We first meet Adonis Creed as a troubled twelve year old whose father (Apollo) died before he was born and whose mother has also passed away. Though intelligent, Adonis is constantly acting out and regularly in trouble for fighting. He is essentially an orphan when Mary Ann Creed (Phylicia Rashad) steps forward and takes him …
I totally enjoyed watching The Fighter, but walked away from it chewing on all the characters, except, well, the fighter himself. Poor Marky Mark, bless his heart, his limited acting skills, and his excellent abs and eyebrows… His Micky Ward was so overwhelmed on screen at all times, if not in the boxing ring itself, …
When Rocky says that he’s a dumb guy in the first movie, you’re inclined to go, “Aww, you are not.” He may be uneducated, and he may be a little simple, but he’s intelligent in all the ways that count. He’s a good person who knows how to survive. He’s kind to animals. He’s respectful …
As Rocky III begins, we get a taste of the excess that defines Rocky IV. Years after taking the heavyweight championship from Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa is on top of the world. He’s mastered the world of endorsements, appeared in countless magazines, and now resides in a mega-mansion with Adrian (who gets prettier with each …
Rocky IV embodies the best and worst qualities of the Rocky series. As such, it’s as fun to make fun of as it is genuinely enjoyable. The movie is wrapped around the soundtrack like an elaborate music video, but with songs this good and villains this bad, it’s impossible not to get caught up in …
After reliving the fight against Ivan Drago, we meet up with Rocky in the locker room. He’s showering by himself, and can’t seem to stop shaking. Finally he sits down on a bench, and sends for Adrian. Drifting in and out of coherence, occasionally calling Adrian “Mick”, he says he feels like something broke inside. …
Rocky is a film so iconic, so ingrained into our collective consciousness that it feels like we’ve seen it whether we have or not. Who doesn’t recognize the classic theme song “Gonna Fly Now”, know the origin of “Yo Adrian!”, or remember Rocky’s triumphant run up the steps at Philadelphia’s Museum of Art? Just because …
As Rocky movies go, Rocky Balboa is most like Rocky II. You wind up laughing at parts of it, but also find yourself genuinely moved by it. Though it’s impossible to recapture the magic of the original, this is a fitting swan song for our beloved hero, and it goes a long way to make …
After four decades of watching and collecting Rocky movies, it seems crazy that the entire six film series will fit in one slender case, right in your hand. Where are the four DVDs and one VHS copy that make up your hodgepodge collection? And what’s that? Rocky V? You can finally own this embarrassing installment …
I remember seeing Million Dollar Baby in the theater with a group of girlfriends. Hey, it’s an empowering story about a female boxer, is critically acclaimed, and won the Oscar for Best Picture! All I can say is that we were all sobbing… SOBBING at the end of the film. This included a friend who …