by Jason Daniel Baker

Created on: October 09, 2007   Last Updated: September 19, 2008

Rocky Balboa (2006) Starring Sylvester Stallone, Burt Young, Milo Ventimiglia, Antonio Tarver, Geraldine Hughes, Tony Burton, Mike Tyson, Frank Stallone, A.J. Benza, Jim Lampley, Michael Buffer, Lou DiBella, Pedro Lovell, Angela Boyd, Louis Giansante, Maureen Schilling, Woodrow Paige, Skip Bayless, Jay Crawford, Bert Sugar.

Directed by Sylvester Stallone.

Running time: 102 Minutes.

Rating: PG

"All that matters is how it looks to YOU".

First of all let me start off by voicing my own confusion in regards the different companies presenting this film. MGM & Columbia, bitter Hollywood rivals for half a century apparently kissed and made up and co-produced films like this. When did that collaboration start? You would think I would know. Anyway

Rocky Balboa (Stallone) is a lonely, wistful and punch-drunk widower (Talia Shire passed on the script?) with a small restaurant to run on the mean streets of Philadelphia and a bad relationship with a straight arrow wonderbread grown son (Ventimiglia) who is embarrassed by him. His crazy drunken brother-in-law Paulie (Young) comes to him telling him that an ESPN virtual bout has revealed that Rocky in his prime would defeat the current champion Mason "The Line" Dixon (a soft baby-face who looks like a girl scout could kick his punk-ass) if they were to fight. Not only that, but in a very unflattering way for Dixon. This strikes a chord with the masses.

Dixon happens to be one of those overpaid thugs in modern pugilism with credibility and personality issues. He also happens to be the kind who books fights with opponents whom he knows he can utterly destroy not the taking the risk of fighting someone who might actually lay a glove on him. Boxing fans of today hate clowns like this and call them all sorts of names but one in particular usually; "Champ". His hubris prompts him to challenge Rocky to a bout for charity in Las Vegas. If Rocky refuses then Dixon will just be accused of disrespect and bad taste. If Rocky accepts then Dixon can beat the old guy to death in the ring in front of the world and afterwards be accused of disrespect and bad taste.

Pushing 60, Rocky does accept inspite of the fact his opponent is bigger and stronger (like pretty much every opponent Rocky has had) and was not even born when the first Rocky movie was made. His only advantages are the facts that he has character, that his opponent has faced nothing but boxers like him rather than alleyway brawlers like Rocky and the champ has shown up flabby.

As a result

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