Thread: What is your favorite Rocky movie and why?

I am gonna have to go with Rocky III. This one could be my favorite just because of the last scene where they walk into the gym for Apollo's "rematch" and as they circle and engage, the screen melts into a painting and "The Eye of the Tiger" plays as the credits roll. I also like this movie because it is the first time we see Rocky completely get his ass kicked and Creed has to come back to train him (since Mick dies) to actually box and use footwork, slips and head movement to get the title back against who might be the best villain in any Rocky movie; Mr. T's ferocious portrayal of Clubber Lang. Rocky also has to learn to switch from southpaw to orthodox to confuse Lang although eventually goes back to his "use your face to block till he tires" strategy. This movie had some great lines and also featured an extraordinarily colorful cast which includes Hulk Hogan ("...i'm not done yet...not with the meatball...") and Jerry Springer (he has a tiny bit part in as a journalist it if you watch closely). Many will disagree but this is my favorite "Rocky" so far.

I like the first one best of all, its more realistic and gritty. The acting is better too.
The second one was good for the same reasons.
The third Rocky film was the most entertaining to watch and I agree that "the eye of the tiger" theme almost made the film along with the training scenes and Mr T of course who was exellent.
Rocky four was cheesy and annoying but Drago was a great character and I would say its Dolph's best film performance next to universal Soldier.
Rocky five, I was having a shit at the time so I missed a lot of it.

I'd say Rocky numaro uno!!

Originally Posted by Kel

I like the first one best of all, its more realistic and gritty. The acting is better too.
The second one was good for the same reasons.
The third Rocky film was the most entertaining to watch and I agree that "the eye of the tiger" theme almost made the film along with the training scenes and Mr T of course who was exellent.
Rocky four was cheesy and annoying but Drago was a great character and I would say its Dolph's best film performance next to universal Soldier.
Rocky five, I was having a S*** at the time so I missed a lot of it.

I'd say Rocky numaro uno!!

As a piece of film making Rocky 1 was by far the best. Stallone actually gave an oscar worthy performance, the supporting cast was first rate throughout, all the dialogue throughout the whole film felt real.

The resulting sequels whilst all entertaining in their own way, deterioated into just being some kind of feel good American cheese.

Don't get me wrong, they were all entertaining, even Rocky 5 is watchable but they are now very much in the same category of films as Triple XXX, James Bond or Mr and Mrs Smith, ie bubblegum films for the massses, which is sad considering the first was in my opinion up there with the likes of the Shawshank Redemption or citizen Kane.

Actually the same thing happened to another fine Stallone film, First Blood, an ultra gritty suberbly acted film, probably my favourite action film of all time, with John Rambo a being complex, deeply flawed and disturbing character who was clearly mentally insane. Yet for the follwoing Rambo films he gets remoulded into some kind of cheesy All American super hero

Originally Posted by bilbo

Originally Posted by Kel

I like the first one best of all, its more realistic and gritty. The acting is better too.
The second one was good for the same reasons.
The third Rocky film was the most entertaining to watch and I agree that "the eye of the tiger" theme almost made the film along with the training scenes and Mr T of course who was exellent.
Rocky four was cheesy and annoying but Drago was a great character and I would say its Dolph's best film performance next to universal Soldier.
Rocky five, I was having a S*** at the time so I missed a lot of it.

I'd say Rocky numaro uno!!

As a piece of film making Rocky 1 was by far the best. Stallone actually gave an oscar worthy performance, the supporting cast was first rate throughout, all the dialogue throughout the whole film felt real.

The resulting sequels whilst all entertaining in their own way, deterioated into just being some kind of feel good American cheese.

Don't get me wrong, they were all entertaining, even Rocky 5 is watchable but they are now very much in the same category of films as Triple XXX, James Bond or Mr and Mrs Smith, ie bubblegum films for the massses, which is sad considering the first was in my opinion up there with the likes of the Shawshank Redemption or citizen Kane.

Actually the same thing happened to another fine Stallone film, First Blood, an ultra gritty suberbly acted film, probably my favourite action film of all time, with John Rambo a being complex, deeply flawed and disturbing character who was clearly mentally insane. Yet for the follwoing Rambo films he gets remoulded into some kind of cheesy All American super hero

If they did Rocky 1 and left it at that I think it would be up ther with the Shawshank Redemption. The rest of the series diluted it though.

Rocky is my fave but four has a great soundtrack, must have training music.

Clubber Lang was the best villian of all time.

Originally Posted by bilbo

As a piece of film making Rocky 1 was by far the best. Stallone actually gave an oscar worthy performance, the supporting cast was first rate throughout, all the dialogue throughout the whole film felt real.

The resulting sequels whilst all entertaining in their own way, deterioated into just being some kind of feel good American cheese.

