So, my wife and I just finished our totally epic Rocky marathon, which with having a little one in the house, took us about 6 weeks to complete. But, man, what a joy it was to sit through these movies, all of which we really loved in different ways. And, given how much I appreciate these movies, I've been thinking about how to incorporate them into this blog about all things adult development. This was a tricky question. I mean, Rocky is Rocky, whether you’re watching Rocky I, II, III, IV, V, or VI. That's why we love him. And then I realized that it is precisely his continuity that makes Rocky of interest to no category. There will, of course, always be those things in life that require us to adapt, transform, and accept change. Over the course of the movie series, Rocky is challenged to put his family ahead of his fighting, particularly when his career becomes more of a health hazard. And he has to periodically adapt to fame, changes in his financial status, and the loss of a number of friends. But there is also something great about his ability to maintain a certain sameness…his ability to do the things he loves, be the person he is, and live in a way that emphasizes his strengths across the lifespan. Yes, Rocky is Rocky, and for this very reason he succeeds as a developing adult. I also have to point out that when a person is able to fashion their own path through life, they also manage to defy categories. And Rocky evades all of the simple, reductive boxes in which we'd like to place him. He is a brutal fighter, but a gentle and compassionate human being. He’s simple in many ways, and yet he has a clarity and wisdom about him. And despite the criminality of his youth (working as the muscle for an organized crime figure), he manages to live a life of virtue and honesty as an adult. So, here's my tribute to Rocky, a countdown of all 6 films, in order of my personal preference...
FYI - major spoiler alert on the following video clips.
The movie that put Sylvester Stallone, underdogs, and Philly, one of the world's very best cities, on the Hollywood map. It's the story of a loser who gets a shot at success and finds the courage to give it everything he's got, thanks in large part to the woman who loves him and believes in him. This amazing movie won Best Picture in 1976.
This 2006 bookend to the series shows that you're never too old to give life another shot. Rocky Balboa probably tugged at my heart strings more than any other Rocky movie. So much so that I couldn't help shedding a few tears at the end of this one. I dare anyone to watch without doing the same.
Four words. Eye. Of. The. Tiger. Rocky and Apollo become friends and Mr. T. puts in an exceptional performance as the scary Clubber Lang.
A continuation of the plotline from the first movie, so it does feel a bit familiar. But Rocky II is still a great movie with the usual good writing and character development.
This is an unfairly maligned movie, in my humble opinion. I love Rocky V. But, then again, I'm a sucker for father-son drama.
Rocky IV is just as much a classic as any other Rocky movie. But this one's a little light on the script. The movie follows the usual Rocky formula with more musical montages than before. Still completely entertaining. And it includes one of the most shocking plot developments of all the Rocky movies.
No comments:
Post a Comment