|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
'Rocky Balboa' Review and Movie Quotes |
Excellent Review: |
Rocky Balboa —
Rated: PG
• Lots of Flashbacks to past Rocky Movies!
• Lots of Sweet/Gay Moments between Rocky and his Disrespectful, Punk, Loser Son!
• No Real Bad Guys in this last Rocky Movie.....Danny misses Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang and Drago! The Bad Guys from Rocky V were Lame and Stupid!
• Listening to Rocky's Motivational Speeches made Danny a little "Misty Eyed".....Danny wound up shedding some Manly Tears!
• Mike Tyson also makes a Cameo.....I guess Stallone caught Iron Mike with Free Time in between Jail Sentences!
• Some Old Favorites from Previous Rocky Movies make Cameos!
• Rocky Balboa was Written, Directed, Produced and Starring.....Sylvester Stallone! That Old War Horse can do it all, Man!
• Rocky Balboa shows us, once again, how a Real American Hero should behave!
Running Time: 102 Minutes
Very Important: A Sense of Humor is for Maximum Enjoyment of Danny's Movie Reviews! If you need to understand why, go to my
Movie Guide Home Page.
NOTE: All studio images/trailers and content is used for the purpose of publicity and No Copyright Infringement Is Intended.
"Danny's Personal Feelings About
Rocky Balboa"
Rocky Balboa"
Featured Movie Review:
ROCKY BALBOA
ROCKY BALBOA
"It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over"
All Rights Reserved
| More COOL Movie Reviews..... |
A few years ago, when I heard that Sylvester Stallone wanted to do one last Rocky movie, I thought that he was making a mistake.
Now don't get me wrong.....I agree with everyone else when they say that Rocky V Sucked Big Fat Hairy Monkey Balls!
Rocky V was supposed to be the Last Chapter of the Rocky Series.....and it was God-Awful!
I think I've seen Rocky V only two times since it was made way back in 1990....yet I've seen the first Three Rocky movies I don't know how many times.
And Danny actually liked Rocky IV too.....who could forget when Apollo Creed got killed by the Big, Bad, Blond, Buffed Commie!
Almost all sports movies have a Music Montage .....but Rocky IV had a grand total of THREE Music Montages in the space of 90 minutes.
That's gotta be a Record!
But Rocky IV wasn't supposed to be the end of the series.....that was supposed to be Rocky V.
And Rocky V did a Terrible Job!!!!
• Tommy Morrison (John Wayne's grand-nephew) couldn't act to to save his life! He spent most of the movie Pissing, Moaning and Whining about how he didn't get any "Respect!"
When Rodney Dangerfield whined about "Getting No Respect".....it was Funny!
When Tommy Morrison did it.....it was Embarrassing!
• Rocky's son (played by Stallone's Real Life Son) was Very Annoying.....I couldn't stand to listen to his whining and crying!
Danny wanted to Cave his Head in with a Rock!
• I did like "The Don King Impersonator".....but he a wasn't memorable villain like Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang or Drago.
Allow Danny to paraphrase Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons about my feelings for Rocky V:  |
In show business, as well as All other aspects of life:
Your Legacy is not only defined on whether or not you "Crossed the Finish Line".....but How you "Crossed the Finish Line!"
My Beloved New York Giants won Super Bowl XLII! But they started the season at 0-2.....having been outscored 80 to 48! But they managed to pull themselves together and they went into the Playoffs as a Wild Card. During the Playoffs, the NY Giants had to win Four Straight Games on the Road against teams that were Supposed to be better than they were. Including the Dallas Cowboys who had already beaten them Twice during the Regular Season & the New England Patriots who had just barely beaten them to close out the Regular Season! In the end, the NY Giants pulled off an Upset Win against the "Undefeated" New England Patriots with a Late Fourth Quarter Drive to Win the Championship! The Entire 2007 New York Giants Season came Straight out of a Rocky Movie Script! |
Danny is guessing that Stallone didn't want the Rocky to be remembered as having a Weak Finish, so he finally decided to give himself another crack at ending the series on a better note.....Sixteen Years Later!
Just like Stallone took another crack at the Rambo series TWENTY YEARS after Rambo III was made.
And that was what was bothering Danny.....Stallone waited so long to Finish the Rocky Series on a Strong Note!
A Question formed in Danny's Mind that really Bugged him:
How the Hell do you Justify getting a Sixty-Year-Old, Beaten-Up Rocky Balboa back in the ring.....and NOT make it look like a Joke? |
Well, much to Danny's surprise.....
