Wacko's Drunk as Fwock Review of Rocky Balboa. **MINOR SPOILERS**

Well fellars...here we go...it's Christmas & Wacko's been pounding the booze & putting in a little bit of extra work for the forum tonight.

A forum first...I present to you Wacko's Drunk as Fwock Review of Rocky Balboa.

For those that don't want the movie spoiled...go no further.

While many have lauded this movie as the best of the bunch...I disagree with you.

It's good...but it aint as good as the first two flicks. Surely is surpasses the Mr. T debacle, the Russian, & the notorious Tommy flick...but it does lack some things that I really really needed to make this one flow. Like some actually believeability.

The imagery, the cast, & the overall feel of the film is spot on the money. The media & the HBO bwoy's do a hell of a job at being the total "shit house rats" that they actually are. Good job bwoyz. Merchant, Lampley, & Kellerman argue & banter like a bunch of 80 year old widows in a hair salon...curlers, blowers, & all.

Stallone plays it to a tee. Here's where I was totally impressed. He's old, he still comes across as the same ole' half a brain, brooding, & sympathetic Rocko. Nothing more need be said. A++ on Stallone's performance. The back players...Paulie, Marie, Rocko's bwoy, & some of the other side liners pull their part...but nothing like Rocko. I was totally impressed with the down to earth humanity that he brought to the part...something that he hasn't done in 3 flicks.

Stallone seemed geared towards the fan's desires & did his best to appease boxing purists.

The let downs of course for me...the fight...exhibition match along the lines of Ali / Marcianno?

Come the fwock on.

In conjunction with that, the real life aspect of being Mason "the Line" Dixon...the loved to be hated Undisputed Champion...Tarver is ridiculous...but maybe that is what he's supposed to be. Sure Tarver fits the bill to a tee...but his acting skills do not...& he aint that threatening in the movie. I really did like his initial acting (He starts out convincing in his calm / rich thuggish demeanor) but down the road...he falls off. He get's in the "you old & I will break you routine" & that just blew it for me. He's a finished product as "Mason the Line Dixon" while Rocky just comes on more & more as the rounds tick off & continues to grow & have purpose.

In the end...I liked it...I didn't like it...& honestly...it aint the best of the series...nor the second best...

Just trying ot keep an unbiased perception. If you let the fact that it's a boxing movie cloud your "fannish" brain then you'll go into it with high expectations but come out with less...but be too ashamed to claim that it was more than it was...that aint me.

Here's the thing...the back story...the Adrianne angle really puts a spin on it. Makes the movie all worth while.

You know...I want everyone to see it...don't get me wrong...but it aint what everyone has been proclaiming it to be. You either like it or you don't.

My thoughts & rating...from a 1 - 5 system....I give it 3 shots up on the ratings system.

Again, It's good & it's watchable...but it aint great.

I'll go no further as not to spoil things...but the ending is what shut it down fo rme.
Thoughts.

In closing...I thought that it was'nt the best of the series...but I liked it.

From a fan of the franchise itself, I think Stallone did right by the fans after the pile of absolute horseshit that was 5.. The resteraunt was the topper to me and the struggles of coming to grips with his life after Adrienne passing...I think it was just right and a perfect way to put the series to rest.. Again seeing the sensitive nature of following up the atrocisty of #5

So much like the original, so many odes and it was very very cool to see how not only Rocky progressed on in life, but how the other characters grew. Most of all was the city though. Has a real gritty Philadelphia boxing feel to it just like the 1st. It's almost like Rocky 2-5 never happened. Or at least number 5 at the very least. 2-4 were quality. I think what 2-4 lacked though was the personality that Rocky exhibited in the original. Rocky's personality REALLY shines through in this one. Whether it's shoving someone outside a bar or quipping with little one liner, Rocky really is Rocky in this one. Down to earth career underdog who EVERYONE loves. That's probably what made me like this more then any of the others excluding 1 and 3 (just because Hulk Hogan is in it) This movie actually made me more of a Rocky fan then any other in the series.

