motivates or encourages others to be the best they can be. The video emphasizes the inspirational aspect of the 'Rocky' film, particularly how the character's determination and hard work serve as a source of motivation for viewers to overcome their own challenges.

💡Sports Movie

A sports movie is a genre of film that focuses on sports, often highlighting the drama and personal growth of athletes. The script discusses 'Rocky' as a prime example of a sports movie that transcends the boxing ring to explore deeper themes of self-realization and love, making it more than just a film about sports.

💡Character Development

Character development refers to the process by which a character's traits, abilities, and beliefs change over time in a narrative. The script mentions the evolution of the character Rocky, from a struggling boxer to a champion, and how his relationship with Adrian develops, showcasing the depth and complexity of character development in the film.

💡Creed 3

'Creed 3' is the upcoming installment in the 'Rocky' franchise, continuing the story beyond the original series. The script mentions 'Creed 3' as a timely reference, indicating the ongoing relevance and popularity of the franchise, and setting the stage for the reviewer's upcoming analysis of the film.

💡Geology

In the script, Geology is mentioned as a skincare brand that the reviewer endorses. It represents a product placement within the video, serving as an example of how content creators can integrate sponsored content into their reviews. The brand is described as offering customized skincare routines, which the reviewer finds beneficial.

💡Movie Franchise

A movie franchise refers to a series of films sharing the same characters, narrative elements, or themes. The script discusses the 'Rocky' series as a beloved and successful sports movie franchise, which has captivated audiences for decades and continues to gain new fans.

💡Academy Awards

The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, are a set of awards for artistic and technical achievements in the film industry. The script notes that the first 'Rocky' film won multiple Oscars, including Best Picture, highlighting the film's critical acclaim and recognition by the film industry.

Highlights

Introduction of the 'Rocky' film series and its significance as a love story and inspirational tale.

The alignment of Sylvester Stallone's personal struggles with the character of Rocky, mirroring his journey from homelessness to stardom.

The 'Rocky' franchise's status as one of the most beloved and successful sports movie franchises.

The film's enduring impact and its ability to attract new fans despite its age.

Sponsor introduction: Geology's personalized skincare and hair care products.

The importance of the 'Rocky' screenplay to Stallone's career and his determination to maintain the lead role.

The film's depiction of the underdog story and its resonance with audiences.

The character development of Rocky, from a lowly boxer to a contender for the heavyweight championship.

The relatable and human aspects of the 'Rocky' story that have contributed to its timeless appeal.

The evolution of Rocky's relationship with Adrian and its significance as a realistic and grounded romance.

The iconic training montage and its influence on popular culture, particularly the running up the stairs scene.

The character of Apollo Creed and his role as an adversary and later, a friend to Rocky.

The complexity of the character Paulie, Rocky's best friend, and his abrasive yet endearing qualities.

The uncomfortable and controversial aspects of Rocky and Adrian's first date, and its implications in modern times.

The film's iconic elements, such as the training sequences and the boxing matches, and their contribution to the movie's legacy.

The overall appreciation for 'Rocky' as a sports movie and its place in the reviewer's list of favorite films.

The anticipation for 'Creed 3' and its connection to the 'Rocky' franchise.

Closing remarks summarizing the film's timeless qualities and its impact on multiple generations.

Transcripts

it's Valentine's Day romance is in the

air what better time to talk about one

of the greatest love stories in history

me and sly

[Applause]

what is up everybody and welcome to my

kickoff for the rocky review series and

what better time to talk about one of

the greatest love stories ever told and

on February 14th so it felt like all of

the stars were aligning we got Creed 3

coming out in a couple of weeks I have

yet to be able to review all of these

films on this channel and Rocky has

always been one of my favorite film

franchises so strap in tighten up the

glove laces because we're going baby and

this first film is a really interesting

movie to talk about for a multitude of

reasons not only is it just a great

movie one of the most celebrated films

of all time but it's also an awesome

story of inspiration for a Sylvester

Stallone himself and how he got this

movie made got himself out of the slump

that he was in kind of mirroring the

Journey of the character of Rocky and

then of course it goes on to be easily

the most popular most successful most

beloved sports movie franchise of all

time so what is it about this film what

is it about this character that

continues to resonate with people and

for a film that is just a few years shy

of being 50 years old why does it still

have such an impact why does it still

continue to gain new fans all the way to

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we dive into the film itself and the

