Movie Fan Zone

The best sequel in the franchise is definitely Rocky Balboa. Yes, the last one in the franchise. The one that some caught in cinemas, others on DVD.

The film had no Adrian, who went on to die due to what Rocky calls “woman cancer”. It obviously had no Mickey or Apollo. Even greater news, no Sage Stallone to play Rocky Jr. Instead we have Milo Ventimiglia to play that part.

Undefeated heavyweight champion Mason “The Line” Dixon (don’t you just love how Stallone names his adversaries?) is too unpopular these days because he hasn’t fought anyone who has challenged him in skills at all. He has not been tested yet. No one could be considered a threat to his crown.

Rocky, now running a restaurant in his town of Philadelphia, wants to empty his heart of all the hate it has. Those stored despair over everything that has happened since Adrian died. He agrees to an exhibition match dubbed “Will Versus Skill”. Along the way, he seeks to remedy the strained relationship he has with his son, tries to help out an old friend who happens to a single mother and of course, make sure Paulie is along for the ride one last time.

What made this the perfect send-off for the iconic celluloid fighter were the little things. Paulie recieving the news that he was no longer needed in the meat shop was heartwrenching. Rocky’s dilemma with his son was eerily similar to real stories of famous fathers. Tony Burton’s return to train Rocky was a sheer delight to fans. No one could discount the fact that Bill Conti’s music still stirs the senses each time.

Also, I noticed the way they presented Dixon. He was in no way a villain here. He is a tormented champion. He is not a caricature; he is a beaten human being forced to care about those he was supposed to entertain. While I still like Clubber Lang and Apollo Creed, Dixon is the closest thing you can get to the current heavyweights out there. He is proud, no doubt. Yet he is also an underdog somewhat.

Thus, we leave Rocky with a renewed sense of hope. He is leaving us a legacy, while tainted, that would inspire a whole new generation of filmgoers.

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Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone, Milo Ventimiglia, Antonio Tarver, Mason “The Line” Dixon, Tony Burton

[image from: yimg.com]