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

[Wacko3205]

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.

[Wacko3205]

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

[JT Rock]

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

[amat]

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.

[Wacko3205]

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

[Memphis]

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

[diamonddavestafford]

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...

[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

[diamonddavestafford]

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.

[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

[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.

[ICB]

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

[Punisher136]

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.

[BoomBoom]

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.

[SalTheButcher]

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