character of Rocky one of the most

awesome details regarding this film is

the story of its Inception so pretty

well known story but for those that

might not know it Sylvester Stallone was

actually homeless for a little while and

he was homeless during the time that he

came up with the inspiration for this

story supposedly wrote the entire

screenplay in like three days and went

around shopping it to Studios to

different producers it was essentially

his last Lifeline before he just was at

the end of his rope in many studios

we're interested in it some of them

wanted to put it on TV some of them

wanted to make it a full motion picture

but one thing that pretty much everybody

agreed on was that they wanted this to

be led by a proven actor and Stallone

believed in this character so much

believed in his own work and felt so

personally attached to it that he

refused any offer that was given to him

that did not allow him to play the lead

character to the point where he as a

homeless man denied a six-figure deal

for the film because they wanted to take

it from him and let somebody else play

Rocky I'm gonna regret this the rest of

your life both seconds I mean for the

inspiration of the character of Rocky

has for the themes and the messages that

come from his story about the underdog

about you know inspiring others about

rising from the lowest of lows to the

highest of highs it's just such a cool

mirror of the journey from Sylvester

Stallone being homeless to eventually

one of the biggest movie stars in

history then the character of Rocky from

the Italian Stallion in Philadelphia to

being the heavyweight champion of the

world so I've always loved that detail

just makes the movie almost the themes

of it become even richer because it

totally mirrors real life So eventually

he got the producers that was that was

kind of helping him most interested in

the film to agree to let him play Rocky

and then we were Off to the Races we

have the film and this little screenplay

that could this idea from a man with

little to no acting experience with no

pull whatsoever in Hollywood no previous

writing credits and a man fighting like

hell to bring that character and that

story to life in the way that he

envisioned from putting pen to paper

leads to one of the most celebrated

movies and franchises of all time and a

film that went on to win multiple Oscars

including best picture and to all the

Rockies in the world I love you

thank you now with all that being said

why do I like the film what is my take

on it well starting off with the

positives the thing that I love the most

about this first Rocky film is that it's

about so much more than boxing and to me

that's why I always love sports movies I

am not a sports guy whatsoever you will

have to strap me to a chair to get me to

watch a football game but I love sports

dramas and sports films whenever they're

good and this is an example of one where

the boxing match the big fight building

up throughout the film between Rocky and

Apollo Creed that might as well be a

subplot amongst everything else that is

going on this is not a movie that's just

about a guy going and stepping in the

ring and fight the heavyweight champion

of the world and maybe become the new

Champion it's about a man realizing his

potential it's about a man pushing

himself to his fullest limits it's about

a man finally getting the love that he

feels he deserves and is fought for even

more than anything in the boxing world I

mean all of those elements of the film

are kind of what the entire story of the

movie is about oh and by the way by the

end of it we have a boxing match as well

you're introduced to the character and

he's you know a low rung boxer he fights

in little clubs he makes [ __ ] money

I mean he wins a fight and gets a

gigantic scar on his head walks away

with like 40 bucks in the first 10

minutes of the film he doesn't really

have anybody's respect in the

Philadelphia boxing industry even the

trainers he got Mick who is the one who

owns the club that he has fought at and

trained at for six plus years and just

thinks of him as a bum and then of

course you have the very quiet timid and

shy Adrian that he is very subtly tried