Agreed & very well said.

In all honesty...one of me favorite movies...boxing related...got's to be Cinderella Man with Russel Crowe.

That shit's true to the bone & Paul Giamatti playing Joe Gould (Braddock's manager) is just too amazing of an actor.


Crowe did pretty good too.

ive heard of this boxing prison movie called undisputed! i havent seen it for some reason australian video stores dont stock it! must be crap, but the trailer looks pretty good, its got wesley snipes and ving rhames in it! anyone seen it? is it any good?thinking about buying on ebay....another good one is midnight sting or otherwise known as diggstown!

i liked all the rocky movies, but the best ones were 1,2 5 and a toss up bettween 3 and 4...all good though IMO

Rocky 2 was my favorite. The story kinda sucked but the ending was bad ass. To this day I still yell at Apollo "don't go for the fuckin knock out"

Originally Posted by wacko3205

In all honesty...one of me favorite movies...boxing related...got's to be Cinderella Man with Russel Crowe.

That shit's true to the bone & Paul Giamatti playing Joe Gould (Braddock's manager) is just too amazing of an actor.


Crowe did pretty good too.

I disagree. They made Max Baer into a heartless killer who had no remorse. Which was untrue.

Originally Posted by stavros693000

ive heard of this boxing prison movie called undisputed! i havent seen it for some reason australian video stores dont stock it! must be crap, but the trailer looks pretty good, its got wesley snipes and ving rhames in it! anyone seen it? is it any good?thinking about buying on ebay....another good one is midnight sting or otherwise known as diggstown!

i liked all the rocky movies, but the best ones were 1,2 5 and a toss up bettween 3 and 4...all good though IMO

Buy it. Undisputed is a good movie. It's unrealistic as hell, but it's very watchable. If you like Rocky 5 you'll like Undisputed.

Rocky I is the best written and best acted of any. Rocky 2 is 3/4 chick flick and 1/4 ultra violent, unrealistic boxing movie. Rocky III is the most fun and EASILY the second best movie of the series. Since I'm an American old enough to remember the cold war, I have a soft soft spot for Rocky 4, but I recognize that it's supremely corny and jingoistic. I refuse to acknowledge the existence of the one that comes after 4.

I'll go see Rocky Balboa for sure. I can't help myself. Someone shoot me.

Originally Posted by Violent Demise

Rocky 2 was my favorite. The story kinda sucked but the ending was bad a**. To this day I still yell at Apollo "don't go for the F****** knock out"

Originally Posted by wacko3205

In all honesty...one of me favorite movies...boxing related...got's to be Cinderella Man with Russel Crowe.

That S***'s true to the bone & Paul Giamatti playing Joe Gould (Braddock's manager) is just too amazing of an actor.


Crowe did pretty good too.

I disagree. They made Max Baer into a heartless killer who had no remorse. Which was untrue.

Originally Posted by stavros693000

ive heard of this boxing prison movie called undisputed! i havent seen it for some reason australian video stores dont stock it! must be crap, but the trailer looks pretty good, its got wesley snipes and ving rhames in it! anyone seen it? is it any good?thinking about buying on ebay....another good one is midnight sting or otherwise known as diggstown!

i liked all the rocky movies, but the best ones were 1,2 5 and a toss up bettween 3 and 4...all good though IMO

Buy it. Undisputed is a good movie. It's unrealistic as hell, but it's very watchable. If you like Rocky 5 you'll like Undisputed.

thanx vd i shall buy it

Originally Posted by Violent Demise

I disagree. They made Max Baer into a heartless killer who had no remorse. Which was untrue.

Yeah that really annoyed me as well. In reality Baer was considered a joker who never reached his full potential due to not taking things seriously enough.

He was also said to have a radiant and humorous personality and to have been really popular.

I remember seeing video footage of him clowning around with his friends.

During a pre-fight interview before his fight with Braddock he said he rated Braddock very highly and was wary of his punching power. He said that if Braddock caught him it would have been good night Maxxy-boy!

Plus didn't Braddock get ktfo in his first defense against Joe Louis?

Never understood the popularity of Braddock really, he's no different than Baldimor other than the fact he was a good old white American boy not a south American who speaks no English.

About as talented too

Nothing EVER beats the orginal.....

part 4 because it single handedly destroyed communism.

Sure it was cheesy, but would it be an 80's action movie without the cheese quotient? Dolph Lundgren as the stone faced cold warrior. Every movie should somehow incorporate that into it. For a while they all did.

Part three is great if you stop watching half way through. Mr. T should have taken over the series after that. He'd be fighting Tarver now and people would be wondering why the movie is called 'Rocky Balboa'.

Are there any other Irony fans out there who think it's hilarious that after Philly has produced so many great fighters, they only made a statue of Slyvester Stallone?