Rocky

This film about the American dream is all the more natural, convincing and powerful the less it tries to be spectacular and cater to the audience at all costs. It is the humble inception of a legend, not yet aware of its future historical importance. Rocky is the purest film definition of Sylvester Stallone, both as an actor and as a person. (18/11/2009)

Miracles happen sometimes. The boxer Rocky lasted all rounds undefeated in his fight with the heavyweight champion of the world, and this B-movie, from which nobody expected anything, went for the highest standard and received two major Oscars. And a third miracle on top of that: the until then unknown Sly Stallone received two Oscar nominations, including the script, full of great dialogue, which he wrote in three days. Sly lived the American dream and rose to stardom. (11/05/2003)

The years and Stallone’s reputation may have made Rocky a legend among sport dramas, but as someone who doesn’t like the genre, I have to say that it’s just a run-of-the-mill movie. It’s well made, yes, but also ordinary, and even uninteresting. I don’t feel at all like watching the entire saga. (27/05/2010)

The naive story of the great American dream coming true is not Rocky's main issue. On the contrary, despite its simplicity, it is very believable. The problem lies in the overall execution, starting with the somewhat lacking writing skills of Sylvester Stallone and continuing through the direction to the acting performances. The first half is absolutely (!) unnecessary, the attempt to delve into the psychology of the characters is wasted due to the lack of directorial innovation, and boredom is inevitable, leading to yawning. In the second half, the plot and pace pick up towards a more promising potential, which, however, is again squandered due to the constant repetition of lines about a little insignificant man who was offered a life-changing opportunity (it only needed to be said once!). The final match doesn't surprise in any way, not only with its outcome but also with the dry impression of the used form. I would like to nostalgically close my eyes, but for some reason, I just can't do it. (05/12/2005)

The duel of an outsider with a favorite remains an eternal topic in the sports genre, and when the main protagonist himself writes the script about a person who stood up to everyone who didn't believe in him, the only thing left for perfection is some equivalent from the real world. Maybe the one when the Academy really ate it up back then and awarded both Sly and Rocky with a few shiny statues. The fact that a series eventually became out of a unique story is actually a shame, but that's a different story. (17/03/2006)

An uncomplicated hero steadfastly walking toward fulfilling his American dream with an appropriate dose of genre clichés, sweat, blood, and an easily predictable ending. Given that when it comes to Sylvester Stallone's acting talent - how can I put it diplomatically - I am, let's say, reserved, and I really don't like boxing as a sport and entertainment (if I had to choose between having dinner with Mike Tyson or Hannibal Lecter, I would invite the latter without hesitation), I struggle to find a reason to give more than 2 stars. Overall impression: 45%. (19/11/2010)

There is strength in simplicity. A still completely unknown Sylvester Stallone triumphed with a magnificently written script, where one clever dialogue follows another, and he further enriched it with the so-called wooden acting, which has been so criticised. But let's be honest, can you imagine someone else under the name Rocky? America in the 1970s is truly timeless. (05/12/2005)

I've always liked Rocky, and every time I see it again, I'm amazed. It will probably never cease to amaze me how natural the whole film feels, how it does without a single cliché and how likeable its main character is. And best of all, it owes it all to Sylvester Stallone, actor, writer and fight choreographer. I'm not usually interested in boxing unless there's an interesting story behind the violence. But Rocky (like Raging Bull or Somebody Up There Likes Me) has just such a story. (30/12/2015)

A film that bestowed immortality on its lead actor and etched itself into the eternal subconscious of a fanbase that other high-budget films can only dream of. Sylvester Stallone wrote the role to fit him to perfection, and it shows. Even his sappy moral lectures and life advice have something to them, and his relentless work and preparation for the final, emotion-packed fight is the most impressive thing Hollywood has ever offered in its sports section – until Warrior, that is. (07/06/2012)

I fell in love with this movie as a child, and it still is a powerful spectacle for me that affects me exactly as it should. Sylvester Stallone gives an incredibly genuine performance and is believable in his role like never before. Thanks to that, one can easily empathize with him and slowly climb to the top with him, which he eventually achieves, although it may have looked different originally. Nowadays, it's a bit worn-out, but that's because many films drew inspiration from its beautiful perseverance and effort to achieve the impossible. Sly wrote a great script that no one else could have played better. It's almost a shame that he turned the story into a series, but I still can't wait to watch the other films after the first one. (16/03/2014)

At its core, it's brutally formulaic and maximally predictable. Yet therein lies its greatest strength. You get exactly what you expect, but everything in maximum harmony up until one of the most amazing movie finales ever. Stallone has created without a doubt one of the most interesting characters in film history. A wonderful "from Zero to Hero" story that oozes nostalgia of years gone by in an incredible way, and still manages to evoke very strong emotions almost half a century later. (23/11/2021)