TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

Rocky Balboa [2007]


RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £0.99 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

The sixth installment of the Rocky series picks up the story of the Italian Stallion 16 years after the morose Rocky V. And sure, at his advanced age, Sylvester Stallone now looks like one of those sides of beef his character used to pound on. No matter. Somehow you buy the premise after all these years, even if it takes forever for Rocky Balboa to stop wallowing in self-pity (Adrian is dead, his old haunts are demolished) and get down to the business of drinking raw eggs and running up staircases. The business at hand is an unlikely exhibition fight with champeen Mason Dixon (Antonio Tarver), which the near-sexagenarian Mr. Balboa has no business accepting. Of course, just as sure as the horns of Bill Conti's theme music are even now trumpeting through your head, the ol' Rock might have a punch or two left in him. Stallone wrote and directed, and there isn't much to say except that the movie steps in its pre-determined paces with a canny sense of what has come before (it's practically an homage to all the previous Rocky pictures, complete with fleeting flashbacks). Burt Young is around again, and Geraldine Hughes makes an appealing, rather chaste female companion for Rocky. Stallone's Rocky has gotten suspiciously articulate over the years, but he still knows how to slouch. If Stallone never forgets that, he can probably keep the franchise rolling. --Robert Horton


Can we put him down to ease our suffering?
Review date: 2008-11-07 Rating: 2 out of 10

A beautiful and sensitive portrayal of an actor left retarded by a career spent doing his own stunts and fight scenes. There won't be a dry eye left in the house.

Similar Products

Reviews


Suprised
Review date: 2008-10-24 Rating: 8 out of 10

After Rocky V thought there was no way I would buy this, however after some decent reviews and the cheap price, I bit the bullet. What a suprise..... this was actually a pretty good movie, and 100% better than Rocky V. All I will say is watch the alternate ending and thank your lucky stars they didn't chose that, typical american style, version!

What a way to end the series!
Review date: 2008-06-24 Rating: 10 out of 10

When word got out that Sylvester Stallone was going to make another Rocky film, just about everyone I knew dismissed it as ridiculous. Rocky V had been panned by the critics and the franchise had been dead and buried for 15 years - but no-one really counted on the love Stallone holds for his creation and his desire to give one of the most successful film icons ever the farewell he deserves.

This film is shot well, the acting performances are sound, there is a sympathy for all the characters and even the 'bad guy' is displayed in a human light. I had fingers crossed when the credits rolled in the cinema and by halfway through I was sitting there with a huge grin on my face not believing I was watching a new Rocky film all these years later.

It transfers well to DVD and is great entertainment for new and old Rocky fans alike.

It aint over till its over
Review date: 2008-06-14 Rating: 8 out of 10

The first Rocky film was an astounding and unexpected success back in the Seventies because it was a simple, inspiring tale that the American everyman could relate too. Now that everyman is growing old, and the final installment in the saga returns to its roots with another simple, inspirational tale of life's journey 'not being over till its over'.

The film does take a little while to get going. Tha's not to say it isn't entirely worthy - the themes of growing old, the clinging to past memories and the lack of respect from the young will strike a chord with an entire generation and are played out rather nicely by the cast. But it all comes together in the final half when Rocky breaks out the skipping rope and those raw eggs and starts 'building some hurt bombs' again. The climatic fight scene is far and away the most realistic of the six film franchise (unsuprisingly as it does feature a real boxing champion playing the opponent) and is guaranteed to have the audience (young and old) chanting the name of the immortal underdog Rocky one last time.

A Fitting End To A CLASSIC Series...
Review date: 2008-05-05 Rating: 10 out of 10

A belting sequel and a MAJOR improvement on the dire Rocky 5!
I will focus on the Boxing here, there is only one fight at the films climax (not counting the title credits or the brief montages that the series is known for) but its excellent.
Sylvester Stallone is in great shape, Im 20 years younger & i wish id looked like this at 25! Antonio Tarver(a real life Pro Fighter!) as Mason Dixon is one of Rocky's more credible opponents, more in line with Apollo Creed in style than the more over the top Ivan Drago or the uber brutal Clubber Lang. Theres an arrogance to his character but he comes across as more sympathetic than Rocky's previous opposition.
The fight is very well shot as if a real bout with camera angles that look like a PPV event. Its filmed on Digital Video which conveys the realism but still looks cinematic - This is still a Hollywood movie despite the grittier style.
The choreography is perhaps the best of all 6 films - certainly better than parts 4 & 5 which now look very staged - not every punch lands cleanly, the fighters slip punches, block & defend and the footwork looks better. Apparently many of the punches made genuine contact - it certainly looks like it!
The biggest change is in perhaps the Sound FX. Now i loved the OTT sounds as heard in the earlier films, Rocky's 3,4 & 5! The blows sounded like hammers smashing into steel, Clubber Lang made these shockwave, swooshing sounds when ever he was off target with a shot, Drago's blows on Apollo Creed sounded like he was using a baseball bat to the head instead of gloved fists! This really worked well for the action format of these movies but a more realistic approach to the fight in this film called for a return to the more natural punch sounds of Rockys 1 & 2. The blows are still loud and hit hard - but now you feel like you're ringside at a fight as opposed to watching a Bruce Lee film...
There's the usual make-up fx that show the damage on Rocky's (already well worn) face but nothing as graphic as on Rocky 2!
The editing is really sharp too, its cut to perfection and the music is as stirring as ever - and a major improvement on the dreadful Rap noise inflicted from part 5!
The ending/result is perfect for the film, and the disc extras offer an alternative ending (nothing too surprising as it can only go one other way).
The film as a whole is superb - warm, poignant as well as exciting. It's far more of a drama than an action film. The premise of a boxer fighting into his mid/late 50's may be unrealistic but Stallone (in reality,60 yrs old at the time) soon makes the viewer forget this.
Stallone really could have been nominated for an academy award for both the direction & his performance (a career best). The movie is obviously a very personal project.
My only negatives are not enough of the excellent Tony Burton, seen here as Rocky's trainer Duke - should have had a bigger role and it would have been good to see ringside cameos from Mr T & Dolph Lundgren. Mike Tyson appears very briefly & im unsure about this meeting of reality & fiction.

Basically an excellent drama, not action packed but a VERY good fight and a top quality sporting drama, the best ive seen since Any Given Sunday.

And 100% definiteley the final round.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Sylvester Stallone

Creators:
Sylvester Stallone (Primary Contributor)

Recording label: MGM Entertainment
Manufacturer: MGM Entertainment
EAN: 5039036032414
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL,
Release date: 2007-05-21
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 97 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2007-02-08
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: Spanish (Original Language)

Add to Cart

© 2006 Darren Hester, DesignsByDarren.com, Some Rights Reserved.
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional