The entire Rocky Franchise is shite

[Gandalf]

You are talking bollocks. Fact

V aside each hold its own when considered against the era it was made in.

How many other character franchises are still going strong after 43 years?

For me even the best boxing films like Raging Bull, fail precisely because there is enough drama in 12 rounds that no film can really do it any justice. The fight scenes always fail miserably, however well the drama outside the ropes is handled.

You need to separate Rocky from the subsequent sequels, like Raging Bull the boxing element is almost secondary (you don't need to have any interest in boxing to like them).

Rocky is a love story about two shy loners with no hope, confidence or ambition who inspire each other and flourish. It's a heartwarming little tale.

Raging Bull is about a disgusting, violent, perpetually starving paranoid lunatic. As far as boxing goes, forget the fight scenes, it's the greatest single portrait of why making weight is a fighters biggest nightmare. From the start until he's retired (only when fat is he chilled out), LaMotta's mental mood swings all revolve around him being starving.

Beautifully written.

[TitoFan]

Of the two blockbuster movies that pretty much launched Stallone's career, I actually liked First Blood better. If Rocky was the tale of a lovable underdog who makes good and everybody claps at the end..... First Blood was the tale of a Vietnam vet, symbolic of the spurn vets received coming back home during those times, and running afoul of the law (albeit some sleazy badge wearing cops).

Difference being Stallone didn't have to box in First Blood.