The Rocky Franchise

Just watching Rocky III on 5 USA.

So many great lines in the film although it turned the series into a much more unrealistic type of sports film (the first two being at least grounded in some reality).

But which is your favourite of the films?

And tell me why!

I think that Rocky Balboa has one of the best, satisfying endings to any franchise but as a film is a little slow.

Rocky v comes in for some unfair criticism.

However, II is the strongest in my opinion. A film which has the great feel good ending and fore is paced perfectly.

First one, by a mile. The rest are just boxing films.

The first Rocky has a great script. II is just another version of I although still a good film. III was great in many ways although the actual boxing was a bit far fetched. IV is basically a long music video. V is meh and Rocky Balboa is an ok film but offers nothing new

Overall you have to say the first one is the best but I think if you ignore the 80s macho cheese and the closet homosexual relationship between Rocky and Apollo then III is a very good film

I always cry when Micky dies though but Paulie is brilliant in this film and Apollo plays a cool character as opposed to the bumbling idiot in Rocky IV. Plus Adrian looks half tidy in III

What I hate is Miguel Cotto at the moment.

I know its not Rocky related but it should be in a way.

Fighters SHOULD be made to fight each other....regardless....the best fight the best....like the good old days....and dare i say it.....UFC.

It seems negotiating with Cotto is like negotiating with a spoilt child or a "diva" as he has been known in the past.

If you don't fight Canelo....fight your Mandatory....GGG.

Good luck!

Number 3 with Clubber Lang. I love them all.

While I welcome any realisation that Cotto is a prize pr!ck, rather strange thread to bring it up.

Anyway, going with Rocky 3. closely followed by Rocky 4. I love Mr. T, and while Rocky IV is no more than an extended training montage with only a slight semblance of a story line, it set up the Blueprint for HBO 24/7 and ShoTime specials for years to follow.

Sweat - check
Music - check
Subtle steroid allegation against opponent - check
talk of how this isn't for the money - check.
Show that you do have money - check

Get an impressive fleet of cars, and you have every Mayweather special in history. Show the beginning of Rocky V where he has no money, and you have every Espn boxing 30 for 30 ever.

Has to be Oscar winning part 1 but love 2 3 and 4.

By Rocky 3 however Mr Balboa had changed so much personality wise and physically that he lost some of the dim witted charm of Rocky 1 and 2 but I like the way part 3 covers some real boxing themes such as Micky sheilding Roc from dangerous opponents after beating Apollo for the title hmmmm art imitating life there.

Also I remember a quote from part 3 that I like

Apollo: Can he swim?

Paulie: With a name like Roc?

kingraf wrote:While I welcome any realisation that Cotto is a prize pr!ck, rather strange thread to bring it up.

Anyway, going with Rocky 3. closely followed by Rocky 4. I love Mr. T, and while Rocky IV is no more than an extended training montage with only a slight semblance of a story line, it set up the Blueprint for HBO 24/7 and ShoTime specials for years to follow.

Sweat - check
Music - check
Subtle steroid allegation against opponent - check
talk of how this isn't for the money - check.
Show that you do have money - check

Get an impressive fleet of cars, and you have every Mayweather special in history. Show the beginning of Rocky V where he has no money, and you have every Espn boxing 30 for 30 ever.

Subtle?

They show him being injected and I dont think it was for flu!

Steffan wrote:The first Rocky has a great script. II is just another version of I although still a good film. III was great in many ways although the actual boxing was a bit far fetched. IV is basically a long music video. V is meh and Rocky Balboa is an ok film but offers nothing new

Overall you have to say the first one is the best but I think if you ignore the 80s macho cheese and the closet homosexual relationship between Rocky and Apollo then III is a very good film

I always cry when Micky dies though but Paulie is brilliant in this film and Apollo plays a cool character as opposed to the bumbling idiot in Rocky IV. Plus Adrian looks half tidy in III

You need to embrace the homoerotic relationship between Rocky and Apollo to truly appreciate the film.  It's definitely a two tissue film - one for Micky's death and one for the hug between Rocky and Apollo on the beach.  How you use the tissues depends on on what turns you on.

superflyweight wrote:

Steffan wrote:The first Rocky has a great script. II is just another version of I although still a good film. III was great in many ways although the actual boxing was a bit far fetched. IV is basically a long music video. V is meh and Rocky Balboa is an ok film but offers nothing new

