Rocky III is a 1982 movie directed by Sylvester Stallone.
Rocky III continues the saga of Rocky Balboa, as the champion faces his toughest competition yet in the form of Clubber Lang. Rocky has to face the death of his manager Mickey, while dealing with his own lack of confidence. Apollo Creed now teams up with Rocky to train him for an epic rematch.
THE BEST – Clubber Lang’s Promo
Physically, Mr. T isn’t that imposing but his vicious rhetoric throughout the movie creates a compelling villain. As Rocky’s statue is unveiled, Clubber Lang shows up and cuts a brilliant promo on Rocky, Mickey and Adrian. He seals the champ’s ire when he focuses on Adrian: “Hey woman, hey woman. I’ll show you a real man.” Later, during a pre-fight interview, we hear Mr. T utter his signature phrase. When asked about Rocky, he states: “I don’t hate Balboa but I pity the fool.”
THE BEST Part 2 – Pauly
Pauly officially becomes comic foil in this installment of the series, but Burt Young gets a lot of mileage out of the character. The fish out of water act as he arrives in Los Angeles produces some 80s humor but he shines as Stallone’s figurative punching bag. He gets pulled into the pool as Rocky swims laps, then hilariously spat on during the fight. I can only imagine the practical jokes pulled during this shoot.
THE BEST Part 3 – Carl Weathers
Weathers’ Apollo Creed dominates the movie as he assumes the Mickey role. Weathers is physically dominant – he’s easily the most natural athlete of any character in the saga. His training of Rocky ranks as the most technically sound of any of the series’ montages. Weathers’ Apollo also overshadows his cast mates with his dialogue and intensity. Despite not fighting, he’s easily the MVP of the movie.
THE BEST Part 4 – Cocky Rocky
Stallone pays tribute to Muhammed Ali during the second Clubber Lang fight, as he employs Ali’s famous strategy – allowing his opponent to wear himself out. However, Stallone’s signature moment comes as he stands with Lang: “You ain’t so bad! You ain’t so bad!”
THE BEST Part 5 – The Beach High Five
After Rocky finally beats Apollo in a beach run, they engage in the most awkward, homoerotic, slow-motion high five ever captured on film. It’s pure brilliance.
THE BEST Part 6 – Rocky Abandons Apollo’s Strategy
In what is a classic Rocky motif, Rocky completely ignores Apollo’s training and goes back to basic brawling.
THE BEST Part 7 – Apollo’s Favor
The ending of the movie is classic as Rocky and Apollo engage in another battle.
THE WORST – Rocky Jumps the Shark
If the Rocky saga wasn’t already teetering on the edges of reality, the five-foot something Stallone throwing Hulk Hogan out of the ring makes a bold announcement: Rocky is officially superhuman.
THE WORST Part 2 – Significant Life and Death Events Have to Wait for Rocky
Similar to Rocky not seeing his newborn son until Adrian woke from her coma, a dying Mickey does not receive medical attention until Rocky loses his fight with Clubber. He basically suffers from a cardiac episode – lying on a bench – then actually dies when he realizes Rocky got beat up.
Thanks, Rock.
THE WORST Part 3 – Clubber Commits Battery
You can sense the series shifting to a comic book mentality as Lang’s villainy is established. He pushes through spectators and shoves Mickey into a wall. Later, he punches fight fans and decks a cop.
THE WORST Part 4 – Rocky is Barely a Middleweight
Rocky’s 80s physique barely resembles the one from the original. His face signifies that he’s likely cut his body fat to virtually nothing. Similarly, he could maybe pass for a heavyweight in the first two movies, but here he could not weight more than 160 pounds.
THE WORST Part 5 – Rock n’ Wrestling
Speaking of listed weight, Hulk Hogan’s Thunderlips is announced as 7 feet tall and 390 pounds. Of course considering Stallone’s short stature and the way Hogan is filmed, you could maybe believe the numbers. The entire Thunderlips sequence is stupid fun but it also signals the cartoonish direction Rocky began to travel.
THE WORST Part 6 – Irony
The most laughable line of the movie comes from Adrian as she challenges Rocky: “You’ve never quit anything since I’ve known you.”
Adrian must be a little “punchy” here as she forgets that Rocky quits his training in every movie.
IN THE WEEDS – Some of my Favorite Details
Adrian’s Power Outfits
When Rocky’s Up, Pauly’s Down
The Mystery of Rocky’s Ten Title Defenses
“Prediction? Pain.”
The Bubbles During Rocky’s Training
Rocky’s Cut Man Returns
Mickey Was Jewish?
“I’m going to crucify him real bad.”
Apollo Giving Rocky his Trunks
“He ain’t no tuna.”
FOX FORCE FIVE RATING – 3.75/5
Rocky III is wildly entertaining and signaled the franchise’s shift to comic book action – along with foreshadowing the rise of Hulk Hogan and Mr. T in pop culture. While the acting begins to suffer, Carl Weathers carries the non-action parts of the movie, while Mr. T portrays a fun villain.
