Customer Rating:  
Summary: No Adrian
Comment: Maybe it's because I was a little kid when the first Rocky came out but they do it for me for some reason. Most of them. Rocky 5 was awful. As I sit here I can't remember if I ever saw the entire movie. I think I always bailed out of it before it was over. I never thought that one was worthy of being the last Rocky movie so it was nice that this one came out. Whether it's because I feel like I know the core characters from all those times seeing the movies as a kid or not, they still have a way of getting to me.
I didn't read about the movie, didn't talk with anyone about it, didn't look into it at all until I first saw it on HBO or Showtime or whoever aired it a couple months ago. Since #5 was so bad I didn't rush into this one. I have been happily surprised. The first (and one of the hardest) punch of the movie is seeing the name on the headstone. I had no idea Adrian was dead in this one before that moment, and no
intention of mentioning her death in my review but after 20 seconds on this page I saw it has been mentioned tons of times already so I don't think I'm letting a secret out.
Adrian was always such a cutie pie sweety, and she was also sort of the Edith Bunker of the Rocky films. In many ways she was the strength and conscience. All the things that some reviewers have considered to be the slow, depressing stuff before the movie (aka the boxing) begins is the stuff I love. There's genuine feeling there. It's a drag that Talia Shire didn't get to be in this one but much of the movie is a fitting tribute to the strength of the character she brought to life. I like that.
Also, this Rocky most imitates real life. There's no villain to conquer and there's no ascension to, nor fall from greatness. It's a story about the people, places and memories that make a life.
My gripe about the movie is the training montage. Donning the same grey sweatshirt/sweatpants from the first movie, punching the meat, etc... was too obvious for me. I don't like things to be so blatant. Also, my favorite passage of the famous Rocky musics is only touched on for one small part as the credits are rolling. That was a bummer.
Still, what really matters in this one is that Rocky has always been a good guy and he even delivers a street-corner speech that the USA could and should really take to heart. "It's not how hard you hit." We'd be a better nation because of it. Rocky Balboa is a really touching way to wrap up the mythology of this pop-culture icon.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A depressing way to close out the Rocky saga...
Comment: To be honest, I kind of wish this film didn't exist. I was (and still am) a huge a fan of the Rocky series and while IV and V certainly have their faults, I found a lot more to dislike about Rocky Balboa.
I understand the main motivation for Rocky to get back into the ring is Adrian's death (thus the necessity to have her written out of the story so that there's actually a point to even having a 6th movie) but at this point, I feel that Stallone similarly already went down this road with Mickey and Apollo and because of that, there's not much of anything new being done here plot-wise. The difference here though is the entire film is heartwrenchingly sad and depressing all the way to the very end. If Stallone's goal was to choke people up throughout the course of the film, he certainly succeeded. But, for as much as Rocky loses in his life (watches Mickey die, sees Apollo get killed, loses his fortune, etc.) would it have been so wrong to have the story of Rocky be put to rest with him for once winning outside of the ring (ie. life) and be able to live out his later years with the 1 thing he presumably loves more than boxing? And I know, this goes back to the argument that it was necessary for Adrian to be gone for this film to even be made. Which is why I would have preferred it not have been. Or, at the very least, have taken another angle. Simply put, its too unsettling of a way to close out the saga.
Another major gripe I had with the film was Rocky's foe, Mason Dixon, was incredibly undeveloped to the point that I almost didn't even care about the boxing match itself. So much of the movie focuses on Rocky dealing with his grief, that there's no time for boxing to be the focus save for a few scenes.
The few positives I could find out of the film mostly included the nostalgia of it. Stallone did a good job of tying in a lot of stuff from the past films. The acting is solid and Paulie was entertaining as usual. But, between the lackluster build-up of Rocky's match with Dixon and the tremendously depressing story, the ending is far too unsettling for me and in my opinion, didn't really redeem anything from the fifth film. When Stallone knew that the only solid vehicle he could come up with to push out a sixth installment was to write out yet another main character (which now adds up to being a major plot point in 1/2 of all the Rocky movies), he should have known there wasn't much left to say and to just let it be. Or, to have thought this one out a little harder.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Better than I expected
Comment: I bought this movie because I was hoping it would compete with Rocky 1-4. I was hoping for the best but expecting another Rocky 5. Turns out this was a pleasant surprise. The only dislike I had was the relationship Rocky had with Little Marie and her Son. Rocky seems to have taken a liking to the son but yet the relationship was not explored. The fight scenes were great the dialouge was lacking. This Rocky did not leave a segway for a 6th movie but what a way to finish an epic adventure that the Rocky's have given us all.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent conclusion to series
Comment: I was impressed by Rocky Balboa. Excellent storyline about Rocky facing his inner demons. Some good messages about life and character values such as tenacity, indomitable will, never giving up, heart, self respect and everything else we have come to expect from Rocky. This is a great finally and the perfect example of why we love the Rocky character.
Customer Rating:
Summary: self-help with Rocky
Comment: Gotta Be Willing To Take The Hits
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life, but it ain't about how hard you can hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. It's about how much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now if you know what you're worth, go out and get what your worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him or her or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that!"
-Rocky.
So this movie... is not too bad, actually. Rocky is an old dog now, still got some good mileage left, but clearly he has taken his hits, and then some. In fact he seems to be pretty much done, his glory days long since past. But of coarse we know he's got some fight left in him and watching him pull himself up by his boots straps like the all American hero is, get back into shape and get into that ring one last time(?) you may actually feel respect for this character and enjoy the film. The greatest moment comes when his son shows up and Rocky delievers a truly inspired speech that serves as the message of the film. Stallone made a decent film and heartfelt send-off for Rocky.
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