Stallone confessed that during the production of Rocky V, he was “negligent”. Rocky Balboa is very much a companion piece to Rocky only. There is little mention of the sequels, with no footage whatsoever from Rocky V. It is a real shame that the history of Rocky since Rocky II is ignored. I wouldn’t expect a constant reference to all the previous instalment’s, but the previous films were made and they are part of a chronological story that should be respected.
Rocky Balboa is the only film that does not begin with a boxing match, indeed it is the only Rocky-film that does not pick up after where the other film left off. This lack of connection to the previous instalment’s does jar a little when you have watched the previous four films. Rocky Balboa, no matter how strong it may be, feels much more of an epilogue to the series rather than a closing chapter. The “Story of Rocky” seems to progress very naturally until Rocky V, but Rocky Balboa takes huge liberties in the gap between the previous film in 1990 that they could almost attach Rocky Balboa to the end of Rocky V with the subtitle “15 years later…” and leave it as an over-3-hours cut of the final chapter.
Death and the Adrian
One reason that I refused to watch the sequels for a long time was an assumption on my part that I “knew” when Adrian died. I knew that she would die at some point in the franchise … but I don’t know where I got that idea from because she dies outside the franchise between the two films. This set-up, takes Rocky and Paulie to a very dark place. The film begins with Rocky visiting her grave side on the anniversary of her death. Personally, this magnifies how much of a separate film this is to the previous instalment’s. Rather than opening on panning-shots of Philadelphia, it would’ve been nice to open the film using different shots and images to fill in the gap – a picture of Rocky in the newspaper post-Rocky V, the graduation of his son, the awareness of Adrian’s illness, Rocky by her bedside. Think the first 15 minutes of Up and pull it down to five-minutes setting up Rocky’s current status. It would simply connect everything together.
Having said that, without casting Talia Shire in the film, her presence is littered throughout. Stallone is a broken man – he doesn’t fight, he is estranged from his son and he owns a restaurant … called “Adrian’s”. At this point we are introduced to Marie (Geraldine Hughes) – the tomboy from Rocky. The idea that, as Rocky was living his life, the world kept spinning and some people never left the neighbourhood is poignant. Spider Rico, equally, never left the neighbourhood. Crucially, Marie is not a love interest, but her role does ensure that a female sensibility is adhered to. Rocky, when discussing his decisions and the choices he has to make needs someone to talk to now Adrian is gone – and Marie is that person.
Father and Son
Rocky’s son is very different. The boy of Rocky V does not seem to be the same as he was. Understandably, people dramatically change in their teenage years and we can accept this, but again it clarifies what a huge divide there is between the previous film and this film. Even the argument’s between father and son seem to highlight issues which, by this point, you should be more than aware of: “It ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.”
But the theme of children today is two-fold. On the one hand we see the apathetic and disillusioned Rocky Jr, whilst Mason Dixon and his success seems much more modern and the credibility is what Dixon seeks: the money is not all there is to it. Money was what Tommy Gunn was desperate for – credability didn’t matter to him – he fought Rocky in the streets! In addition to this parallel to Rocky V, we also see more agents desperate to use Mason Dixon – and Rocky – as a way to earn huge sums of money. Much like George Washington Duke’s role in Rocky V, but without the comeuppance.
Ignoring Most of the Past
Technically, Stallone employs textured shots. There is no ‘sheen’ to the screen when we see him on the streets of Philadelphia. The sharpness and dry surface complements the rough area Rocky now lives within, but suffice to say, this separates the film further from the previous films.
Contrary to all the flaws I found in the film, I can appreciate the closure we gained. As mentioned, Rocky V did seem to drop the ball – especially with the final fight on the streets. Rocky Balboa manages to give us a huge fight, in the ring, with a finale the wholly represents the message of Rocky. It’s not all about winning – it’s about challenging yourself. This manages to show an emotional depth that Rocky V lacked, but I think the final two films could’ve simply been played differently. The themes and ideas in Rocky Balboa are great, but the film simply lacks consistency with the rest of the franchise. You could almost ignore every sequel and just put Rocky and Rocky Balboa as a duo. This, I believe, is a real shame because the sequels do have so much to offer.
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Twitter: callmesirphobos
December 15, 2011 8:24 pm
I really don’t understand why you think this movie ignores most of the rest of them. It makes chronological sense, it brings up (and brings back) people from Rocky’s past, and it treats the developments in-between, like Adrian’s death, in a much more impactful way. If it had done as you suggest, with the newspaper clips and flash-shots of all the crap that happened between movies, it would have felt a lot more generic and by-the-numbers. It centered on Rocky’s feelings about Adrian’s death, not just the event itself.
I will say that I’m really glad you didn’t go the route some have by complaining about Marie. For some stupid reason, there are people out there that think she was a love interest. Obviously, that’s not right at all.
I’d appreciate a clarification on what you meant when you quoted the “It don’t matter how hard you hit…” speech. I thought that part was great.
No, it doesn’t outright ignore the previous installments – like SUPERMAN RETURNS did – but it doesn’t fully acknowledge the life of Rocky since the first film. Maybe the fill-in would’ve been generic and clich – but I think, in keeping with the previous installments – it would’ve at least clarified the gap. Since ROCKY, we have seen each film literally begin where the previous left off … except in this film.
