Rocky Balboa

Rocky Balboa is a dementedly simple but pleasantly honest and modest little film about a washed-up boxer who still has something to say, and not just with his fists. The film’s prelude is a bit drawn out and, conversely, the climax is rushed, but *nostalgia* has its indisputable weight of likability, which irons out a lot of the wrinkles. Sly Stallone managed to do the same thing that his hero did – he didn’t make a great comeback, but he acquitted himself with dignity. (02/01/2007)

The disheveled and smiley Sly wanders around Philadelphia, giving advice to everyone around him while being unsure of himself. I would take that as a light prologue to the sympathetically boxing finish with enthusiasm, but when he talks, advises, and sadly looks for two-thirds of the movie, it becomes boring. It's not unwatchable, but still a bit unnecessary because as soon as Rocky returns to training, runs up the stairs and enters the arena, adrenaline, tension, and cheering are also there. The fight against Dixon is incredibly well shot, but it really bothers me that the champion's actor is skinny and lacks the typical muscularity of a boxer, so I can't maintain a serious face when talking about "heavyweight". On the other hand, I can forgive many things without words because I really wanted Stallone to succeed and thanked him for not letting the series end in miserable waters in his old age. (10/18/2007)

I liked the slightly grim humor and the nice old-fashioned mentoring tone that carries the film most of the time. I hope the Italian Stallion does not get mad at me, but the last match sucks. It lacked clear motivation, enthusiasm, a strong opponent and some reasonable resolution - it hangs at the end of the film just for show. Until then, Rocky's last adventure has all the attributes that made the first film famous (although they are somewhat shabby now)... it focuses more on simpler but catchy psychology and on Stallone's still functional two-sided acting. I enjoyed it, but I consider a boxing film which does not wow me with the final fight to be slightly weak. (12/13/2008)

He got hit and got to his feet. He got another one and got up again. And again. And again. It may seem like a simple idea to some, and it is simple, but it is also important. Sylvester Stallone returned to old familiar ground with Rocky in the previous installment, in which he also had trouble with his son and also had to fight again... But neither the audience nor he himself were satisfied with the film, and so after sixteen years a remake was made. Luckily. It is a more than worthy conclusion to the whole saga, which is not drowning in nostalgia, melancholy or tears, and although it is sad, it is also full of hope. Four and a half. (01/10/2016)

The idea of the whole movie is a little far fetched, but it has its interesting points. You can’t help feeling a certain trepidation. However, from the very beginning it’s clear that their trepidation is unfounded. All the sentimental roaming around Philadelphia, his long contemplation, looking back on life, telling time-proven truths all seem sincere. It is a very personal picture that Sly put his “heart" into and that makes it all the more endearing. In fact, this is evident to the point that almost nobody will see anybody else than him himself in the role of Rocky. What significantly damages the movie is the boxing match itself. For one thing, it seems somehow superfluous here, it’s shot strangely, lacks energy and is overall uninteresting. Which, in view of the fact that it takes up the whole last third of the playing time, is displeasing. But the worst thing are the final credits. They are indescribable hell. Even so, meeting up with Rocky Balboa at the beginning of the autumn of his life isn’t boring, it’s old-fogey agreeable and surprisingly not at all ridiculous. If I were Stallone I would leave my boxing gloves hanging on their hook from now on. After all those years of service they have earned a good rest. (01/12/2008)