Rocky III is
missing one thing that the first two Rockys have, which is… a
well-choreographed fight. The fights we saw him deliver against Apollo in Rocky and Rocky II showed
so much emotion and finesse that you could almost believe you were watching a
real fight. But instead of sticking to the formula that works, here we see
Rocky go through a transformation—from a heavy hitter to a fighter who moves on
his feet. This transformation made it easier for him to take on his competitor,
but the screenwriter (who happens to be Stallone himself) focused more on the
transformation rather than the fight itself.
This was the
Rocky film that introduced the theme song we all love and associate with the
Italian Stallion, Rocky Balboa: "Eye of the Tiger," written by
Survivor at Stallone's request.
Directed and
written by Stallone, this third movie in the Rocky series feels like a drag to
me. All the drama that made the first two films so enticing is gone, making
this flick move in such quick sequences that you wonder if it was written in a
rush with the sole aim of cashing in on fans.
Or you could say that, since it was released the same year as First Blood,
Stallone was probably too busy to dish out quality work, unlike when he had
more time to focus on the first two.
The movie’s plot
follows Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) in his heyday. His finances are now better
managed, and his son has grown. Rocky has been able to keep his belt and title
by knocking out any contender, but things take a turn when a new challenger
named Lang approaches Rocky for a fight.
Mickey, his
manager, doesn’t want him to take the fight because he feels Rocky will lose,
but Rocky insists, believing he can win. The two eventually meet in the ring,
and Rocky loses.
After the loss,
Rocky is approached by Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), who decides to train him
for the rematch. This training focuses mostly on Rocky’s speed rather than his
power.
The introduction
of Mr. T as James "Clubber" Lang—the motor-mouthed, ruthless,
egotistical fighter who knocks out Rocky in the early minutes of the film—was
actually fun to watch. You also get to see Hulk Hogan (the wrestler) in the
cast.
The movie was a
financial success but wasn’t nearly as positively received as the first two. It
falls short in both drama and the excitement of the fight scenes compared to
the first two films. However, Stallone, the writer, tried to make up for it by
turning former enemies into friends.
Well, to me, the Rocky collection isn’t complete until you’ve seen the first four, so make sure you do.
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