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1979
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ROCKY
II
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STARRING:SYLVESTER
STALLONE,TALIA SHIRE,BURT YOUNG,BURGESS MEREDITH,CARL WEATHERS,TONY
BURTON,JOE SPINNELL,LEONARD GAINES,SYLVIA MEALS
WRITTEN
BY SYLVESTER STALLONE
PRODUCED
BY ROBERT CHARTOFF & IRWIN WINKLER
DIRECTED
BY SYLVESTER STALLONE
GENRE:DRAMA/SPORT/ACTION
RATED:AUSTRALIA:PG/UK:PG/USA:PG
RUNNING
TIME:119 MIN
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After
the tremendous critical and commercial success of the first
film (and with The Godfather Pt II proving
sequels can do the trick), it is to no surprise that Sylvester Stallone
would bring back "The Italian Stallion" for another round.
Following straight after the title fight between Rocky Balboa (Sylvester
Stallone) and Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), Rocky II has Rocky
retiring due to injuries sustained in the fight; marrying his sweetheart
Adrian (Talia Shire); and blessed with the news that Adrian is pregnant.
Taking advantage of his new found fame, Rocky accepts a job endorsing
various products, and decides to move up in the world by purchasing
a car and a house. After a devastating commercial shoot (where it
quickly becomes apparent that he cannot read his lines due to his
lack of education), Rocky is fired. Facing bankruptcy, he agrees to
a re-match with Creed, who has been goading Rocky to get back into
the ring. His decision to fight distresses Adrian who - after a confrontation
with her brother Paulie (Burt Young) - pre-maturely gives birth to
a healthy baby boy and slips into a coma. Guilt ridden and depressed,
Rocky keeps a vigil at Adrian's hospital bed as Creed grows stronger
through his training. When Adrian comes to and encourages Rocky to
win, he takes to his training harder than before under the watchful
eye of his manager Mickey (Burgess Meredith), setting up a colossal
re-match for the world heavyweight title.
Much like its predecessor, Rocky II is an emotionally charged
film, but this is no mere re-hash. Continuity is found within these
characters, especially in Rocky who has many layers placed upon him
as he deals with issues such as dignity, humility, humiliation, the
questioning of manhood and the trappings of success. The film also
examines the faith which keeps him moving forward.
The cast is great. Talia Shire still contains the sweetness and vulnerability
that made her such a top draw in the first film; Burgess Meredith
is all piss and vinegar; and Burt Young and Carl Weathers do what
they do best. It is Stallone, of course, who is the real focus, achieving
an impressive trifecta with a great performance, an equally impressive
screenplay (full of many memorable lines) and great direction, his
debut.
Taking what John G. Avildsen accomplished with the first film and
then adding his own style, Stallone comes forward as an action visionary,
with the fight scene a vast improvement when compared to the original.
Excellent choreography, the use of slow motion, the great editing
by Stanford C. Allen and Janice Hampton, the improved sound effects,
and composer Bill Conti's extremely effective "War" composition
together creates an exceptional fight scene, up there with the best
of them. A very good sequel, but also a very good, if not underrated
film on its own merits. |
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