to woo for God knows how long and even

his best friend Paulie is an absolute

piece of [ __ ] he's a guy where there's

not really anything going on in his life

that is really worth celebrating there's

not really anything going on in his life

that he can be proud of and the movies

about his journey of rising above all of

that about getting the things that he

deserves getting the things that he

feels like he should be having a better

life more notoriety more of a boxing

career to be proud of a woman that he

loves a friend that he can respect a job

that is not breaking people's legs or

doing everything that you possibly can

not to break somebody's leg for the

local mob boss and I think that's

resonated with people for so long

because that's Situation's at least one

or more of them that is so down to earth

that is so human that is so relatable

that anybody can watch this and see a

piece of themselves in Rocky can see a

piece of themselves where they haven't

really tried to strive for things from

their fullest potential where they felt

like the world kind of had a bit of

their thumb pressing them down when they

felt like the love of their life was Out

Of Reach no matter how hard they tried

for it and sometimes all it takes is

seizing those things that you want

seizing those things that you think you

deserve and sometimes it just takes a

little opportunity like somebody who is

extremely Vain and gives you the

opportunity to finally show what your

full potential is then of course you

just have to talk about the character of

Rocky one of the most beloved and

celebrated characters in movie history

and there's so many elements to him of

why he is so beloved why he is a

Timeless character why it has been a

huge treat for us movie fans to be able

to see this character throughout

multiple stages of his life even going

into the Creed franchise and we'll see

maybe more in the future you know we got

our fingers crossed

but it's the writing of the character

it's what the character stands for as

well as that likability that sly's

performance brings to it and you know I

really think that even though he had no

acting experience very little acting

experience there they could have went

out and found somebody who is an Oscar

caliber actor to knock this character

out of the park but there's something so

human there's something so relatable

that Sylvester Stallone brings to this

character that that's a character I

cannot think of anybody ever playing

like there's all kinds of characters

throughout movie history where the

character is always bigger than the

actor you know you can have another

Freddy Krueger in my opinion you can

have another Luke Skywalker there's all

these iconic characters where you could

see somebody taking a spin on that and

doing something equally or possibly even

better than we have come to know that

character for

but there is no other rocky rocky is

Sylvester Stallone Sylvester Stallone is

Rocky and there are very few maybe count

them on one hand characters that are so

ingrained into the actor and the actor

is such a huge piece of why that

character works and why that character

is beloved that you can't separate the

two without losing the character

completely there's something about the

way all of the elements of Rocky work

together of course there's the underdog

side that's inspiring where you got this

guy on this low on the totem pole that

just trains and fights and has the heart

of gold and will push himself all the

way to the end way further than anybody

would give him credit for mostly Apollo

Creed in this first film but it's all

the other quieter moments too it's his

simple-minded uneducated way of looking

at the world and the way that he kind of

explains things the way that his dialect

is the way that you know he talks to

Adrian the way that he expresses things

to Adrian the way that he stands up for

himself while at the same time trying to

be a very gentle guy he's a very strong

person he's got a very dark job but he's

always trying to be that neighborhood

guy that everybody can trust that

everybody can have a bit of respect for

even yanking a little girl off of the

corner and dragging her all the way home

