Rocky Balboa

Reviewed by Marcio Guastavino
January 8, 2007

Director: Sylvester Stallone Studio: MGM Studios Inc. MPAA: PG Website: Click Here Review Rating: 9 out of 10

Courtesy MGM.

It's been over 16 years since the last Rocky movie. Now he's back for one more round. Having been retired for many years, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) decides to open a restaurant and spends his days telling stories about his past fights. One day, as fate would have, a simulation is shown featuring the “young” Rocky and the current heavyweight champion Mason “The Line” Dixon (Antonio Tarver) in a fight to see who would actually come out victorious. Of course, Rocky takes the prize, but this is only the simulation's result. This reminds Rocky of his days in the ring and peaks his interest enough to step back in it. He re-registers for his license, and although he passes his test with flying colors, controversy is brought up against the boxing commission's decision. Mason's managers get word of Rocky's return and in order to bring back Mason's glory in the ring they decide to give Rocky a chance for the title. Thus the training begins and the winner in the end will be determined by who can take the most punches and still be standing.

What is there to say? It's a Rocky movie! The original underdog story, but is it the same thing all over again? In a way it is, but the biggest difference is in age. You go to see this movie because Sylvester is 60 years old and he can still pull it off in the ring. Taking some of those punches had to hurt, but that's what makes this movie great. Of course you get the training scene, and some old cast members make reappearances. Paulie (Burt Young), Duke (Tony Burton) are a couple of the ones that return. The story is great and compared to Rocky V is a fantastic way to end the series. The only thing that was off was the champion himself. In the movie, it is said that Rocky was not in his best condition, but he just seemed unchampion-like. The physique between the two is very apparent, and I seriously doubt that the weight differences that were said in the film could be right. That's just from what I see in the film though, so it may just be right. In any case, the fight is brutal and intense and should have Rocky fans in awe till the very end. Not a Rocky fan? Then the story should have you captivated until the very end.

This is it folks, the very last one. Truly this movie shows that “it ain't over, till it's over.” Sylvester Stallone has outdone himself, pulling through for the fans one last time in a movie that will surely go down as an epic. Rocky Balboa gets a High Evolution Factor.

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