Rocky Balboa (released in 2006) - Starring Sylvester Stallone, Burt Young, Antonio Tarver, Milo Ventimiglia

A picture of Adrian (Talia Shire) rests on the side table, as boxing legend Rocky Balboa (Stallone) gets out of bed, and goes through the rituals of daybreak - feeding the turtles, refurbishing the seed tray, pull ups at the chin up bar; sixteen years since his retirement, and he is now a lonely, middle aged boxer, his wife dead from cancer. He is seated by Adrian’s grave, his brother-in-law Paulie (Burt Young) has stood the test of time, and the two have an exchange about how slowly time moves past. Paulie is upset that Rocky’s son Robert (Milo Ventimiglia) hasn’t come for his mother’s death anniversary. But Rocky tells him he understands why Rob isn’t here; he has loads to do, as a corporate employee, whose boss is constantly hounding him.
Rocky walks in on an exchange between Robert and his boss William Tomilson, who tells him he doesn’t care how famous his father was - Balboa watches from a distance, sensing his son’s resistance to his presence. As he walks up to greet Robert, Tomilson also joins them and tells the legend he’s always wanted to meet him, but Rob has said on every occasion that his father’s a busy man. He asks Rob to click a picture of the two ‘old war horses’ together.
After setting up a date for the father and son later that evening, Balboa goes back to his restaurant - “Adrian’s”, where he gets busy organizing a special meal for Rob, and hosting guests, entertaining them with tales of his past victories. Unfortunately, Rob doesn’t make it to dinner. On his way home, he walks down memory lane to the time when he and Adrian had met, the dreams they shared and the home they built, their lives circling around Robert in his growing years. As Paulie and Rocky reminisce outside the birdhouse where Adrian worked and the gym that Micky had left for him, Paulie tells him that their world is falling apart, even as Balboa admonishes him not to talk crazy.




Rocky decides to have a drink at the bar one night, at Lucky Seven, a tavern where Little Marie (Geraldine Hughes) works as a bartender. Balboa used to frequent the tavern as a youngster, and had met Marie, then ‘Little’. She is now mother to a son – Stephenson (James Francis Kelly III) fondly called ‘Steps’. Rocky rescues Marie from an unpleasant situation and offers her a lift home. She introduces Rocky to her son, he seems surprised the child is not Irish looking, Marie tells him that the father was Jamaican. He meets the boy, leaving his card on the steps, inviting the duo to visit him for dinner sometime.
But where Rocky Balboa is, boxing will follow shortly after; Mason Dixon ‘The Line’ ( Antonio Tarver) is the reigning champion, whose popularity has taken a slump. ESPN  broadcasts a simulated version of a fight between Rocky and Dixon, Rob and his friends are having a drink in an Irish Pub, as his friends rally for his father, the video shows Balboa win the fight. Elsewhere an irked Dixon watches on.
Directed and written by Stallone, Rocky Balboa or Rocky VI as it is also known as, is a cult favorite of Stallone’s fans the world over; it is as if the actor is defined by the role. Rocky Balboa takes off on the similar theme of the prequels - a man pitted against circumstance and opponents bigger than himself; when he was younger - it was someone richer, better trained, and stronger. As he got older, his opponents got younger, he fought his own physical limitations, battling injuries, financial crises, emotional upheavals, always the underdog who comes out a winner by a surprise KO, just like in the ring! Worth a watch, Adrian is sorely missed though!

Rocky 5 - Starring Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Sage Stallone and Tommy Morrison - Released in 1990

After his win in Moscow, Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is offered a fight against George Washington Duke’s (Richard Grant) boxer, Union Cane in the World Heavyweight Championship in Japan - the boxer turns down the offer, to Duke’s chagrin. On his return home, he also discovers that while he was away, Paulie (Burt Young) had foolishly handed over the power of attorney to Rocky’s crooked accountant, who has lost almost all of the champion’s wealth in bad investments and non payment of taxes. His mansion and wealth are taken away, and the family moves back into the working class neighborhood in South Philadelphia, where he once learnt to fight.
Now, Rocky Balboa, five years after his big fight with the Siberian Express Ivan Drago, is battling bankruptcy and brain damage, but he does have an asset close to his heart - the gym that belonged to his trainer Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith) which he bequeathed to Robert (Balboa’s son), who still motivates and inspires Balboa in flashback sequences.
Rocky is now tempted to take up Duke’s offer to help tide over his financial woes - but Adrian (Talia Shire) forbids him, citing his health issues, she, however continues to support the family with her job. The picture of struggle and the consequences of his foolhardiness haunt Rocky, he feels frustrated that he is unable to help solve the situation. Balboa meets with almost somebody like himself, in the form of a young bxer Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison) - a young fighter hungry to learn and box. Paulie and Rocky decide to take him under their wing and teach him the ropes.


