The full trailer of Rocky Balboa has risen from the mat, unable or unwilling to stay down. In it, Rocky is [SPOILER ALERT] old. And, inexplicably, fighting a young heavyweight champion. Why? How? Whazza? Computers. (Of course.) Seems some SportsCenter-ish show has used a virtual match to pit the current champ, Mason Dixon, against the Italian Stallion in his prime. The e-fight stirs up interest in a real-world bout, necessitating the mother of all training montages. I mean… dude is 60. But he’s still got the quips down. "It ain’t over till it’s over," he Yogi Berras in the face of his opponent. "What’s that, from the ’80s?" deadpans Dixon. "More like the ’70s," says Rocky/Stallone. Zing! Only in Stalloneworld is "the ’70s" shorthand for indomitable American optimism.
That the Rocky sequels became steadily more ludicrous is hardly news. That this one might be the most ludicrous of all is hardly news. That Talia Shire’s Adrian appears only as "archive footage" is intriguing. Did they kill her off, as rumored? And if so… why does Rock fight? For his son? To buy Burt Young a new kidney? As a favor to Drago, from whom he now imports the majority of his oil?
Funny thing is, the ludicrousness has sort of turned itself inside out here. The Rocky saga, originally a stirring if simplistic parable about the stolid little guy, unwittingly metastasized into a cautionary tale of American bloat and self-indulgence. Might the outcome of R6 tally up the wages of that bloat and end with Rocky confronting his limitations? Doubtful: Stallone will never allow his hero to fall, even in the face of overwhelming, um, reality. Whatever happens, it had better be over the top. I’m counting on it.
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Awesome! Looks like the movie to make us forget Rocky 4 and 5 and return it to some past glory. Fight scenes look better than ever. Sure he’s old, but Holyfield is coming back, Foreman fought into his 50’s, and Stalone is still ripped.
Actually, this seems to be another case of Stallone going back to the Muhammad Ali well. Before, 1950s undefeated heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano died in a plane crash in 1969, he and Ali participated in a filmed computer bout. They sparred for many hours and produced enough footage for every conceivable outcome.
Naturally, the computer chose the real Rocky, although we Ali fans scoffed because we knew better. We were confident that in real life, Ali would have found a way to defeat Marciano, just as he vanquished Foreman and Frazier in the 1970s.
So you have to give major props to Stallone for finding a realistic way to get Rocky Balboa back in the ring at an advanced age!
As long as the new Rocky allows us to forget the awful Rocky 5 count me in. I was a huge fan of Rocky until he came out with that piece of crap. He left Rocky poor, brain damaged n unable to fight. What kind of end that is for Rocky?? Just hope this one saves the good ol’ italian stallion from misery.
It was sad when Copland – where Stallone relinquished his intense dieting and workout routines, gained weight, and returned to his earlier acting chops – didn’t do as well as he had wanted it to.
He had some real talent in his early career, and it was sad to see him go the monosyllabic, unself aware beefcake route. It was also sad to see him return to it after Copland, in a tail between the legs sort of way.
How strange to have that kind of income and power, yet still have to dance like a circus monkey for the public.
But I have to say, the aging boomer market is large, and the unwillingness of the boomers to age normally or gracefully will probably mean that this newest version of Rocky may strike a chord in the marketplace. A melancholy chord, in a minor key to be sure, but still…
I am just hoping that he stays true to the drama and the anguish that I-III had. IV and V were pieces of 80’s and 90’s kitch plus they were both bad scrpits.
I was expecting to get a good laugh at the trailer, but it actually looks alright. The CGI thing is a little laughable, but the rest of the movie kind of grabbed my interest. Sly is really showing his age, though.
Show his age? The dude is 60. We can all hope to look that good at 60. Even though it’s a bit much and a bit crazy, I’ll see the movie. How can you not? Go Rock Go!
