ROCKY
February 26th 2008 22:25
I’ve always been a huge Rocky fan.
The gritty bare bones tale of a down and out fighter from the streets who turns against all the odds and realizes his dreams – and finds his soul mate to boot – is always gold to me.
Obviously it didn’t start in the 80’s, but it’s hard to find a bigger icon of the time.
Sly was coming up double trumps with both Rambo and Rocky; not to mention his other 80’s goofy-but-good classics like Lock Up or Over the Top.
Now Rocky has come to a final close - and what a terrific send off it was too. I applaud Sly for having the guts to make the kind of heartfelt and hard hitting movie that Rocky Balboa was - in such an age of cynicism.
Although I was delighted with the final episode, I didn’t think the 5th was anywhere as bad as it gets credit for. Even though Stallone and Burt Young (Paulie) have written off the movie several times, I still thinks it’s a great flick (especially after a recent replay of all the movies).
It’s a strong story about a father and his son, and proof that you don’t need millions of dollars to be happy. It was certainly a departure from IV, which turned out to be a glorified MTV music video (although a great one!)
So I’ll ask all the Rocky fans to list their favorite movies from the franchise in descending order from most favorite to least. OR even just your very favorite.
It’s interesting to note that III and IV were actually my favorites growing up. I guess it was the over indulgence and lack of depth - like those two movies - that really killed the 80’s in the end.
My list:
Rocky
Rocky Balboa
Rocky II
Rocky V
Rocky III
Rocky IV
(Note: I can just see MGM absolutely destroying the franchise in the future with some absurd TV spin off. Let’s hope it never comes to that.)
‘I dunno, she's got gaps, I got gaps, together we fill gaps’.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
The first one always bugged me because of how blatantly it recycled the brilliant Somebody Up There Likes Me with Paul Newman as Rocky Graciano.
Rocky II was good fun at the time and is still probably the most respectable entry in the series.
Rocky III was fun for Hulk Hogan, Mr T and the blatant man love between Rock and Apollo. (This was my fave at 10 years old)
Rocky IV has little to no merit, though it is funny from a propaganda perspective.
Rocky V I have to agree with you is terminally under appreciated, it would be my second favourite just for the street fighter angle.
Had no desire to see the last one, I just can't take Sly as seriously as he takes himself. "Aaaadriann" we can get blood from a stone
Comment by Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
I just watched it not long ago, me and my mrs couldn't stop laughing at all the innuendo.
Comment by CONAN
Rocky - original and the best
Rocky III - 80s classic
Rocky Balboa - great finale
Rocky IV
Rocky II
Rocky V - Im afraid I dont agree with you lads on this one!
Cool blog.
Comment by MG
I quite liked rocky 5 it has some good scenes, especially the one with mickey, which in my opinion is the best scene from the entire series.
For me i would say
Rocky
Rocky Balboa
Rocky 5
Rocky 3
Rocky2
Rocky 4
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Unfortunately in my opinion Rocky IV and V were tripe.
In fact even Sly was upfront after the filming of V by saying if he'd had his time over he'd probably never have made it.
Rocky I
Rocky II
Rocky Balboa
Rocky III
Rocky IV
Rocky V
Comment by lackofselfcontrol
Rocky
Rocky Balboa
Rocky II
Rocky III
Rocky IV
Rocky V
Comment by Steve
Rocky III
Rocky I
Rocky II
Rocky Balboa
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Rocky V (this is the only Rocky movie i can't stand)
Comment by Anonymous
2. Rocky 2 - The only Rocky movie nearly as good as the original.
3. Rocky 4 - Really great movie, Drago is my favourite rival boxer in the series.
4. Rocky 3 - Clubber Lang is awesome, the movie is really good, but falls far from the first two.
5. Rocky Balboa - I enjoyed it, and it was reminiscent to the original.
6. Rocky V - Barely decent, but not as bad as everybody makes it out to be.
Comment by Anonymous
2. Rocky Balboa
3. Rocky II
4. Rocky III
5. Rocky
6. Rocky V
Comment by Anonymous
2. Rocky
3. Rocky Balboa
4. Rocky II
5. Rocky IV
6. Rocky V
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Will everyone please lay off Rocky IV? You take the man outta his comfort zone, and put him up against a human monster, and he still triumphs!
I may just really be enjoying Draco's character (with his shirt off all the time) though.
I really like Rocky's training there, how you got Draco with all his high tech equipment, and wots ol Rock doing? Chopping down frozen trees to accustom himself to shocks. Brilliant work. And who can forget Draco's fearful line - "He's not a man!"
Good to see some men admitting to the man love. My man fervently denies there is any hugging. At all. Even though its quite clear they are frolicking in that ocean.
Comment by Taran-Rod
2- Rocky Balboa
3- Rocky V
4- Rocky II
5- Rocky III
6- Rocky IV
Rocky V is too underrated... it's a splendid and brilliant movie!