Screen Time

I was sitting on the couch a few nights ago, barely awake and flipping through the channels. I was looking forward to dozing off with the TV on while my wife finished some work on the laptop. Then Rocky Balboa ruined my plans.

TNT, AMC or some such network was airing “Rocky II,” Sylvestor Stallone’s first entry as a director (after writing the 1976 original) in the Rocky series. I caught it at the scene where ol’ Rock, six months after his buzzed-about match with Apollo Creed as depicted in the first flick, was turning down a handout from that wiseass Paulie. I was hooked.

I’d seen “Rocky II” before, but that was a long, long time ago. The Rocky that I remembered for most of my life was the champion in red, white and blue trunks who beat the crap outta that big, chemically-enhanced Russian in “Rocky IV,” not this sad and beaten bum from “Rocky II.” As the movie progressed, I fell in love with this franchise all over again. I’m aware that Stallone never really matched that special, gritty fairytale feeling of the first two Rocky movies, and on some day’s I’ll even agree with those who say that the rest of the Rocky movies were kinda crap. But not today. Today I’ll admit that I love Rocky Balboa and I love this movie franchise.

With Rocky Balboa, Stallone created an incredibly noble, humble and loveable character that became an American icon. For some people, the name Rocky Balboa might conjure up sounds of a slow and low drawl (”UhhhYoooAdriuhn!”), images of a bent lip or some regrettable 80s pop movimeaking conventions (damn you Survivor), but not for me. When I think of Rocky Balboa, I think of a hero. He’s a bruised, imperfect and powerful symbol of integrity and heart that I’ve yet to see bested in any other modern movie franchise.

Stallone is glorious in the original, in “Rocky II” and in “Rocky Balboa,” the final downbeat installment of the series. The other three installments do tend to dip into self-parody, but there’s still some great stuff there that’s often overlooked. What follows are a few of my favorite quieter moments in the life of Rocky Balboa.

- The heart-to-heart with Mickey (Burgess Meredith), “Rocky”
Rocky’s hard-ass trainer breaks down, shows his softer side and tells Rocky he loves him. It’s a great, classic scene with one noble bum trying to make a better life for another.

- Rocky kisses Adrian (Talia Shire), “Rocky”
For my money, this is one of the most tender and most romantic scenes in movie history. Rocky naively announces his love for the shy Adrian, and boy does she love him back.

- Rocky’s argument with Adrian, “Rocky II”
Rock’s overprotective wife, and a bum left eye, won’t let him do what he does best — fight. Rock strikes back with the calm, assertive and surprising argument, “Why can’t you let me be a man? I’m not asking you not to be a woman.”

- The final goodbye, “Rocky Balboa”
After his last day of glory, Rocky visits Adrian’s grave. He leans in and says “You know I couldn’t have done nothing without you… Yo Adrian we did it… We did it.” Rock walks off ready to grow old and knowing, somehow, that his dead wife couldn’t be happier for him.
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Photo courtesy MGM

Posted in: Action • Drama • Franchises • Why I Love |

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