"Stallone Does a Fantastic Job
In This Movie"
In This Movie"
Sylvester Stallone, who wrote and directed Rocky Balboa, found a Creative Solution to making the plot to the movie Believable.
Stallone even incorporated the fact that movie fans and critics would be looking for him to make a fool of himself by doing this last Rocky Balboa Movie.
Many of the characters in the movie were expecting Rocky Balboa to get Pulverized because of his AARP Status!
In what Danny considers the best scene in Rocky Balboa, Rocky's son, Robert, is trying to convince Rocky that he's making a mistake in fighting again.
Robert tells Rocky that he'll be Laughed at and Ridiculed.....and that, because he's Rocky's son, he'll also be laughed at by other people.
And Rocky Balboa says some Very Powerful Words to him:
The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.
You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life.
But it ain't 'bout how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward.
How much you can take, and keep moving forward.
That's how Winning is done.
Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth.
But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody.
Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that!"
Danny is not ashamed to say that seeing Rocky Balboa give his son this speech, with all of that Passion behind it, made Danny a little "Misty Eyed."
I'm being Totally Serious.....and getting "Misty Eyed" doesn't make Danny any less of a MAN!
.....Like A Little Girl" On second thought, getting "Misty Eyed" Does make Danny Less of a Man! Excuse me while I go buy some Tampons, Lip Gloss and Pantyhose! Danny likes to look Really Pretty when he goes to his Yoga/Meditation Classes! By the Way.....NO Self-Respecting American Alpha Male would be caught Dead at a Yoga/Meditation Class! |
Just like the Strong "Father/Son" scene from Michael Clayton, this speech struck a cord with me.
I know that when I have a son or daughter sometime in the future, I will not allow them to "Hang their Head in Shame" and feel sorry for themselves.
Danny will teach them these Old Time Tested Words of Wisdom:
It only recently occurred to me that.....
"Rocky Is An Inspirational Character
That Young People Can Look Up To"
That Young People Can Look Up To"
If done properly, this what the movies can do for Young People.....the movies can Inspire Young People to Achieve more than they thought they were capable of!
Danny personally never had a "Real Life" Successful Role Model to look up to when he was growing up.....I never had a Mentor by my side who I wanted to imitate.
Not in my Personal Life or in my Professional Life.
But I've found really good "Imaginary" Roles Models in Books and Movies.
Now I don't personally know Sylvester Stallone, but I've grown up admiring the Rocky movies my entire life!
I've seen them so many times that I feel like I really know Rocky Balboa as if he were a Real Person and a Close Friend.
Watching Rocky Balboa, who is a "Amateur" in almost every other aspect of his life, Win his battles in the Boxing Ring is amazing to Danny!
Yes.....I know they're just movies.
But you've got to understand that for someone like me, who had no one in his life who inspired him to Achieve Greatness, I wanted needed someone to look to.
Even though Rocky Balboa may not know too much.....he's a Helluva lot Smarter than most people.
He learned the most important Character Traits to becoming a Winner:
Never Giving Up!
These are the Four Important Steps to Achieving Your Goals: • Decide how you will go about achieving that Worthwhile Goal; • Decide on a Deadline for when you will achieve your Worthwhile Goal; • And make a Decision to achieve that Worthwhile Goal no matter what. |
If you keep your "Eye on the Prize".....no amount of obstacles or challenges will be able to distract you from "The Finish Line."
If some Big Obstacle gets in your way.....learn to adapt to the situation! Revise your "Battle Plans" in order to achieve the same goals you started out with.
A lot of Goals and Results oriented people (like Danny himself) get Really Fired Up when Challenges and Obstacles are blocking them from "The Finish Line".....just like the 2007 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants!
The Rocky Movies just wouldn't be the same if Rocky Balboa didn't have some "Huge Mountain" to climb in order to come out on Top!
Imagine if Rocky Balboa had to beat a Spineless Fruitcake Cream Puff like Tom Cruise to Win the Heavyweight Championship?
Who would want to look up to Rocky Balboa then?!?
As I get older, it is becoming apparent to me that.....
"Too Many Americans Are Becoming
Weak and Soft"
Weak and Soft"
And for the past few years, that fact is reflecting itself in the movies more and more.
That's because too many Recent American Action Movies are filled with "Action Heroes" who are nothing but a bunch of Cry Babies!