Meanwhile Robert (Sage Stallone), a growing boy, is offended that his father pays more attention to Gunn, rather than him - constant means are applied to seek his father’s approval, when this fails, he falls into the wrong company at school, falling behind in grades and telling lies at home. Balboa’s Pygmallionesque obsession costs him his time with family; he pins his hopes on the young fighter to relive the days of his past glory - a trap into which many a great have fallen. On the other hand, Duke, after being spurned by Balboa, is still seething. He cleverly strategizes to draw Gunn away from his mentor with promises of a title and money - the rookie falls for this temptation, turning his back on the man who taught him everything he knows about fighting.
Rocky fights to keep Gun from leaving, but without any contractual obligations, Tommy is free to choose as he pleases. On Christmas Eve, Duke comes to taunt him with Tommy in tow, who believes that Balboa was only using him. Heartbroken, Rocky tries to convince the youngster, who leaves. Adrian goes onto explain patiently that the kid can never possess the honesty and heart that Rocky has - this soothes him and the two find Robert, and start afresh. Duke’s new protégée wins the fight against Cane, but the crowd won’t be pleased until he defeats the ‘real’ champion - Balboa. This reaction from the crowd angers Tommy Gunn who believes that he deserves praise and appreciation.
Duke and the boxer now have their sight set on Rocky, they try goading him into a fight - he refuses, but is forced to retaliate when Gunn assaults Paulie. Rocky challenges the young upstart to a street brawl - Duke sees things getting out of hand, and tries, in vain, to tell them they should sort out their differences in the boxing ring, there is no good to having a street brawl. Gunn beats Rocky up good, but in the true tradition of the underdog, Rocky rises to the occasion, as he has a flashback of Mickey urging him to get on his feet for just one more round. This time, Gunn is knocked out.
The film reunites Stallone and John G. Avildsen, who directed the first Rocky film in 1976. Rocky V was released in 1990. Perhaps the most endearing films in the sports biopic genre, Rocky V, despite the apprehensions of critics, has withstood the test of time and the changing tastes of fans worldwide.

Rocky 3 - Starring Sylvester Stallone, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith, Talia Shire and Burt Young - Released in 1982

After prequels in 1976 and 1979, the third in the series ROCKY 3 was released in 1982. Only the first movie ‘Rocky Balboa’ was directed by John G. Avildsen, the others have all been written and directed by Sylvester Stallone, who assays the character of Rocky in all the films.

Rocky Balboa has won ten titles after winning the grueling fight against Apollo Creed. His success is phenomenal, people adore him and fame sits pretty on his handsome frame. On a day when nothing could’ve gone wrong, as he is unveiling a statue of himself, he is thrown a gauntlet by the beefy and cocky upstart - James Clubber Lang (Mr.T). The young fighter insults Rocky and openly insinuates that he chooses fighters less able than himself to fight against, he goes a step further and questions his manhood – this infuriates the boxer.

When Rocky approaches his coach Mickey (Burgess Meredith) to train him to fight - Mickey refuses. He agrees with Clubber that Rocky fought against those who had less of an advantage over him - Mickey tells him that he picked his opponents intentionally, knowing full well that the match with Creed had done more damage to Rocky than he’d ever accept. The trainer warns the boxer that he will surely be killed by Lang, who is fitter and faster.

This revelation by a man who knows him best, puts Rocky on the back foot; on introspection he begins to question if he is actually worthy of the titles he’s won. Balboa comes to the conclusion that the best way to regain his self respect would be to fight against Lang. Mickey agrees to train him, and Rocky vows that this would be his last fight. Clubber trains in the meanest and hardest conditions, whilst Rocky, flush with wealth and distractions, rents a ballroom, converts it into his private gym and throws it open to local media. This bothers and annoys his coach, who is aware that this is no way to train for a big fight.

On the big day 22 August 1981, before the fight, the teams of Balboa and Lang come to blows, and Mickey is roughed up as well - this leads to him having a heart attack. Although Rocky wants the fight called off, Mickey wants him not to - he’d be happier if he fought. As the medics take him away, Mickey insists that they wait on him in the dressing room - he wants to be around while Rocky fights.

Balboa faces his opponent, only to be beaten down by him - literally as well as figuratively, after the second round. He however, does not tell Mickey he lost; he’d rather that the old man believed they won. Sadly, Mickey Goldmill, beloved coach and father figure to Balboa, passes away at 81 - leaving a void in the lives of Rocky and his family. Rocky spirals downward into depression, one evening, as he stands near the gym that used to be Mickey’s playground, but is now shut close - he meets Apollo Creed - the opponent who once saw him as the underdog, worthy to fight a great like himself.

Taking Balboa under his wing, Creed steps into Mickey’s shoes - training Rocky to fight Clubber Lang. More than the physical aspect of training the fighter, Creed must work on Rocky’ s broken psyche that is affected by the past fights he won. In the end, Apollo is able to help the boxer regain confidence and his edge.