Overall you have to say the first one is the best but I think if you ignore the 80s macho cheese and the closet homosexual relationship between Rocky and Apollo then III is a very good film

I always cry when Micky dies though but Paulie is brilliant in this film and Apollo plays a cool character as opposed to the bumbling idiot in Rocky IV. Plus Adrian looks half tidy in III

You need to embrace the homoerotic relationship between Rocky and Apollo to truly appreciate the film.  It's definitely a two tissue film - one for Micky's death and one for the hug between Rocky and Apollo on the beach.  How you use the tissues depends on on what turns you on.

The freeze frame look on Sly's face when the two embrace on the beech is one of the greatest stills in cinamatic history.

Adam D wrote:

kingraf wrote:While I welcome any realisation that Cotto is a prize pr!ck, rather strange thread to bring it up.

Anyway, going with Rocky 3. closely followed by Rocky 4. I love Mr. T, and while Rocky IV is no more than an extended training montage with only a slight semblance of a story line, it set up the Blueprint for HBO 24/7 and ShoTime specials for years to follow.

Sweat - check
Music - check
Subtle steroid allegation against opponent - check
talk of how this isn't for the money - check.
Show that you do have money - check

Get an impressive fleet of cars, and you have every Mayweather special in history. Show the beginning of Rocky V where he has no money, and you have every Espn boxing 30 for 30 ever.

Subtle?

They show him being injected and I dont think it was for flu!

Come on lad!

I'll watch all of them apart from 2 and 5.......

2 is boring................5 insults the intelligence..

3 and 4 are fun action 80s type films with cheese/killer sound tracts.

2 is good,5 is sh.t and the last one is good.

First one is the only great film of the bunch,great underdog story. Still not as good as Raging Bull.

Surprised you don't like II, Truss as we quite often agree on films. To me, it's the best of the bunch. I still think that the ending of Rocky balboa is the high point of the series.

Emotional, realistic (as much as it can be) and my opinion, just a perfect ending.

http://m.imdb.com/title/tt3076658/fullcredits/cast?ref_=m_tt_cl_sc

Pretty Ricky porter

Adam D wrote:Surprised you don't like II, Truss as we quite often agree on films. To me, it's the best of the bunch. I still think that the ending of Rocky balboa is the high point of the series.

Emotional, realistic (as much as it can be) and my opinion, just a perfect ending.

As much as Rocky IV is a guilty pleasure of mine it's story and script are so poor I have to view it as a stand alone film

Rocky I, III & III for me is a great trilogy that ends for me in the perfect way with Apollo and Rocky having the behind closed doors match which basically gives the full circle of what the franchise was originally about...Apollo and Rocky boxing

I voted for Rocky 3. It was the first film that I ever rented back in the good old days of VHS. That makes me feel old.

Good movie too. Loved the fights with Clubber and loved the training scenes with Rocky and Appollo. Still today, when I'm driving and Eye of the Tiger comes on the radio, I turn up the volume.

Rocky 4 had the best villain for me................Great soundtrack too.....

and so many good lines in it ........ "whatever he hits............He destroys!!!!"

But Rocky 1 is the best................Hard to not get emotional when Adrienne leaves the dressing room to venture into the arena and then closes her eyes when she sees him trying desperately to get off the floor in the 14th round..

Very moving scene...

Stallone was brilliant in that film...........Underrated actor.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Rocky 4 had the best villain for me................Great soundtrack too.....

and so many good lines in it ........ "whatever he hits............He destroys!!!!"

But Rocky 1 is the best................Hard to not get emotional when Adrienne leaves the dressing room to venture into the arena and then closes her eyes when she sees him trying desperately to get off the floor in the 14th round..

Very moving scene...

Stallone was brilliant in that film...........Underrated actor.

Agree with all of this apart from the first line. I thought Drago's character is way too 80s. A silent ruthless killer kind of like what you get in Bloodsport and Terminator. Clubber Lang for me was amazing and made Rocky III. Gobby, brutal, huge chip on his shoulder, violent outside of the ring and just overall a complete badass who thrived on confrontation. I often wonder if Adrienne ever did go to his apartment that night...

