DIRECTED BY: Sylvester Stallone
STARRING: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Burgess Meredith, Carl Weathers, Tony Burton and Mr. T
BUDGET: $17m
EARNED (Worldwide): $270m
AWARDS: None (Oscar Nomination for Best Original Song, Golden Globe Nomination for Best Original Song and BAFTA Nomination for Best Original Song)
SYNOPSIS
Rocky has been holding the title as the heavyweight champion until he is defeated by a brutal challenger, and now must regain his fighting spirit through a big rematch, trained by an unlikely ally: his old nemesis Apollo Creed.
Rocky Balboa is the new heavyweight champion of the world and when we return to see what happens next for Rock, he’s still champion as we montage through several fights. During this time we see another boxer, Clubber Lang, steaming through his opponents, looking to take on Balboa. When he looks set to retire, Lang challenges him for the title, which Rocky accepts. Ultimately Lang beats him and becomes the new champion. With his spirit taken a hit from losing, to the passing of Mickey, it’s up to the most unlikely of people to instil believe and edge back into Rocky…former world-champion Apollo Creed.
Everyone knows I grew up with a soft spot for the Rocky franchise, but I’ll dig deep into that one for when the first Rocky film appears on the list. The third films normally degrade in stature in comparison to the ones that came before but personally for me the third Rocky instalment is really good, while being the most fun, even with a significant death in the film. Here Rocky is going through his opponents but unaware to him that they have been ‘hand-picked’ of sorts by trainer/mentor/father figure Mickey in order to keep him safe. Unfortunately he can’t keep him away from relentless challenger Clubber Lang, who’s gunning Balboa for the title and inflict a world of pain. Stallone handles the pacing and structure well of how Rocky has to reinvent himself with the help of Apollo Creed, giving a more central role particular in the final half of the film once Mickey’s gone. I seriously wonder though if the guy that invented the name generator was originally sitting in the room across from Sly coming out with these names for the characters…I mean Clubber Lang? Apollo Creed? Hulk Hogan’s special cameo at the start of the film as wrestler Thunderlips? The training montages are still great, as is the story, though not as strong as the original (that goes without saying), with strong performances from Stallone, Weathers and Mr.T. Time to whack on Survivor’s ‘Eye of the Tiger’ again.
FAVOURITE SCENE: Regardless of Mr. T’s quotable rage throughout and the Hulk Hogan cameo appearance, the scene with Rocky looking over Mickey’s body right after his loss always has and always will get me.
FAVOURITE QUOTE: ‘Adrian: …you gotta want to do it for the right reasons. Not for the guilt over Mickey, not for the people, not for the title, not for money or me, but for you. Just you. Just you alone.
Rocky Balboa: And if I lose?
Adrian: Then you lose. But at least you lose with no excuses, no fear. And I know you can live with that.’
DID YOU KNOW?: A song titled “You’re the Best” performed by Joe Esposito was recorded for the film. But Stallone rejected it in favor of Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger”. “You’re the Best” was later used in The Karate Kid (1984).
Irish Cinephile 