Agreed on all of the above...Sly was indeed Rocky in this one...& that in the end was the saving grace for us all.

I think it was a fitting finally. Much better than the 3rd-5th films but not quite as good as 1 and 2.

I would have liked for Adrian's passing to have been covered in more detail rather than just "woman cancer" Also the closing of Mickeys gym, how, why? Rocky was running the place in the previous film, what happened?

Great line when Rocky is talking to skinny Marie about Steps father. Jamaican? Ahhh European,classic Rockyism ;D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wacko3205

In closing...I thought that it was'nt the best of the series...but I liked it.

---

It's hard to say you liked this one best for sure...the first will ALWAYS be the best...but u also have to take it for what it is..."Rocky Balboa" is a great closer to a great saga. It is more of a movie than a brainless action flick as was the fourth one and it has more heart than most of them barring the first. I really liked Rocky III because of the fact Mr. T played such a great villain, because Apollo Creed comes back to train Rocky to actually box (and switch stances) instead of coming straight ahead tank-style, brawling and blocking with his face (apparently he forgot this in Rocky's IV, V, and VI; maybe it was the brain damage) so I cant say I liked it more than III. I do however rank it as my third favorite Rocky film after I and 3. I thought Tarver did a good job playing his role; granted playing a boxer isnt much of a stretch for him but i thought he did fine. And as far as being a not-so-good bad guy, he wasnt supposed to be a bad guy. He is a man fighting for his own respect and as one of the promoters who talks Rocky into fighting says, "respects the hell out of [Rocky]". In this film, the main villain is life and the moral of it is; you can't let life beat you down. You have to take what hits it lands on you and roll with the punches and keep coming forward. Regardless of what others think, you have to be who you are inside. Rocky has a great monologue about this in the movie. I thought it was a really good movie and a great way to end the series. A lot of people will disagree...but you know what they say about opinions and buttholes...

WELL HERES my opinion....i loved all the rocky movies,ive got the dvd box set,and have been obsesed since the age of 4,so if theres a biggest rocky fan here ,im in the top 5,easy!....and i can safely say that this is by far stallones best acting ,best directing performance,i would even go as far to say he deserves to win an oscar for this gritty,heartfelt pleaser!

IMO this is the best one of all,even though i loved all of them,non of them gave me chills the way this movie did,so thats how i fell and dont give a toss if no one else enjoyed it cause i certainly did ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stavros693000

WELL HERES my opinion....i loved all the rocky movies,ive got the dvd box set,and have been obsesed since the age of 4,so if theres a biggest rocky fan here ,im in the top 5,easy!....and i can safely say that this is by far stallones best acting ,best directing performance,i would even go as far to say he deserves to win an oscar for this gritty,heartfelt pleaser!

IMO this is the best one of all,even though i loved all of them,non of them gave me chills the way this movie did,so thats how i fell and dont give a toss if no one else enjoyed it cause i certainly did ;)

---

I like that you said that. It gave me chills too and made me want to stand up and cheer in parts. I think it is because we grew up loving the Rocky movies and to see one last round, and it being done in such a heartfelt and sentimental way really puts it up there for me. It did what the Star Wars sequels could not do and that was bring back the magic of the Rocky saga. It was a great movie, and a very touching one as well. Don't know about an oscar but he sure did a great job reprising Rocky Balboa in the light that we all remember him in and love him for. ;D ;) O0

WHY NOT AN oscar?sly was nominated for rocky 1 and hes acting in this makes the italian stallion of 1976 a amature,he should at least get nominated i thought his acting was top notch ;)

You know, I always wish I was alive for Joe Louis, Ali, Robinson, Hagler or any of them. Same goes for Rocky. Rocky V was released the year I was born. So it's pretty cool that I got to see a Rocky in theatres. And that didn't suck.

im rocky fan aswell i just watched it last night and it was better than i thought it was good to have some old characters back overall out of 10 i rated it 7

I rated it the best of the series for the following reasons. It could've been an absolute disaster with rocky making a comeback at 60. After 5 everyone thought he lost his direction for the series. It brings back the more indepth focus on character in a plot that didn't seem as tied down. What i mean by that is it didn't feel like a certain thing had to happen after another. Just like in 1 the plot seems free flowing. Its not like three where he had to fight the guy after being called out or the movie would fall apart. Instead of a short training clip before the first fight in three there's more story on rocky and the guy he's fighting just like in 1 and for the most part 2.

