by Malcom Page

Created on: January 16, 2011

"It's not about how hard you can hit, it's about how hard you can GET hit and keep moving forward, how much you can TAKE and keep moving forward...that's how winning is done!" says a frustrated Rocky to his son...

     Sylvester Stallone returns as America's favorite underdog, Rocky Balboa, back to face impossible odds and show us that "ain't nothin over til it's over".  The Itallion Stallion is back in a story that is not just another "movie about a fight", but rather a film sequel that reminds us more of the original two that made the series an everlasting memory in America's heart.  While some Rocky fans were put off by this change, it seems fitting that this saga ends in a manner similar to how it all began.

     Don't fret though, a Rocky movie wouldn't be a "Rocky" movie without an epic fight, and this time the war will be waged against Mason "The Line" Dixon (played by real life Heavyweight Antonio Tarver) and of course, we also see some of our favorite supporting cast return (with the exception of Talia Shire); Pauly, played by Burt Young, is back and grumpier than ever and of course Rocky's trainer and long time friend, Duke, played by Tony Burton.   A relative newcomer, Milo Ventimiglia (Pathology [2008], widely known for his lead in NBC's Heroes), plays Rocky's son, Robert, a young man striving to make it on his own while, at least in his mind, struggling to crawl out from under the hindering shadow of his father's legacy.  We also see Geraldine Hughes as a fresh female lead, Marie, walking a fine line, quite well, as an alternative to Adrian ( Adrian not being a part of this picture though a very large part of Rocky's troubles and frustrations).

We find Stallone as a tired, troubled and while still kind and warm-hearted,  ultimately a saddened version of his previous self.  Now an owner of his own restaurant, he spends his days gathering fresh produce and making preparations for the dinner hours while his dinner hours are spent mingling with guests and telling war stories of his hayday to fans while they dine.  While troubled, our hero continues on, almost trudging at times until the itch to return to the "squared circle"  begins resurfacing.  No longer "as young as spring-time anymore", Balboa is not looking for big battles or even trying

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>