It’s a shame that the Rocky films have become punching bags (pun intended) for critics and talkbackers. In a world that makes 13 (and counting) Friday the 13th films, 6 Chainsaw Massacres, and remakes of EVERYTHING, Why can’t Stallone continue his story without ridicule? Some of the only times I can remember seeing theatre audiences on their feet cheering, were during the Rocky films (o.k. 5 excluded).If Stallone can even capture a modicum of that feeling, I’m there.
Mason Dixon is the name? Seriously?
http://geography.about.com/od/politicalgeography/a/masondixon.htm
Is there no movie from the past that isn’t fodder for another trot before the slaughterhouse? Is the movie industry so devoid of ideas that they have to pick clean every movie or TV show of the 70s and 80s? It doesn’t work. No one goes to the awful “reimaginings” or to the feeble SIXTH sequel. Cue up the monkeys in front of their typewriters. We need a new story, now!
Rocky 6 will earn 100 million dollars. Regardless of jokes, too many of us out here still love the Italian stallion! I can’t wait to see Rock knock Antonio Tarver out on the big screen.
Well, so long as this movie features some hearts on fire, I’ll be there.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PDtcVez_vgc&search=hearts%20on%20fire%20rocky
Actually, I think you are wrong. Stallone actually wanted Rocky to die at the end of Rocky V after beating Tommy “Gunn” Morrison in the street fight, and the studio wouldn’t go for it.
Remember Spaceballs? The announcer was about to give a review of Rocky 5…thousand. Only 4,994 Rocky movies to go! It’d be cool if they made some where Rocky travels back in time to fight against Joe Louis, or if they make a sci fi Rocky in space like they did with Jason X. And why stop?
The only thing limiting us from more Rocky movies is that friggin’ Stallone keeps aging! If they animate the series, Rocky COULD make movies the way Tupac still releases albums.
You never know…
Batman Begins amd Superman Returns have both revived long dormant franchises after very mediocre and financially failed films; Rocky is an American icon, and this could actually strike a chord with audiences IF it gets good reviews…
I loved Sylvester Stallone in the first two movies, but then it became ridiculous. No more Rocky movies! This is one series that should not be resurrected.
“Stallone will never allow his hero to fall, even in the face of overwhelming, um, reality.”
Hmmm. If I remember correctly Rocky lost to Apollo Creed in the first movie. Also, Rocky lost to Clubber Lang in Rocky 3.
I need another Rocky. I want to see the champ end better than Rocky 5.
The Rocky trailer actually looked good. In a time where cgi and explosions rule, its good to see a real hero again. Rocky has always symbolised America and its moral values. Values that we as a country have lost along the way. If Stallone can remind me of a better time, even if for an instant, then more power to him. Thanks Sly and I cant wait to see the Champ on Dec. 22.
I love all the Rocky movies especially the 4th one with Ivan Drago.I bought all the movies and watched them a billion times. Im so happy they’re making a 6th one but they shouldn’t have killed Adrian. It should have been continued from Rocky 5; they’re broke and they needed money. I think Adrian should be by Rocky’s side in the whole movie. I’ll be at the movie theaters the first day this movie comes out!
ROCKY BALBOA…It’ll do good at the box office. The next trailer to be released in late oct early nov will have all fans pumped and ready to stand in line.
God Bless Sly
Arturo
I agree, All the Rocky Films had NO cursing of God’s name, no Very Explicite scenes of Sexuality in details… It represented FIGHT, HEART, DETERMINATION, and a PASSION TO DO WHAT IS IN A FIGHTER’s HEART, No Matter What The Cost. Look at what’s going on in the world today, This movie has come out in the perfect time. With all the obstacles people face, determination and a willingness to Overcome, PROVE to be Victorious! God Bless.
Stallone is the coolest guy around. He has been an inspiration to many of us. His critics cab f*** off and leaves us Stallone fans to enjoy the movie. I’m sure Rocky Balboa will be more meaningful and entertaining than the CGI crap we are pumped with these days! Bring on Rambo IV as well.
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