I thought it ended well. I wasnt disappointed with the result of the fight, cause in the movie Tarver wasnt made to be a villian he was just supposed to be a champ who never fought a great but knew it. It would be completely unbelievable if it was actually a title fight so i think the exhibition was the way to go.

i have only 2 complaints...

they should have shownmore rounds in completion


also, chuck giampa shouldnt have been the one judge to give it to rocky, that makes it seem like rocky didnt deserve to win

this is the guy who scored taylor wright 115-113 for taylor

Ive just seen it now, and it was a delight to watch. A very good flick.

For it to make sense you really need to erase Rocky 5. Its written as though Rocky 5 never happened and takes place about 10 years after Rocky 4. Sounds a bit confusing, but what I say really does make sense. Trust me! ;)

It is a return to Rocky as a character instead of just the guy that beats up bigger and better bad guys. Beyond this I really dont want to say much because of those that havent seen it yet. It isnt the best, but I would say it has a lot in common with the first 2 films and is a very worthy finale.

It is well worth seeing :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by amat

You know, I always wish I was alive for Joe Louis, Ali, Robinson, Hagler or any of them. Same goes for Rocky. Rocky V was released the year I was born. So it's pretty cool that I got to see a Rocky in theatres. And that didn't suck.

---

Funny thing you mention that...while most of my agers were out partying...let me correct that...during that time that I was out partying & such...Ali, Hagler, & Leonard were usually what I closed the party down with...

In other words...once I got sick of everyone crashed out on my gotdam couch & sitting in my best chair...POP...in would go my vids & out they would run...not many partiers like a night of enjoyment capped off with a full day's worth of violence to come down on. Heh heh heh.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by amat

You know, I always wish I was alive for Joe Louis, Ali, Robinson, Hagler or any of them. Same goes for Rocky. Rocky V was released the year I was born. So it's pretty cool that I got to see a Rocky in theatres. And that didn't suck.

---

damn. the year you were born Rocky V came out? you are really makin me feel old! have a cc yung whipper snapper ;) O0

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stavros693000

WHY NOT AN oscar?sly was nominated for rocky 1 and hes acting in this makes the italian stallion of 1976 a amature,he should at least get nominated i thought his acting was top notch ;)

---

he did do a great job. nowadays it takes more though i think to win an oscar. maybe he will get nominated, that would be cool. the academy will hate on the fact that he is reprising a role for the sixth time and for some reason that matters to hollywood's "elite academy judges". they are a bunch of homos. if brokeback mountain II came out i bet they would nominate jake and heath for oscars though. its pretty biased. i wish we could vote in nominations online or something. i would vote for rocky/stallone.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by diamonddavestafford

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by amat

You know, I always wish I was alive for Joe Louis, Ali, Robinson, Hagler or any of them. Same goes for Rocky. Rocky V was released the year I was born. So it's pretty cool that I got to see a Rocky in theatres. And that didn't suck.

