Rocky – "You weren't born with a lot of brains. So use your body" Rocky is vastly underrated because he is considered a vulgar boxing movie when he tells so much more about social condition and self-fulfillment. This does not prevent the film from having a match of this sport that is dazzling and full of tension for a flamboyant finale. An ending that offers a comforting moral (no matter how much to win) and a mythical line ("Adrian! »).
Rocky II – Revenge – "There will be no second game. I took enough in the mouth today"
The rather explicit title represents the main issue of this Rocky II – revenge. This film is more on the move than its predecessor, deepens the relationship between the two lovebirds who now have a family life and continues to explore the dramatic aspect. The final fight is less well done and tends to be slightly outrageous and the construction of the film is very similar to the first opus. And the end is full of suspense as to who will get up, there is a legitimate doubt since the hero lost his last fight thus thwarting the expected prognosis of Rocky winner.
Rocky III – Eye of the Tiger – "It's not a statue to offer him, it's a pair of balls"
For its third part, Rocky III – the eye of the tiger the boxer has caught the big head, he will have to pull himself together and, again, train hard to defeat Clubber Lang (played truculently by Mister T). No aspect is neglected, neither the dramatic side with the death of a relative of the Italian stallion, nor the humorous orientation with the very funny fight against the wrestler. The rhythm is favored by actor/director Sylvester Stallone. And it ends on a moving shot of the two eternal fighters who clash.
Rocky IV – "They are sportsmen, not soldiers"
They may not be military personnel, but Rocky and Ivan Drago blithely allegorize the Cold War from the American point of view. On one side, the great Russian villain, on the other the nice American. The film relies on excessive chauvinism. The African-American having failed because not enough Rican, it is the hero with the alabaster complexion who will work to demonstrate the supremacy of his country. I know their struggle is simulated, but the blows of the Soviet Union fighter are still terrifying. Rocky IV contains a scene with flamboyant editing while concurrently showing the training with cold machines for the Russian and a most flashy preparation for the American. Far be it from me to spread my nescience but is it common for one of the boxers to die during the match?
Rocky V – "Mark Twain? The painter »
Episode having worked the least, Rocky V can be considered as a superfluous extension, yet it is not unpleasant to follow. Back to his roots, back to his neighborhood of origin, return to the state of poverty because of a crooked accountant, return to family sentimentalism through his son in the middle of a teenage crisis (real offspring of Sylvester Stallone) are in order in this opus. The usual final fight in the ring is, this time, a fantastic street fight showing the voyeurism of journalists.
Rocky Balboa – "Don't you think you're too much… old? »
I don't particularly appreciate boxing but I deeply like the Rocky saga for what it tells about surpassing oneself, that nothing is ever over even if the excesses are well and truly over. What has never been the distinctive quality of the frankness, that is to say the dialogues are, this time, sparkling by addressing old age or the physical disgrace of his dog. The perfect opportunity for introspection for Sylvester Stallone who withered at the same time as his character. Nevertheless, the opponent of the boxer is at the very least puny compared to the imposing and chemical musculature (?) of the Italian stallion.
Creed – The Legacy of Rocky Balboa – "I'm Not a Mistake"
What a pleasure to see Sylvester Stallone even aging with his eyelids more and more drooping and his voice even more cavernous. Michael B. Jordan elegantly succeeds in his passing of the pugilistic torch. Themes dear to Rocky first of the name that are revisited for the occasion. The chemistry between these two actors is splendid. The final fight is filmed with intense fluidity. Nevertheless, the script features a romance a little too agreed-upon in the middle of this story of transmission.
Creed II – "Here, stray dogs, we euthanize them"
The two broken mouths who clashed in Rocky IV are back as coaches of their protégé. A film that would be more rooted in the lack of a father while continuing to want to say something about transmission. Nevertheless, a usual pugilistic fight, the scenario knows only modest adjustments like the opponent or the event, it begins to resemble each other.
Creed III – "Right now, you're boxing. I want you to start fighting."
Michael B. Jordan who has been promoted to director a new impetus that struggles to get out of the immobility in which the franchise is bogged down. Indeed, training scenes and a final fight of the most usual. It's captivating like a melody, it's terribly psalmodic. Nevertheless, the family scenes are nicodemus but effective, Sylvester Stallone is undeniably missing from the saga and the antagonist, besides being African-American so more white villains, diverts Adonis from fatuity, he steals the cover from Creed but and this is the problem, his too meteoric rise in the world of boxing is somewhat hasty.
