Rocky comes out of retirement

Movies Features

By Andy Goldberg Dec 22, 2006, 5:51 GMT

Los Angeles - The sport of boxing has produced many incredible stories over the years. But it has never, ever, seen anything like this: a 60-year-old coming out of oblivion to reclaim the world title. 12/13/2006 - Sylvester Stallone - World Premiere of Rocky Balboa - Gruman's Chinese Theater - Hollywood, CA © Glenn Harris / Photorazzi

12/13/2006 - Sylvester Stallone - World Premiere of Rocky Balboa - Gruman's Chinese Theater - Hollywood, CA © Glenn Harris / PhotorazziThat hasn't stopped veteran actor Sylvester Stallone from making the movie 'Rocky Balboa,' in which he resurrects the role that first made him famous 30 years ago: 'Rocky,' the scrappy street fighter with a heart of gold, who against all odds becomes world heavyweight champion. That a guy about to collect his pension is trying to repeat the feat is either insane or miraculous. Stallone, understandably, prefers the latter explanation. In the weeks preceding Wednesday's release of the movie in the US, Stallone has been sounding almost saintly in a marketing campaign run by the same people who pushed Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' through the country's churches. Long regarded as one of the savviest players in Hollywood, Stallone seems to have now found the power of religion. In conference calls with religious leaders, Stallone has blasted Hollywood for not making enough movies the whole family can see and stressed the religious aspects of Rocky's resurrection. That might seem a stretch for an actor who 21 years ago in 'Rambo: First Blood, Part II' seemed to take a little too much pleasure in wholesale butchery. In that movie, his character killed 57 people in combat single-handedly, according to San Francisco Chronicle movie critic Mick LaSalle. The celluloid bloodbaths, Stallone now explains, were the creative fruits of younger days, when, he said, 'my marriage was not good, and I felt myself being seduced by all the temptations that Hollywood has to offer.' Now, he says, he's got a steady marriage and a renewed relationship with Jesus. 'We need the God-fearing script, the script that really deals with compassion and deals with the word of Jesus and God,' Stallone said in a late November conference call to Christian leaders. Such statements might be a little off-putting to the general movie audience, particularly to fans of the 1976 original Rocky, a low- budget flick filmed in 28 days that went on to become a sleeper hit and win the Oscar for best picture. But don't dismiss the movie too quickly, even if you can't get your head around the idea of a geezer going up for the world heavyweight championship. After all, George Foreman regained the heavyweight title when he was almost 50, and Stallone is clever enough to acknowledge the ravages of age. Stallone portrays Rocky as an old fighter, grief-stricken after the death of his wife Adrian and estranged from his son, who goes back into the ring to exorcise his demons and close the circle of his life by doing the only thing he knows. Even hardened movie critics agree that his latest effort actually works. 'At age 60, star-writer-director Sylvester Stallone seemed more suited for Botox injections than insertion into a boxing ring,' noted Christopher Lloyd of the Indianapolis Star. 'But Rocky Balboa surprises by taking the character back to his blue-collar roots in a film that's light on boxing action and heavy on meditation about aging and regret. It's a fitting and dignified wrap for one of the most iconic film characters ever.' Stephen Holden wrote in The New York Times, 'Surprisingly Rocky Balboa is no embarrassment. Like its forerunners, it goes the distance almost in spite of itself.' Boston Globe critic James Verniere said, 'I come not to bury Rocky but to praise him,' calling the fictional boxer 'a giant in the pantheon of American pop culture.' Fittingly, Stallone will have the last word, and Rocky Balboa will not be his last movie. Next year, he plans to release an update on his other alter ego - the disgruntled, Vietnam vet killing machine John Rambo, who, in keeping with Stallone's new-found values, will use his deadly skills to save aid workers in Asia in 'Rambo IV: In the Serpent's Eye.' If Rocky or Rambo manages to relive earlier success, Hollywood really will start believing in miracles. © 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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rich godoyDec 23rd, 2006 - 06:38:52

I am glad that the latest rocky film got good reviews, being a die hard fan myself, I was afraid that the movie would flop. Stallone made these films great and I know Rambo will have the same success.

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TomDec 24th, 2006 - 00:36:52

Amazing that anyone would pay to see this. Oh, Merry Christmas---I'm not a total scrooge.

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Wow what a movieDec 24th, 2006 - 04:23:15

My husband, son and I just came home from seeing the new Rocky movie and we all agree it was a great movie. My son wants to see it again. My husband and I wouldn't mind seeing it again also. It had a great story line and Rocky doesn't look that old. If we didn't know his age we would have guessed he was about 50. The movie was believable because look at George Forman when he got into the ring again. 5 stars for this movie. Thanks Sly for not letting us down.

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jimDec 24th, 2006 - 06:39:43

sylvester should have made this movie years ago.whats up with these old farts? thinking they can make a movie that young people should be doing. he is an old fart!giving speeches at aarp!trying to get old people to support him.we all know he can not do this! himself!body doubles and stunt men and cut and edit will be the movie we see! he should be imbarressed.yo yo yo yo cough. cough. cough.yo adrian! what a joke he is!

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MikeDec 24th, 2006 - 12:57:04

As a fan of the early Rocky's, I entered the movie concerned I would again be embarrassed for Sylvester Stallone (as was the case with Rocky IV & V). Instead, I sat with tears in my eyes for much of the movie. You could feel Rocky's pain from the loss of his wife and estrangement from his son.

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DavidDec 24th, 2006 - 16:28:07

I went with my son and thouroghly enjoyed it, and when the famous tune kicked in they had me ,go Thanks Sly for making my day

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in-primeDec 25th, 2006 - 02:34:13

*lets loose a big fart into Jim's face* due to his disrespectful comments.

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