Steffan wrote:

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Rocky 4 had the best villain for me................Great soundtrack too.....

and so many good lines in it ........ "whatever he hits............He destroys!!!!"

But Rocky 1 is the best................Hard to not get emotional when Adrienne leaves the dressing room to venture into the arena and then closes her eyes when she sees him trying desperately to get off the floor in the 14th round..

Very moving scene...

Stallone was brilliant in that film...........Underrated actor.

Agree with all of this apart from the first line. I thought Drago's character is way too 80s. ...

As the cold war finished in 1990/91......You might be right !!

Read rumors that Rocky VI is underway, with balboa now training Creeds grandson. This series overran by at least five episodes as far as I'm concerned.

One more thing I want to say about Rocky 3. I wanted Clubber to win both of their fights. To hell with Rocky Balboa and his nice guy image.

I could happily sit down and watch any of the first 4. I have trouble deciding which of the first 3 I prefer. The 4th I don't like as much, mainly due to the acting, but still think it's an ok film.

The less said about 5 the better and I never attempted to watch Balboa.

Rocky Balboa featured a superb speech given by Stallone about overcoming adversity...Which was on a par with the Quint speech about the Indianapolis in Jaws..

Best bit of writing that out of all the movies !!

CJ Ross was definately one of the judges in the final Rocky. What was the score? 95-94 SD loss for Rocky in a 10 rounder where he was knocked down 3 or 4 times?

Apollo only got a split in the first..

Lucky to get a split though, according to the experts. Most felt Balboa was robbed.

Apollo took a silent beating....McIlvanney gave it to the Rock by four rounds !!

Apparently they were filming for the latest Rocky film in Goodison Park tonight. Might have been able to get some good footage of punches thrown in the dressing room after Mirallas took that penalty off Baines!

Dipper Brown wrote:Apparently they were filming for the latest Rocky film in Goodison Park tonight. Might have been able to get some good footage of punches thrown in the dressing room after Mirallas took that penalty off Baines!

They'd need to be subtitles........just as in Rocky 4 !!

Calm down, calm down!

Ha Ha, nice.

Rocky 1 gets my vote, excellent film, despite being made on a shoe string budget.

Favourite scene has to be the disbelieving look on Apollo's face as he knocks rocky down and briefly celebrates, thinking he has finally won the fight, only for the superhuman balboa to rise and beckon him to continue fighting.

Most ridiculous scene has to be the ending of number 2... Rocky chinning apollo then tumbling to the floor like sack of spuds through his own momentum and thus triggering the double count out scenario is perhaps even more comical than the 'everybody can change' speech from number 4

My best mate since we were little kids was telling me last weekend he had just watched Rocky 3. Brought back a few memories and good laughs.  He said the fight scenes were really bad as in it was clear the punches were missing by miles but enjoyable overall. He reminded me I had a couple of Rocky soundtracks and played them ad nauseum. Every workout I put on the Rocky 4 soundtrack in the gym stereo until the lads threatened to burn the tape.

Rocky I or II for me, can never choose between them.

I for the big underdog story, II for the better fight scenes.

Still never got how in Rocky Balboa he was anywhere near on the scorecards having got knocked down more times in the fight than Amir Khan does. Also surprised the commentators don't make more of his massive glass jaw Also have no idea how a guy with a glass jaw can take the best from the murdersome punching Soviet? Full of holes I tell thee.

Seems a bit of a Rocky love-in on here. Just me then who thinks they were all schmaltzy cack then that couldn't even be rescued by the 'under-rated' Stallone.

milkyboy wrote:Seems a bit of a Rocky love-in on here. Just me then who thinks they were all schmaltzy cack then that couldn't even be rescued by the 'under-rated' Stallone.

I was a kid when Rocky 3 came out at a time when my critically reasoning skills extended to taking the stickers off a Rubik cube and resticking them back on in the right order.

It was a few more years before I understood what Barry Norman meant by "gratuitous violence".

Strongback wrote:

milkyboy wrote:Seems a bit of a Rocky love-in on here. Just me then who thinks they were all schmaltzy cack then that couldn't even be rescued by the 'under-rated' Stallone.

I was a kid when Rocky 3 came out at a time when my critically reasoning skills extended to taking the stickers off a Rubik cube and resticking them back on in the right order.

