Reviews of Rocky III

I don't hate Balboa, I pity tha fool!

Posted : 1 year, 1 month ago on 20 November 2008 01:53 (A review of Rocky III)

In the third instalment of the Rocky franchise, life is peachy for the Heavyweight Champion of the world. With the title belt comes all the trappings of wealth, fame and success and Rocky is living the high life. The Stallion even manages to defend his title no less than ten consecutive times, before deciding to retire at the top of his profession.

But a young upcoming boxer has other plans. Clubber Lang is a ruthless, dedicated and ferocious upstart determined to take the title for himself. After publicly ridiculing Rocky at the unveiling of his personal statue, Lang gets his wish of a shot at the title in a battle that is billed as Rocky's last ever fight. However, Rocky is not the man he used to be. In a complete contrast to the previous films, he trains in lavish surroundings in the presence of hundreds of adoring fans, much to the chagrin of his mentor, Mighty Mickey Goldmill and it is not long before he is praying the price, face down on the canvas at the hands of the merciless Lang.

Rocky is down and out. Humiliated, defeated and devoid of all passion for the sport which made him the icon he became. In his deepest darkest moments, an old enemy in the shape of Apollo Creed offers to bring him back to fighting speed by training him for a rematch with Clubber Lang. The thing that sets apart Rocky III from the previous two instalments is the fact that here, Rocky actually learns how to box! Instead of wading in like a punch-seeking missile, Balboa is taught how to move, how to punch and how to win by his former opponent. It makes a genuinely noticeable difference. Stallone looks in even better shape than usual and moves like a real pro. It's a completely different Rocky to the man who won over the public years before.

The film culminates in the devastating rematch with Lang - a man with arms like towerblocks, and punches that could probably bring them down. It's a fight that sent a real chill down my spine. It's pure inspiration, bottled, smeared across a celluloid reel, and broadcast straight into my lazy pores. Other highlights include the charity match which pits Rocky against Hulk Hogan (as Thunder Lips), Mr T's all round performance as his cocky and brutal opponent and the inclusion of a more humane Apollo Creed. All of this is crammed into ninety minutes of masculine bliss.

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