This film has to have been watched by almost everyone in the world at this point...

Reviewing it as part of the (so far and presumably closed) 8 installations of the Rocky/Creed saga.


What stands out?
- It is a real drama and love story. The boxing is merely a vehicle to show the tough, luckless lives that these very nuanced individuals live.
- Stallone plays Rocky not as a moron and a slow thinker but as an uneducated guy who has street smarts, is a tough guy but not a thug.
- The screenplay. Some beautiful scenes and monologues... The post-Mickey visit rant and the quiet speech to Adrian the night before the fight.

In relation to the other films:
- this Rocky is the same Rocky as 3, 4, Balboa and the two Creeds. He's not a moron. He is capable of some quite astute thinking. The anomaly to this version of Rocky is really the punch-drunk Rocky of V and II. PTSD Rocky...
- The boxing fight at the end is poorly shot compared to the later films but it barely matters. This isn't a sports film, it's a love story and a real 70s drama about a real character.


There's every reason to say this is the favourite Rocky as the whole film oozes heart and really takes its time setting up characters, giving them story, nuance, and warmth. The dividends that pays last 7 other films after this!

It's not my favourite of the saga these days but an occasional rewatch reminds me how brilliant this film was and still is.


9/10