When I heard about "Rocky Balboa," I thought it was a joke. Stallone was going to make another Rocky movie? Why? There's nothing left to say, and you've already stolen any dignity left in the property. And hey, Sly ... you're ooooooooooooollld.
Normally, I'm an unapologetic Rocky fan. I still tear up when Rocky calls out to Adrian, and I hate commies all over again when Drago kills Apollo. I openly weep when Mickey dies. Even when the movies became more and more cornball, I still loved the Rocky series.Well, except for "Rocky V" - what a piece of crap that was. I refuse to even link to that steaming pile. And of course, that movie was the first thing I thought of when I heard about "Rocky Balboa." Why would I want to watch Stallone trot out his aging Italian Stallion one more time, along with his apparently oversized ego? Rocky was brain-damaged in the last one, so what could we expect in the latest installment - two hours of drooling?
But, I bargained with myself, I did see all of the movies in the theater, and I hate to let a perfect record go to waste. And it is Rocky.
And then, I was watching the trailer the other day and it had a line that just totally sold me on the whole thing. Duke (Apollo's original corner man, and total bad-ass) is telling Rocky what they'll need to do if they want to have any chance at a comeback, and it doesn't sound good:To beat this guy, you need speed; you don't have it. You've got calcium deposits on most of your joints, so sparring is out.
Damn, Duke - is there any good news?
So what we'll be calling on is blunt. Force. Trauma. Heavy-duty punches that will rattle his ancestors.
And then Duke raises both fists like they were hammers and says:
Let's start building some hurtin'-bombs.
I was wrong - we need to watch this.
3 comments:
I'm a HUGE fan of I & II. Less so a fan, but still fond of III & IV (what's not to love about Mr. T and Dolph Lungren, respectively). I'm still not sold on this one though. I don't even think I saw V. I just feel a little sorry for Sly now, he looks so, well, rough. When Lee told me this movie was coming I was like "What the hell is next? Rambo IV?" As a matter of fact the answer to that question is a decided, "yes!"
I love Rocky III: Rock is broken, Mickey dies, gratuitus Mr. T slow-mo - all in all, good stuff. Rambo I pretty much gave up on after the second one, even though the first is actually a really good movie.
Yeah, First Blood was great. I didn't really care for Rambo either though, and didn't even watch the third.
III & IV are still solid for me, don't get me wrong. I just like I & II the best.
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