and lecturing her the whole way just for

her to not thank him give him an obscene

gesture and walk inside and he's just

like oh that's another night in

Philadelphia I've helped somebody it's

just something always so good-hearted

about the character of Rocky that I just

love him I love watching all of these

movies and re-watch them and

re-experiencing this guy's life because

so many aspects of the character of

Rocky are just timelessly entertaining

timelessly inspiring and just an

endearing character that you love to

watch he's just like a warm blanket he's

comforting and then of course being that

we're talking about this first film you

got to talk about the beginning of the

relationship between Rocky and Adrian

one of the most celebrated movie Couples

of all time and for good reason and one

of the things that I think makes this

couple

so Timeless and one that people attach

themselves to much more than others is

that it's not your typical Hollywood

romance script it's not your typical

movie couple to where everything is so

shiny and glossy and candy coated and

everything's perfect and beautiful and

ah butterflies no it's not that at all

it's very grounded it's very kind of

uncomfortable at certain times and just

like every other element in this film

it's very realistic and you can kind of

endear yourself to these characters more

you can see yourselves and these

characters more because it portrays

romance with the everyday difficulties

that a lot of us have experienced before

and the way that these two characters

match each other so perfectly in the

strangest ways it makes them one of the

most celebrated couples because you have

totally different people that are

perfect for each other you have rocky

who is very extroverted that he's big

and strong and you know he's out there

he's talks all the time time but you

know he's also a little bit more

simple-minded and then you have Adrian

who's obviously a very smart person but

is just so shy and so reserved and so

timid where she is got a cripplingly low

self-esteem and she just lives in this

shell and you can see that it's because

of the relationship that she has with

her brother Paulie and the verbal abuse

maybe even physical abuse that he puts

upon her this very toxically codependent

relationship that they have there's even

a line that kind of hints that maybe her

mother was equally as verbally abusive

and talked down to her and so she's just

this person that doesn't feel like she

deserves friendship doesn't deserve love

and even though she likes Rocky she is

so scared to open herself up at all

because all she knows is discomfort all

she knows is mistreatment and it's the

bringing of those two characters

together that aids both of them into

being the person that they can be or

Rocky really brings her out of her shell

and shows her that she is deserving of

love and shows her that she has all

these qualities and gets her to where

she actually stands up to Paulie and

realizes her self-worth and realizes the

mistreatment that he has put on her and

then on the other side you got rocky who

gives she gives him something to fight

for like the movie is not really about

the victory of whether or not he wins

against Apollo Creed or not it's about

whether or not he wins the victory of

getting Adrian's love whether he has the

victory of her heart by the end of it to

the way that you get the end of the film

and they know that by the way that they

shoot it and present it it's not really

about this big victory of whose arm's

going to get tossed up at the end as the

winner when they actually Crown Apollo

Creed it's in the background it's barely

even the Forefront of the picture and

it's just skated away from him so

quickly and they're talking to Rocky and

you've got everybody trying to talk to

him after the fight and their voices are

almost muffled hey Rock what's going on

yeah you gotta do a rematch no no Adrian

no Adrian he doesn't want to hear them

and as an audience you're not paying

attention to what they're saying because

all you're waiting for is that moment

where they Embrace finally and declare

their love for each other and when they

do the movie's over because that's the

victory

[Applause]

