Rocky

Rocky, the ultimate beautiful underdog classic is always a rewarding watch no matter when you watch it! It stars Sylvester Stallone in his breakout role that catapulted him to international fame! The fascinating story about how the actor wrote this script up to the sale, making and release of it is a mirror image to the film itself!

The score is iconic and inspiring! Even the initial credits is so natural and simple. Although the movie's core subject is boxing, there are only two matches enveloping the start and the end. The content of the 2-hour celluloid is made up of a sweet little story about a 30-year-old finding his purpose in life. He fights in boxing matches for chump change, but nobody takes him seriously due to him being a left-handed boxer aka southpaw as they call it. He works under a loan shark for a living, and life isn't going anywhere. He doesn't have money, a girl or even a locker to place his gears. His wise words to small kids are not taken seriously, because who is he anyway/

Underneath of it all, Rocky Balboa is probably the sweetest character to ever graze the silver screens. He lives alone and loves animals to death! His golden personality shines like a moonrock! He has a gem of a heart, and all he wants is to not be known as another bum from the neighborhood. That insecurity is his inner conflict therefore he always undersells himself, until the arrival of Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) and the chance of a lifetime to take a shot at the World Championship falls on his lap! You know nobody deserves this opportunity and victory more than Rocky, and you naturally root for him to win!

The training sessions including the ones with Butkus the bulldog companion are fantastic that you could watch them again and again, not forgetting the TV interview attempt with Rocky practicing on raw hanging meat. Mick's proposal to be Rocky’s manager followed by Rocky venting out his frustration over the years as Mick leaves the apartment before Rocky runs after him for apology is a genuine sequence that'll stay in your heart. It's extremely pitiful to feel what Rocky's been feeling all these years as he expresses everything in a go that you can't help but cry alongside him.

One of the major highlights in this feature is the relationship between Rocky and Adrian. He always tries to woo her at the pet shop with a new joke every single day but she shows no reaction! When he does manage to bring her out for the first time and that too to ski in a closed mall, it's easily the most adorable sequence you'll ever see! Rocky trailing Adrian ski as the writer-actor smoothly throws in every exposition you ever need to know about him along the way without you even noticing is probably one of the smartest writing on display! Him inviting her into her house, to the couch and eventually sharing their first kiss ever is simple yet magical. And we have to mention Talia Shire's brilliant acting as the shy, reserved girlfriend to Rocky, one of Sylvester Stallone's best performances!

The entire climactic fight, right from the stage entry all the way up to the riveting tournament brawl is goddamn amazing! None of it is over-the-top as the makers ensured to sustain the realistic and natural nature that they had going since the beginning. What started off as a show for TV promotion and publicity turns into one of the toughest fight the World Champion Apollo Creed has had to face. From cutting open Rocky's eye wound to Apollo's broken rib, the match is relentless! Rocky calling out to Adrian as soon as he finishes the match proving he is no bum will make you shed tears for sure!