Tag: Tony burton

Rocky Balboa

Rocky Balboa is a 2006 movie directed by Sylvester Stallone.

Rocky Balboa returns to the Rocky saga, as the aging boxer finds himself widowed and growing estranged from his son. Thanks to a computer simulation, Rocky receives another chance to fight for the heavyweight championship.

THE BEST – Stallone Gets to Act

Excepting the original, this is Stallone’s best acting job of the saga. He shines in a few strong scenes, including a dialogue in front of the athletic commission, exchanges with Geraldine Hughes’ Marie and a powerhouse speech to Milo Ventimiglia’s Robert. However, Stallone’s best moment comes as he’s flooded with emotion when he laments Adrian’s death. There’s genuine hurt and confusion that Stallone allows to the surface. It’s a brilliant moment – one of the best of the entire series.

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Rocky IV

Rocky IV is a 1985 movie directed by Sylvester Stallone.

Rocky IV continues the saga of heavyweight boxing champion Rocky Balboa. In this sequel, Apollo Creed takes on Russian Ivan Drago in an exhibition that tragically ends. Rocky agrees to an unsanctioned fight in the Soviet Union, where he emerges triumphant.

THE BEST – Rocky Basically Ends the Cold War

If you’re tracking Rocky’s post-fight speeches, you’ll notice a huge leap. He’s convulsing like a wounded animal in the early movies – making non-sensical, guttural yelps. After defeating Drago and winning over the Soviet crowd, he turns political by noting the unifying quality of brute American strength. It’s pure Reagan-era propaganda and prodigious American ego.

And of course, it’s brilliant.

THE BEST Part 2 – Coked Up Training Montages

The evolution of Rocky training montages is a beautiful phenomenon. While the first two movies involve Rocky using his natural surroundings, Rocky IV finds our hero chopping down trees, outrunning KGB cars and climbing mountains. Stallone’s own transformation from beefy club boxer to chiseled action hero is on display – some of the herculean exercises he performs seem to be a love letter to his own ego.

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Rocky III

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.

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