and all the other characters in this

movie and then of course as they go on

to this franchise are great as well Carl

Weathers is an absolute icon with Apollo

Creed to where his legacy has actually

become the Forefront of the franchise in

the Creed movies and the way that his

relationship develops especially after

this movie is fascinating he's an

awesome character and Carl Weathers

plays the character so well too just

that total opposite fighter of Rocky

where he's all about the flash he's all

about the big top hats and the American

flag and the Flash and the reporters and

the way that the pr is going to go he's

the businessman you know he's the

showman where Rocky is the down dirty

Philadelphia boy that's coming out of

the back alleys so love that character

love what he brings to it and then of

course you've got Paulie well I'll talk

a little bit more later a very

complicated character played very well

for what he is supposed to be very

unlikable and yet somehow you can't help

but love the guy just a little bit it's

a very weird mix and then you have

characters like Mickey who maybe even

more so than rocky and Adrian kind of

embody that discomforting relationship

there to where they don't even seem like

they like each other through most of the

film they almost seem like antagonistic

towards each other we're introduced to

Mickey as the guy that kicked Rocky out

of his locker and said he's not even

worth a locker and as the movie goes on

you start to get a little bit more of an

idea that it's not this dislike for

Rocky it's this disappointment it's him

not realizing his potential you know

he's just a leg breaker

okay I'm gonna tell you because you had

a talent to become a good fighter and

instead of that you became a ringbreaker

he said I'm cheap second rate Lone Star

and I love that scene where Mickey comes

to Rocky and sees that he's gonna get

this opportunity to actually fulfill his

potential and offers his Services as a

manager and kind of offers up all of his

trials and tribulations that he went

through in his boxing career and his

life and his Youth and kind of trying to

put them both together finally getting

Rocky to go for what he actually can

achieve and at the same time get in a

trainer that has been there and has

failed and can tell you what not to do

and he just lays his heart out there for

Rocky just to crush it out of all the

anger that he's had for Mickey the whole

movie and he's ranting and raving

through the bathroom and punching the

door and Mickey just listens to the

whole thing from the stairwell that

you're trying

Nick

at least you have pride I love the way

that that Scene goes down and again just

brings that very realistic quality about

how characters are brought together and

everything's not so shiny and glossy in

the real world and then finally of

course this movie has so many iconic

elements when it comes to the fighting

and the training and the boxing I mean

you've got the whole thing with Rocky

fighting the frozen meat and the beef

carcasses that is almost synonymous with

the character again going for that kind

of down and dirty grounded side of

boxing the street level guy you got

Apollo Creed that's out there with the

most expensive and flashy trainers and

the big rings and the TV cameras and

then he got rocky that's bundled up in

this shitty little coat in a little

frozen food section trying to punch some

dead cows and then the running and the

training sequence and the montages and

the running up the stairs and throwing

the Fists in the air is there anybody

that travels to the city of Philadelphia

that is not immediately obligated to go

to that staircase and perform that act

is there anybody in existence I can tell

you right now I don't give a [ __ ] if the

entire city of Philadelphia Gathers in

that moment and laughs in my face the

moment I ever visit Philadelphia I am

running up the stairs I'm throwing my

arms in the air and then just for good

measure I'm going to run to the bottom

and run back up a couple of more times

because you got to do it absolutely

iconic moment and now moving on to the

mixed elements I can tell you right now

I don't have any negatives with this

film I honestly think it's one of the

best movies ever made and I think almost

everything about it has aged wonderfully

for a nearly 50 year old film as far as

the mix the first one is the character

of Paulie now Paulie is a character that

I do like Paulie is a character that I

think is very important to this

franchise I don't think it would be the

same without him and you know he's more

tolerable in other movies in this

franchise than he is in this film

necessarily but there is always this

kind of abrasiveness about the character

of Paulie to where you can't help but

love the aggravating angry little

bastard and the same time because he is

so physically and especially verbally

abusive to the characters that you love

like Rocky and Adrian there is always

the same experience when you watched

this franchise especially this first

film to where you kind of want Rocky to

strangle the [ __ ] out of him like he's

just such a Despicable character that

you can't even put your finger on why

you still like him because there's no

likable qualities about him there's

nothing that he does to redeem himself

in this movie there's barely anything

that he does to redeem himself in the

franchise to the point where he

eventually and we can't hold this movie

accountable for it completely [ __ ] over

Rocky a couple of times and it's just a

huge burden on their lives and yet he's

still the best friend Paulie and you can

never even really put your finger on why

the [ __ ] Rocky is friends with this guy

I mean at first I kind of think oh you

know maybe he's just friends with him to

get to Adrian maybe he's a means to an

end maybe he's a stepping stone guy but

no he's basically his right hand man his

best friend all the way through to the

Creed films to where he's telling Adonis

about him and said this was my best

friend

why and the other mixed element is

complicated to talk about and it's not

necessarily mixed for my experience with

it it's mixed because I do feel like

this is the one scene in the movie that

has aged pretty poorly and I fear that

it's a scene that's going to

block a lot of people from really

understanding the point of it and

watching the rest of the movie and

understanding that that was a means to

an end and there was things that

happened there that maybe are

discomforting and maybe are hard to

watch and are not okay in today's

climate but the end result merited it to

a certain degree trying to use my words

carefully uh so you have the first date

between Rocky and Adrian and from start

all the way up to the point where she

finally opens up and finally lets

herself out of that shell and finally

Embraces the love of Rocky all the way

up to that moment

that first date is uncomfortable as [ __ ]