---

damn. the year you were born Rocky V came out? you are really makin me feel old! have a cc yung whipper snapper ;) O0

---

i was born year before rocky 5 but anyway i thought u was older than that amat alot older but nvm

Yeah I seen the movie tonight, 12/27 with my buddy, my lil bro and his lil bro, little shats that they are....
And I liked the movie. It was deeper than III and IV. Adrianne being gone, at first seemed like an easy way to write her out of the story, I dunno what happend to the actress that played her, if she's dead or not. Is she? Anyway, it wasn't really though. Rocky was the same Rocky from the very first movie, not a smart guy, but a street smart guy. He was believable, the fight scenes, the 50 + year old fighting the prime champ wasn't, but hey ya knew that going in. The Rocky series, as over the top, as it was, was a good series and I think it's safe to say, I'll miss it. This was a classy way to end it, and was probably the 3rd best film of the whole series. 1 being the best, IV being second best for me, it was cheesey I know, but that bastard killed Apollo Creed damnit!!! Rocky had to kick his ass!!!!
P.S. whats with all the hate for Rocky V, I know it gets a bad rap, but why so much? I didn't think it was all that, but I surely found it entertaining, it wasn't total crap. It had a freakin street fight with Tommy Morrison, and Rocky knocked out Don King.

still alive
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talia_Shire

im pretty sure she isnt in the movie because stalone wanted rocky to be alone, i dont think she turned down an offer or anything

didnt like it at all worst of the bunch YES even Rocky 5 :o

didnt like the fact they used a real boxer kinda lost the mistic of a Clubber Lang - Ivan Drago for me

also felt left wanting more at the end....

But in reality what could they have done with an aging Rocky as a fighter it has run its course... would have liked him to train his son and went along that route if im honest with an angle of a Dad/fighter/trainer watching his son almost getting killed but thats just me ;)

If anyone should get an oscar it is the bloke that plays Pauly, he was good.

Satlone is good in all the scenes aprt from the fight scenes.

After all these years hes still crap at them, any time he gets hit he so overacts it its funny, his whole body will spin round as if he was whacked with a demolition ball but then he quickly faces forward again to carry on where he left off.

His stupid little drunk steps he does as well, basicaly anything he does in the fight scenes is just pathetic, he could really do with a body double for the fight scenes because it spoilt an otherwise good film.

Were Mason Dixons fight clips from real Tarver fights ? they looked more believable than the fight itself.

Other than the crappy fight acting, Tarver as a choice of opponent is bad, hes not intimidating looking, he has no size or muscle tone, although he was a moderatly successfull boxer he doesnt look like a world heavy weight champ let alone a fighter.

Rockys opponent from the first film, "spider rico" was a real boxer called Pedro Lovell heres his record http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=015808

This is the origional "Marie" http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0504694/ she was also in Rocky 5

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Saddo

didnt like the fact they used a real boxer kinda lost the mistic of a Clubber Lang - Ivan Drago for me

---

i thought it was nice how tyson is enough of a charecter to not have had to be given a fake name

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SalTheButcher

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Saddo

didnt like the fact they used a real boxer kinda lost the mistic of a Clubber Lang - Ivan Drago for me

---

i thought it was nice how tyson is enough of a charecter to not have had to be given a fake name

---

Yeah, but ya couldn't hardly understand a damn word he said. Something about a midget is all I got. ;D
Mike Tyson, shoulda been the bad guy, NOT Tarver.

Stalone wouldnt have used Mike because Mike was known to be a small heavyweight and Stalone would have been smaller

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ross

Stalone wouldnt have used Mike because Mike was known to be a small heavyweight and Stalone would have been smaller

---

Yeah my Dad has always said the Rocky movies are a joke cus ya got a 5'6 guy, who at his most buff weighs about 170-180 fightin at HW. ;D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ross

Stalone wouldnt have used Mike because Mike was known to be a small heavyweight and Stalone would have been smaller

---

could have gotten Tom Cruise to help with the fight scenes ;D

btw, from imdb

Quote:

---

What's the real reason Adrian is not in "Rocky Balboa?" Did Talia Shire get sick of the sequels?

No indeed. Adrian was in the first few drafts of what was then titled "Rocky VI." However, Stallone felt that the film did not have the necessary emotional impact it needed. So, he killed off Adrian and only later revealed the sad news to Talia Shire.

---