Marie wasn’t a problem – we needed some heart in the film and thank God they didn’t make her a love interest.
Regarding the speech, I liked it, but it felt like it was hitting us over the head with the same issue which was raised in the first film. We get it – the ring represents life. We know this already.
Twitter: agracru
December 16, 2011 6:27 am
Like Phobos I don’t really agree with any notion that Balboa ignores the past– it just doesn’t appropriate the events of the Rocky sequels using a directly confrontational approach. Everything that happened in between the original and this installment, well, happened, and while I don’t have full context for Stallone’s comments I think Balboa touches on the in between entries in the series as much as necessary to explore its character and themes.
That said I’m really happy to see this get some renewed recognition. For my money it rivals the first picture and I think it serves as a great bookend for the series while tying everything out in a satisfying way.
It is a great epilogue – and a good bookend with ROCKY standing tall as the other. But, though less confrontational about the previous films, it is worth considering how I watched the films back-to-back over a week and, coming straight from ROCKY V, it really felt like a huge gap … detached from the repvious five films as they seemed to flow directly into each other.
Twitter: MarkusWelby1
December 16, 2011 7:45 am
An important thing to note. Carl Weathers refused to let Stallone use images of him for this final installment. Dolph and Mr. T all said yes, but Apollo said no. This probably had a part to play as to why this one doesn’t reference the others. Balboa also works better this way IMO and bookends the franchise nicely. Especially after the train wreck that V gave us.
Twitter: joelburman
December 19, 2011 12:46 am
Do you know why Weathers refused? Was it greed?
That must’ve been tough for Stallone to tackle thematically – as all the other films dart around each other. Like I said, its a good epilogue … just not a great final chapter.There is a huge difference between those two definitions to end the franchise. And I’m happy there is an epilogue too!
Twitter: manilovefilms
December 16, 2011 9:53 am
Never seen 5 or 6. Probably never will.
Twitter: joelburman
December 19, 2011 12:48 am
I guess you wont host that Rocky Franchise lambcast we spoke about then. =)
Joking aside Simon has a great point Rocky (1976) and Rocky Balboa works really great together. If you don’t feel to get that invested in the series I’d see them back to back.
You should definately see them – they have some great issues raised. Rocky V particularly is so ambitious … don’t miss out, some great fights in both at the very least.
Twitter: joelburman
December 19, 2011 12:57 am
Whats up with the mini bashing Simon?
I saw this for the first time yesterday and was really impressed with it. I think they made a right choice narrative wise constructing it so it can play as a perfect direct sequel to the first film.
Still that doesn’t diminish the sequels but I think that doing this story very bare bones helps the film a lot.
“It’s not all about winning – it’s about challenging yourself.”
I don’t agree with you on the quote above. Sure its not about winning but I see it as more of a conclusion for Rocky. Like something he needs to do before moving on. The scene where he almost gets in a fight with the guy that mocks him is a nice precursor to that. Paulie also states similar stuff throughout the film and its great to finally see some needed development in that character.
Finally why the hell wasn’t Sly nominated for the Academy Awards Best Actor for this one????
I think, post-ROCKY II, Stallone was never gooing to be taken seriously. But, he should’ve been acknowledged.
I’m not ‘bashing’ it though! Like I said “Contrary to all the flaws I found in the film, I can appreciate the closure we gained” and that still stands, but whilst ROCKY V was ambitious – and failed, this seemed to bit a little too late in the day. Probably would’ve worked better if that gap simply wasn’t so long. Like I said previously, I watched them bakc-to-back over a week and they flow so nicely I-V … but ROCKY BALBOA seems so seprated and detached from the others for so many reasons, so it is difficult to see it as part of the story.
Twitter: joelburman
December 19, 2011 4:13 pm
Sure I can see that the time frame is disrupted with the last one but thats a very completist way of seeing it.
Twitter: ptsnob
December 21, 2011 12:52 pm
Simon, I’m a little surprised that you weren’t more impressed with this one. I do see your point about its connection to the previous films. It actually might work better if Rocky V didn’t exist. However, it doesn’t completely negate the events of that movie either. It flows from the one interesting move of the fifth movie, which was taking away his wealth and comfort. It may feel like an epilogue, but it closes the franchise so much better than Rocky V. It connects really well to the first movie (as others have stated), and has more heart than any film since that point. It was a big surprise for me.
See, I like the ambition of ROCKY V, but you are right, it seems like a weak finish. I guess, the fact that others thought it would be so weak and it wasn’t that bad, probably makes people appreciate it that much more. Like you said, it is a better film that ROCKY V – but ROCKY V tried to do alot and have a certain poetic edge that simply didn’t work.
I really liked this movie. I would say that its probably the only worth sequel to the first film (or maybe the first two). I’m unsure whether you could just watch the first film and have this work since much of the drama refers to what happened in all the earlier films.
i couldnt disagree more with your comments on rocky balboa-put simply, this film is a masterpiece, beautifully shot amazing acting, inspirational, put simply a beautiful film. couldnt of ended the series on a better note