The two men meet again in New York City - Lang and Balboa; this time, Rocky flies into aggression, taking Clubber by surprise, but after the initial high, the younger man regains his offensive temperament and hammers Balboa. To add to the spectator’s bewilderment, Rocky continuously goads Clubber Lang into beating him up, the opponent is easily provoked, and Rocky, although beaten up, refuses to be KO - a reprisal of his fifteen round bouts with Creed in Rocky II.

After the third round, Clubber is exhausted and tired, the fight is not what he is used to, fast and furious - it is dragging on, and sapping his strength, just the way Balboa wants. The fight ends in Rocky’s favor, and he is once more the heavyweight champion of the world - and this time, he picked on someone larger than his size, not smaller.

Apollo lives out his wish, as Rocky and Creed face each other in a friendly match - the two men found a friendship over the boxing ring which is unparalleled in strength and trust. The movie is a fresh change from the predictable, we see the man behind the boxer, who struggles with his weakness and emerges a winner, it is a story of loyalty and sportsmanship, which in the end, adds to the character of an individual.

Touching, heartwarming and inspirational - the theme song ‘Eye of the Tiger’, written by Survivor especially at Stallone’s request, has become a cult classic and remains the most motivating audio ever!

Rocky 2 - Starring Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Carl Weathers and Burt Young - Released in 1979

The ‘Italian Stallion’ makes a comeback in the hugely successful Rocky Series; it is directed and written by Stallone and stars him again in the lead as Rocky Balboa - the underdog debt collector turned household name after his fight with Apollo Creed which lasted fifteen rounds!

At the end of Rocky, the two were injured and admitted to hospital - both were not in favor of the match ending in a draw, Apollo offers another chance to Rocky, in a rematch - the latter refuses, and declares his retirement. This decision finds favor with his girlfriend Talia Shire and doctor, who tells him his future maybe plunged into darkness due to a detached retina.

Balboa’s fortune changes - he is now well known and basks in the aftermath of his success; his financial status which was nothing much at first, improves considerably and he decides that he must propose marriage to Adrian - and she accepts the proposal. On the other hand, Apollo Creed is now concerned about his own image ‘There’s still a lot of people out there who think he won, there’s a lot of people out there accusing me of having the fight fixed’ - which is somewhat shadowed by the fact that an unknown fighter should steal his thunder. He starts obsessing over the events in his mind, and wants his team to coax Rocky out of retirement. In a calculated move to besmear Rocky’s career and name, he publicizes the fact that the fight was a ‘fluke’ - that Rocky withstood him for fifteen rounds only because he was just a ‘lucky club fighter’!

Never one to be wise with money, Rocky’s new found fortunes dwindle and he loses his financial security -this event gives Apollo a window of opportunity. Rocky is forced to reconsider a return to the ring, a decision he makes after a meeting with his coach Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith), a former bantamweight boxer who owns a gym. Although Goldmill refuses to support his decision at first – ‘you’ve got the heart, but you ain’t got the tools’, he agrees after Creed throws an insult and a gauntlet on TV, to Rocky.

Things aren’t as smooth on the home front, though, as Adrian is hurt that Rocky is breaking his promise to her and is going back to the ring. As a result, training is tougher on him - he is mentally not there to deal with the physically grueling aspect of his battle in the ring. To make matters worse, his brother-in-law Paulie (Burt Young) is equally upset with Adrian for not being supportive of her husband’s decision – ‘Ditchin’ the guy when he needs your help…he’s going to get hurt because of you’ - this added stress results in her going into labor, the child is born prematurely, and Rocky faces a grim future, as his wife slips into a coma.

When she comes to, she accepts Balboa’s choice to go back into the ring and asks him to win - he is now relieved and gets back into training with renewed gusto. On the day of the fight, Creed promises that Balboa won’t last more than two rounds - he does his damnedest – Rocky is conscious of the injury to his right eye from the first fight and is defensive – not using his southpaw - for he is naturally a left handed boxer. This earns him hard knocks in the ring, to Creed’s delight. However, the underdog lasts fifteen rounds this time, too! Apollo’s team advises him not to go for the knockout, as he is already leading - but he pays no heed, and comes to blows with Rocky like an amateur street fighter.

This change of stance gives Balboa the window of opportunity he has been waiting for - in the fifteenth and final round - Creed gives it all he’s got, going for the knockout - only to be stunned into immobility by the appearance of Balboa’s southpaw! As the arena resounds with shouts of ‘Rocky, Rocky’ - Creed is knocked out - making Balboa the new heavyweight champion of the world!

The film is now considered a cult classic, even though critics described the script to be ‘as predictable as a gym workout’. The appeal of the film lies in its theme of the underdog getting it right every time, only because his intentions are honest and he exudes grace under pressure. A must see!