It seems to me that so many people who are "Educated" and "Talented" should hold the title of.....World Champion Quitters!
When the going gets Tough.....they "Throw in the Towel" and "Head for the Hills!"
People who are Quitters are NEVER EVER Successful!
Too many TV shows, Movies, Books, Politicians and Celebrities teach people to feel Sorry for themselves and/or to Blame someone else for their own misfortunes.
And when you get into that habit, you NEVER learn The Simple Truth that Danny himself was able to learn.....
to Solve your own Problems For Yourself!
Rocky Balboa strikes a cord with everyone because he symbolizes that American Spirit of Never Giving Up!
When he wants to, he is able to tap into his "Eye of the Tiger" and find a way to Win!
The Road to Winning is Never a Quick and Easy Path.....it's Always a Difficult Uphill Battle!
But Anyone can figure it out.....if they have the Will to do it!
You Must" Do you know another movie character that gives Great Advice for Succeeding in Life..... from "The Empire Strikes Back!" As horrible as the recent Star Wars Trilogy turned out to be.....one of the bright spots is listening to more Cool, Zen Advice from Yoda! Question: Is it just me.....or does it seem to anyone that George Lucas turned to the Darkside Years Ago? |
As a Matter Of Fact.....
"Americans Respond To
Courage Under Fire"
Courage Under Fire"
We admire people who are Self-made Successes.....who fought through many battles over many years to achieve success.
That's definitely the Main Disadvantage of living in the United States (the wealthiest country in the world).....too many of us have become Fat, Lazy and Complacent.
Too many Americans grow up never learning Stamina and how to Endure Pain.
The entire "Recreational Drug" Industry revolves around selling drugs to people so that they can Avoid Pain.....both Mental and Physical! |
People complain about how hard life is today.....what a Load of Bullshit!
Americans today have it Really, Really Easy compared to Americans from One Hundred Years Ago.....hell, compared to Americans from Fifty Years Ago!
Today, Americans have it easier than Ninety Percent of the Rest of the World!
Politicians are always talking about making sure "The Next Generation" of Americans have more advantages than we do today.....not to make things harder for them. Well, Danny says that all of these "Advantages" are actually making Americans Soft, Lazy, Stupid and Totally Dependent on Politicians to solve the Simplest Problems for us.....as opposed to people solving their own problems. This is exactly how Politicians want us to be! This is why Politicians love to offer you "Free" Government Programs.....So that you become Dependent on them like a Drug Addict is Depandent on Heroin or Crack! And once you've become Dependent on them..... then it's a pretty safe bet that you'll continue to re-elect these Assholes! That's how some of these Politicians have kept their Cushy Jobs for over 20 Years.....by giving away lots of Free Shit at the Tax Payers Expense. |
In Rocky Balboa, the character of Mason Dixon (played by real-life boxer Antonio Tarver) has trouble finding Worthy Opponents to face him in the ring.
And because he is beating his opponents so easily, Mason Dixon is not Respected as the Heavyweight Champion!
Too many of his opponents do not have the willingness to "Earn the Right" to be successful.
They're just looking to go a few rounds and collect a paycheck.....they Don't Care whether they Win or Lose.
These "Fighters" have No Pride or Self-Respect.....they are World Champion Quitters!
My second favorite scene in Rocky Balboa is when Mason Dixon goes back to his original trainer who is like a father-figure to him.
The trainer tells it to him straight — Even though he has the Championship Title, he didn't Earn the Championship Title.....and Everyone Knows It!
The Fans know it and The Media knows it.....and deep down, Mason Dixon knows it too!
Mason Dixon is a "Paper Champion" because he defeated a "Paper Champion" to get the title in the first place.....that's why no one respects him as The Champ.
The only way for Mason Dixon to prove himself worthy of the Title is to face somebody who will NOT back down from him.....only then will he find the only respect that really matters — Self-Respect!
Rocky Balboa has a really Great Message that can inspire anyone who has the Heart to Succeed!
I'm going to wrap this review up with.....
"A Few Last Words About
Rocky Balboa"
Rocky Balboa"
The Fight Sequence at the end of Rocky Balboa is the best one since the original Rocky!
Stallone said that he wanted this last Rocky Fight to be as realistic as possible.
So the sound effects that made Rocky's Punches sounded like Shotgun Blasts are Gone!
And there's very little Fight Choreography.
