Rocky Balboa

Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone, Burt Young) — I had very little hope for this movie, figuring Stallone did it to make some money and probably to prove he was still in good shape.  I walked out feeling like there was finality to the Rocky series.  The former world champ, who spends his days looking like the original Rocky and his nights running his South Philly restaurant named Adrian’s for his now-deceased wife.   His life is empty now, with Adrian gone and his son somewhat estranged and a little haunted by the legend that is his father.  The challenge comes from the ESPN fantasy computer match-up of the current undefeated and unchallenged champion Mason “”The Line” Dixon against the legendary two-time champ, Rocky Balboa.  Rocky wins and that sends the champ’s manager and publicist on a mission to set up an exhibition match between the real men as a way to get their man a payday.  Of course, Rocky fights for more than pride and history; it’s a way to exorcise his demons.  The film has heart and emotion and, of course, a great fight. Stallone always knew how to choreograph a fight, and he could write and direct.  He knows this character so well that every scene is needed.  No wasted effort; no wasted time.  This isn’t a great movie, but it delivered for me what Casino Royale didn’t for the Bond series – the natural extension of the Rocky saga.  The original Rocky won an Oscar and was both the sleeper film of the century and the inventor of the underdog movie genre.  Rocky Balboa is an exclamation point that’s worthy enough.