Rocky Balboa
Dir: Sylvester Stallone
2006
****
I absolutely love the Rocky films, so much so that my wife and I had the Rocky theme tune play as we walked down the isle on our wedding day. When Sylvester Stallone announced he was going to make another Rocky film (as well as another Rambo film) I feared it was a case of middle-age breakdown by way of old man trying to show the young film makers how its done. The new Rambo film was horrible and nothing like the brilliant First Blood. That franchise got silly quick. Thankfully Rock was treated with a little more tenderness and almost sixteen years since we'd seen Stallone as Balboa he was back. Rocky VI, or Rocky Balboa as it was known as, was a fitting and tastefully made final installment (until Rocky returned in 2015's Creed). Like a fine wine, Rocky has matured well, and although this is by no means a perfect film, it did feel like a special thing, like a 'Go on then, just one more' treat. It's a fairly unrealistic story, a late night boxing talk-show uses a computer simulator to try to establish who would win fights between fighters from each generation. On one particular episode it is suggested that Rocky would beat the current world champion, Mason 'The Line' Dixson. Rocky and Dixon are both persuaded to fight in a match for charity and things start to heat up for the pair. Adrian is long gone having died to Cancer and this is what Rocky needs to pick himself up. He begins a relationship with a local girl, takes her and her son in and things look up for the aging fighter. Personally I don't like the idea of Rocky getting over Adrian so quickly and the story is just a little unimaginative but it's rocky, he's back for one last dance and it was a pleasure.