I don't think okay

I don't belong here nothing is over

nothing

you just don't turn it off I mean right

from the get you got rocky who's talking

to Paulie Paulie's like hey you're gonna

take my sister out on Thanksgiving first

of all very weird time for a first date

just in general that's kind of

uncomfortable but Rocky the entire time

hey you know Paulie is it okay does she

know I'm coming does she know I'm coming

and you know Paulie's an [ __ ] so he's

going to tell him yes when he's never

warned her at all immediately they get

into the house and she is shook she is

uncomfortable she is you know razzled

because Rocky's here and she didn't know

anything about it and it's been clear

throughout the movie through subtle

hints that she does like Rocky you know

she's not really reciprocating his

flirting she's not really adding much of

the conversation but she kind of

Snickers at his little jokes and when he

says good night and she's like good

night Rocky just want to make sure that

she says good night you can tell that

she likes him and so clearly she's

rattled because she likes him and he's

seeing her in disarray where she's messy

she's not dressed and she's cooking and

you know she's in housewife mode

she's very uncomfortable very upset from

the moment that he gets there Paulie

does the Paulie thing verbally abuses

her forces her into the room yells at

her saying you're going to do all this

forcing her to go and goes to the point

of actually throwing her Thanksgiving

dinner out into the street and it's just

like Jesus Christ talking about a

catalyst for a date let me throw away

your [ __ ] dinner that you've been

working on all day and force you to go

out with this guy

then she actually goes out with Rocky

and the fact that she gets herself

dressed and very you know very dolled up

very quickly shows that again she's

there's a part of her that does like

Rocky and does want to go but she's just

so sheltered and such a shell that it's

uncomfortable for her to be in a

situation where she feels like she might

get what she wants because she's so used

to everything going so wrong

they go on their day they have the nice

little skating rink and the nice

conversation and everything and then you

get to the point where Rocky is at his

house and asks her if she wants to come

inside and she says clearly multiple

times no I shouldn't no I don't want to

no I don't feel comfortable and he more

or less forces her in by just leaving

her outside he's like I want to go

inside you come on in and this leaves

her doesn't really give her a choice so

she comes in and again feels and

expresses that she's very uncomfortable

and he's talking to her through certain

things and you know takes his shirt off

sits down on the couch come sit down no

I shouldn't you know come sit down I'm

gonna call my brother and he kind of

makes a joke out of it it's a cute joke

I mean opening the window hey Paula your

sister's over here with me but again not

letting her do what she wants to do

and it just keeps going with that tone

to where she clearly expresses I don't

want to do this I'm not comfortable I

don't want to be here no no no no no no

no

even the point where he blocks the door

now I say all of that

with the knowledge of the way the movie

goes and especially the franchise they

are a match made in heaven

and everything that Rocky is doing in

this situation that is kind of pushing

her out of her comfort zone is because

she needs to be pushed out of that

comfort zone for her to actually grow as

a person for her to actually live and

get out of this horrible life that she

has she kind of has to be pushed to

finally see like no you deserve this no

you deserve this we can you can do this

you can be somewhere that is not under

the thumb of your brother you can enjoy

yourself you can actually live beyond

going to work coming home and slaving

away and being the [ __ ] parent and

the wife to your brother who's a piece

of [ __ ] and so Rocky fans and people

that have watched this movie and seen it

multiple times will tell you all of that

at the same time

people that watch the movie nowadays are

going to watch that and think wow this

is really creepy wow this is really

uncomfortable while Rocky's kind of a

scumbag and that's just something that

is just aged poorly you couldn't do that

same exact scene nowadays I don't think

it would have to be tinkered with a

little bit and again I think it's a good

means to an end I think it was necessary

some people might not want to hear that

some people might get really pissed off

at me in the comments section for even

saying that and saying no no means no no

means no it's like no it doesn't

but in the context of the movie in the

time of 1976

to break this woman out of her horrible

life and her horrible shell

he had to kind of do things that

nowadays would make you think that he is

an absolute creep and uh it just again

something that has not aged well and so

that is the one scene of this movie for

everything else that's Timeless and

endearing and constantly appealing to

multiple Generations that the one scene

of the movie that I fear a lot of people

especially women will watch and

immediately shut off and not want to see

the rest of the film and not understand

by watching the rest of the film or the

franchise that

it's okay everything turned out fine

there was not really any wrongdoing

there it was just uncomfortable by

today's standards but all in all guys

this is not only one of the best sports

movies ever made it's one of the best

movies ever made and it kicked off one

of my favorite franchises of all time

absolutely love it and it is one that

while I may not re-watch it as much as

some of the flashier movies in this

franchise I always really appreciate the

things that I walk away with when I do

finally revisit the original Rocky well

that's it for this one guys if you

enjoyed this please click over here for

all of my 2023 new release reviews so

far I'm also going to put my old ranking

of the rocky franchise up here that I

did when Creed 2 came out I will update

it and some things may have changed when

Creed 3 comes out in a couple of weeks

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