Rocky Balboa
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Rocky Balboa
Chronic_Johnson — 5 years ago(December 01, 2020 02:56 PM)
Rocky Balboa
and
Creed
were easy favourites. 1 and 2 were fairly grounded but also a bit too corny with the romance drama. 3 to 5 were more entertaining, and less heavy on the romance ****, but corny in that 80s way.
I was honestly starting to dislike the franchise the further I got into it, but then
Rocky Balboa
genuinely impressed me. Not one bit of that 80s cheesiness, nor does it have the annoying romance subplot. Though it still managed to feel grounded in reality just like the first two films. I also tend to enjoy movies about old dudes that are trapped in the past and are struggling to move on. This movie handled that the best in the franchise. Great moments of acting, and probably the best writing.
As far as origin stories, training montages, and the fights themselves, I think the recent Creed films are an improvement. Even the romance subplots feel more realistic (perhaps more so to people around my age), and far less cheesy too. The cinematography, particularly in the first Creed movie's fight scenes, was very impressive. Felt like you were in the ring with the fight. Great editing and sound design as well.
I like that Rocky 4 and 5 tried to change things up, even if they didn't make for great films, it was quite refreshing because the formula was getting stale. Another reason why Rocky Balboa was a favourite, as it was even more different than 4 and 5.
Probably a controversial ranking list:- Rocky Balboa
- Creed
-substantial gap- - Creed 2
- Rocky 5
- Rocky 4
- Rocky 2
- Rocky 3
- Rocky
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Joc Spader — 5 years ago(December 01, 2020 05:30 PM)
I still need to watch Drago's dinner party scene with with the subtitles to know what they were saying. Even on yootube none have any closed captions.
Tell you what…When I send my ex-wife her money…you can lick the stamps. -
Chronic_Johnson — 5 years ago(December 02, 2020 01:19 AM)
From memory, Drago's son gets pissed off when his mother (that left the family after Drago's loss to Rocky) shows up at the dinner. Thinking of it as some sort of insult to the family. Drago admits that he lost, basically deserving the insult, but that his son will win and change that. Something along those lines. You can search online for subtitles to download.
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SerranoSez — 5 years ago(December 01, 2020 07:19 PM)
I haven't seen the Creed films, but no way is Rocky Balboa better than the first five. The 2 fights with Apollo were classics, and the domestic drama serves as a good distraction. Part 3 is a legend, and Part 5 is spectacular, with the late-great Tommy Morrison and an outstanding hip hop soundtrack. I would say the reboot is as good as Part 4, but inferior to the rest.
Davenport's preferences are outstanding. -
Chronic_Johnson — 5 years ago(December 02, 2020 01:44 AM)
The Apollo fights are classic, sure. It's just everything else in the first 2 that doesn't really hold my interest. I did like 2 quite a bit more than 1, though.
All Part 3 really has going for it is its iconic soundtrack, the appearance of Hulk Hogan and Mr T,
Mick's death and Creed training Rocky
. Everything else is a bit too over-the-top. It was the first Rocky movie that can't really be taken seriously, and has more of a focus on entertainment and spectacle. It's fun, but mostly forgettable. 4 continues the spectacle, but changes up the setting and brings in an America vs. Soviet Russia element that's memorable. I find
the death of Apollo hit harder than the death of Mick
. And
Rocky Balboa
did a much better job of Rocky reflecting on
the deaths of Mick and Adrian
.
On Rocky 5, I thought Tommy's character and the soundtrack were weaker elements of the film. I do like that they
had Tommy betray Rocky
, and the whole subplot where Rocky's son felt like Tommy was getting the fatherly attention that should have been directed at him. That, and that there was
no traditional boxing match
made for a refreshing change. I just don't think Tommy was otherwise all that interesting. Rocky 5 was still one of the better ones, at least for me. It just has nothing on the films I ranked above it.
I know that my rankings are controversial, but
Rocky Balboa
just hit a little closer to home. I like that it was a character-driven drama, and that it kind of had a "loner" vibe. None of the major characters are in their prime any more, and they wrote a great story around that.
The Creed movies are worth watching. Especially the first one. -
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TaRaNRoD — 5 years ago(December 02, 2020 12:47 PM)
Rocky 1 and Rocky Balboa are my favorites. However, I see where you're going about the cheesiness and everything.
But… The original Rocky last in your rating?? That's odd lol. I respect your opinion, just very uncommon.
I'm also in the minority who think that Rocky V is among the best. I'd rank them:
Rocky 1
Rocky Balboa
Rocky II
Creed
Rocky V
Rocky III
Creed II
Rocky IV
"You're a disease, and I'm the cure!" - Marion "Cobra" Cobretti -
Chronic_Johnson — 5 years ago(December 02, 2020 02:20 PM)
I wasn't a fan of the romance drama in Rocky 1, and didn't like how Rocky was just given the fight with Apollo, when he was basically an unknown fighter. I found his origin story fairly weak. It was more interesting to see his character struggle with old age.
But I understand the first film is a classic and where it all began. -
AnthonySocksss — 5 months ago(October 05, 2025 02:18 AM)
You are sick in the head
Melton1 Wanted for Pedophilia:
https://i.ibb.co/6cnPmJVr/IMG-0830.jpg
https://m.youtube.com/shorts/Zjxk307CND0 -
bitchsurn — 5 months ago(October 05, 2025 03:08 AM)
In the very first Rocky I guess he did an okay job of portraying a brain damaged boxer, and for the sake of the film he should have quit there. But I guess I can't blame him for squeezing all of the millions he did out of what became series of sequels and also a farce. By the time Rocky was in the 'Rocky Balboa' stage of life, to be realistic, he should have been using a walker and having someone spoon feeding him pudding and changing his diapers. That is generally how brain damage progresses.
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bitchsurn — 5 months ago(October 05, 2025 05:38 PM)
That was kind of what I was implying. The movie 'Rocky Balboa' (which I am loathe to admit that i did watch, along with all the other farcical 'Rocky' movies) would have been more realistic if filmed in a nursing home.