The fight seems more like a Brooklyn Street Brawl than a typical Hollywood Movie Fight!
Stallone even said that Antonio Tarver accidentally landed a few very hard shots that damn near knocked his head off!
Danny is now Very, Very Glad that Stallone decided to "Get Back in the Ring" one more time to end the Rocky Series the proper way.
Danny thinks that Stallone did a Great Job of doing just that!
Honor America's Fallen Heroes. |
"CAST
OF
ROCKY BALBOA"
OF
ROCKY BALBOA"
as Rocky Balboa | as Paulie Pennino |
as Robert Balboa | as Marie |
as Stephenson a.k.a. Steps | as Tony "Duke" Evers |
as Mason "The Line" Dixon | as Martin |
Danny's Top 5 Cool Movie Quotes!
Cool Movie Quote — No. 1
*Rocky Balboa*: Come on Paulie, we're about to serve the special.
Paulie: Italian food made by Mexicans ain't that special.
Cool Movie Quote — No. 2
Martin: You got everything money can buy, except what it can't. Its Pride. Pride is what got your ass out here, and losing is what brought ya back. But people like you, they need to be tested. They need a challenge.
Mason 'The Line' Dixon: But you know that ain't never gunna happen, there ain't anybody out there Martin.
Martin: Theres always somebody out there. Always.
And when that time comes and you find something standing if front of you, something that ain't running and ain't backin up and is hittin on you and your too damn tired to breathe.
You find that situation on you, that good, Cuz thats baptizim under fire! Oh you get thru that and you find the only kind of respect that matters in this world, Self respect.
Cool Movie Quote — No. 3
*Rocky Balboa*: Yo, don't I got some rights?
Boxing Commissioner: What rights do you think you're referring to?
*Rocky Balboa*: Rights, like in that official piece of paper they wrote down the street there?
Boxing Commissioner: That's the Bill of Rights.
*Rocky Balboa*: Yeah, yeah. Bill of Rights. Don't it say something about going after what makes you happy?
Boxing Commissioner: No, that's the pursuit of happiness. But what's your point?
*Rocky Balboa*: My point is I'm pursuing something and nobody looks too happy about it.
Boxing Commissioner: But... we're just looking out for your interests.
*Rocky Balboa*: I appreciate that, but maybe you're looking out for your interests just a little bit more.
I mean you shouldn't be asking people to come down here and pay the freight on something they paid, it still ain't good enough, I mean you think that's right? I mean maybe you're doing your job but why you gotta stop me from doing mine?
Cause if you're willing to go through all the battling you got to go through to get where you want to get, who's got the right to stop you?
I mean maybe some of you guys got something you never finished, something you really want to do, something you never said to someone, something... and you're told no, even after you paid your dues? Who's got the right to tell you that, who? Nobody!
It's your right to listen to your gut, it ain't nobody's right to say no after you earned the right to be where you want to be and do what you want to do!
You know, the older I get the more things I gotta leave behind, that's life. The only thing I'm asking you guys to leave on the table... is what's right.
Cool Movie Quote — No. 4
Duke: You know all there is to know about fighting, so there's no sense us going down that same old road again. To beat this guy, you need speed - you don't have it. And your knees can't take the pounding, so hard running is out. And you got arthritis in your neck, and you've got calcium deposits on most of your joints, so sparring is out.
Paulie: I had that problem.
Duke: So, what we'll be calling on is good ol’ fashion blunt force trauma. Horsepower. Heavy-duty, cast-iron, piledriving punches that will have to hurt so much they'll rattle his ancestors. Every time you hit him with a shot, it's gotta feel like he tried kissing the express train. [twists his neck, cracking his neck bones] Yeah! Let's start building some hurtin' bombs!
Cool Movie Quote — No. 5
Rocky Balboa: You know I couldn't have done nothing without you... Yo Adrian we did it...
[kisses tombstone]
Rocky Balboa: We did it...
[Walks off into distance]
"Click These Links And Discover
More Great Content On
Entertainment Movie Guide"
More Great Content On
Entertainment Movie Guide"
| More COOL Movie Reviews..... |
Original Full-Page Drama Movie Reviews At My Classic Drama Movies Page! |
 Custom Search |
P.S..... If you have any Questions about a subject covered on my website, use the Google Custom Search Box above to find an Answer. The Search Box can conduct a Complete Search of my entire Website and/or the entire Internet. If you can't find an Answer, then please Contact Me. |
Classic Drama Movies