It was a few more years before I understood what Barry Norman meant by "gratuitous violence".

My critically reasoning skills... Thankfully are still basic when it comes to enjoying Stallone and Arnie films...

You can enjoy the "Arthouse" movies that I don't "get" !!........and good luck to you !!..

I'll remain a pseudo intellectual..

Strongback wrote:

milkyboy wrote:Seems a bit of a Rocky love-in on here. Just me then who thinks they were all schmaltzy cack then that couldn't even be rescued by the 'under-rated' Stallone.

I was a kid when Rocky 3 came out at a time when my critically reasoning skills extended to taking the stickers off a Rubik cube and resticking them back on in the right order.

It was a few more years before I understood what Barry Norman meant by "gratuitous violence".

Quite a mental peak there strongy. Bet you wish you could still do it. Bloody Alzheimer's eh;)

milkyboy wrote:

Strongback wrote:

milkyboy wrote:Seems a bit of a Rocky love-in on here. Just me then who thinks they were all schmaltzy cack then that couldn't even be rescued by the 'under-rated' Stallone.

I was a kid when Rocky 3 came out at a time when my critically reasoning skills extended to taking the stickers off a Rubik cube and resticking them back on in the right order.

It was a few more years before I understood what Barry Norman meant by "gratuitous violence".

Quite a mental peak there strongy. Bet you wish you could still do it. Bloody Alzheimer's eh;)

A time when I scored 100% on every maths test without having to try and held the high score on any video game I got into down the arcade.

Where did it all go wrong?

Strongback wrote:

milkyboy wrote:

Strongback wrote:

milkyboy wrote:Seems a bit of a Rocky love-in on here. Just me then who thinks they were all schmaltzy cack then that couldn't even be rescued by the 'under-rated' Stallone.

I was a kid when Rocky 3 came out at a time when my critically reasoning skills extended to taking the stickers off a Rubik cube and resticking them back on in the right order.

It was a few more years before I understood what Barry Norman meant by "gratuitous violence".

Quite a mental peak there strongy. Bet you wish you could still do it. Bloody Alzheimer's eh;)

A time when I scored 100% on every maths test without having to try and held the high score on any video game I got into down the arcade.

I knew there wouldn't have been a time in your life when you weren't exceptional....

My God I feel honored to debate with you !!

Strongback wrote:

milkyboy wrote:

Strongback wrote:

milkyboy wrote:Seems a bit of a Rocky love-in on here. Just me then who thinks they were all schmaltzy cack then that couldn't even be rescued by the 'under-rated' Stallone.

I was a kid when Rocky 3 came out at a time when my critically reasoning skills extended to taking the stickers off a Rubik cube and resticking them back on in the right order.

It was a few more years before I understood what Barry Norman meant by "gratuitous violence".

Quite a mental peak there strongy. Bet you wish you could still do it. Bloody Alzheimer's eh;)

A time when I scored 100% on every maths test without having to try and held the high score on any video game I got into down the arcade.

Where did it all go wrong?

When they diagnosed the autism?

milkyboy wrote:

Strongback wrote:

milkyboy wrote:

Strongback wrote:

milkyboy wrote:Seems a bit of a Rocky love-in on here. Just me then who thinks they were all schmaltzy cack then that couldn't even be rescued by the 'under-rated' Stallone.

I was a kid when Rocky 3 came out at a time when my critically reasoning skills extended to taking the stickers off a Rubik cube and resticking them back on in the right order.

It was a few more years before I understood what Barry Norman meant by "gratuitous violence".

Quite a mental peak there strongy. Bet you wish you could still do it. Bloody Alzheimer's eh;)

A time when I scored 100% on every maths test without having to try and held the high score on any video game I got into down the arcade.

Where did it all go wrong?

When they diagnosed the autism?

Nah probably when my creative side developed as a teenager, so grew a dichotomy between the rational and artistic which I have struggled with all my life.

If we thought Hoppo fighting at 50 was bad for the sport........

Then we really shouldn't like Rocky Balboa..........

It should be a rite of passage for any young man that, at some stage, he and a few mates gets the beers and nibbles in, crowd around a TV and watch all the Rocky movies back-to-back through the evening and early morning.

The first two were proper motion pictures. The next two were really just lad-ish action flicks but I still love 'em. Not sure how you'd define numbers five and six, mind you!

Hard for me to have a favourite but I guess I'd have to go with the original, with a particularly soft spot for the fifth one because it's so unintentionally hilarious. The rest all have their merits but I'd probably put either IV or VI at the bottom of the pile.....But I still love them, which shows how much of a Rocky buff (and shockingly childish and inept judge of films) I must be.

If I could only take one away to watch on a desert island I'd take the second (a basic retread of the first film but it's still the most uplifting).

The series mirrors Stallone's acting career - the unknown actor (1), the unknown actor struggling to capitalise on his breakthrough (2), the "superstar" who had forgotten the basics (3), living inside an MTV video (4), the actor desperately trying to rekindle what it was that got him an Oscar nomination (5), the actor coming to terms with old age (6).

Cursed of course, the Rocky series:

http://bloguin.com/queensberryrules/2013-articles/michael-b-jordan-braves-curse-of-rocky-balboa.html

hazharrison wrote:If I could only take one away to watch on a desert island I'd take the second (a basic retread of the first film but it's still the most uplifting).

The series mirrors Stallone's acting career - the unknown actor (1), the unknown actor struggling to capitalise on his breakthrough (2), the "superstar" who had forgotten the basics (3), living inside an MTV video (4), the actor desperately trying to rekindle what it was that got him an Oscar nomination (5), the actor coming to terms with old age (6).

Cursed of course, the Rocky series:

http://bloguin.com/queensberryrules/2013-articles/michael-b-jordan-braves-curse-of-rocky-balboa.html

Are we talking about Richard Branson's private island?

because I am not aware of any remote desert islands that have DVD/BLUE RAY accessability.

Really odd statement.

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:

hazharrison wrote:If I could only take one away to watch on a desert island I'd take the second (a basic retread of the first film but it's still the most uplifting).

The series mirrors Stallone's acting career - the unknown actor (1), the unknown actor struggling to capitalise on his breakthrough (2), the "superstar" who had forgotten the basics (3), living inside an MTV video (4), the actor desperately trying to rekindle what it was that got him an Oscar nomination (5), the actor coming to terms with old age (6).

Cursed of course, the Rocky series:

http://bloguin.com/queensberryrules/2013-articles/michael-b-jordan-braves-curse-of-rocky-balboa.html

Are we talking about Richard Branson's private island?

because I am not aware of any remote desert islands that have DVD/BLUE RAY accessability.

Really odd statement.

Yeah - really odd.

Its not like its a commonly accepted cultural reference for over 70 years or so. 

I would take II to the island

Adam D wrote:

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:

hazharrison wrote:If I could only take one away to watch on a desert island I'd take the second (a basic retread of the first film but it's still the most uplifting).

The series mirrors Stallone's acting career - the unknown actor (1), the unknown actor struggling to capitalise on his breakthrough (2), the "superstar" who had forgotten the basics (3), living inside an MTV video (4), the actor desperately trying to rekindle what it was that got him an Oscar nomination (5), the actor coming to terms with old age (6).

Cursed of course, the Rocky series:

http://bloguin.com/queensberryrules/2013-articles/michael-b-jordan-braves-curse-of-rocky-balboa.html

Are we talking about Richard Branson's private island?

because I am not aware of any remote desert islands that have DVD/BLUE RAY accessability.

Really odd statement.

Yeah - really odd.

Its not like its a commonly accepted cultural reference for over 70 years or so. 

I would take II to the island

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:

hazharrison wrote:If I could only take one away to watch on a desert island I'd take the second (a basic retread of the first film but it's still the most uplifting).

The series mirrors Stallone's acting career - the unknown actor (1), the unknown actor struggling to capitalise on his breakthrough (2), the "superstar" who had forgotten the basics (3), living inside an MTV video (4), the actor desperately trying to rekindle what it was that got him an Oscar nomination (5), the actor coming to terms with old age (6).

Cursed of course, the Rocky series:

http://bloguin.com/queensberryrules/2013-articles/michael-b-jordan-braves-curse-of-rocky-balboa.html

Are we talking about Richard Branson's private island?

because I am not aware of any remote desert islands that have DVD/BLUE RAY accessability.

Really odd statement.

Ah, do you not know about the island? Probably shouldn't have said anything.....