It's such a genius touch having the winner of the match announced as Rocky and Adrian embrace in the ring. It's obvious neither cares who won. And, if you've gotten the point of the movie, you shouldn't either.
shareThe first Rocky was a great film. The misfit characters, the lucky break, the oddball love story, and gritty streets of Philadelphia as a backdrop.
shareIt almost feels like an indie film -- something you might screen at Sundance -- compared to the big, splashy, comic book-esque sequels that followed.
shareThere was a time when personal character dramas were lauded by audiences. A lot of that type of fare has shifted to the small screen.
shareSo true. There's barely any boxing even in the movie. Because the movie isn't about boxing. It isn't about winning either. It's about a guy trying to prove to himself, and others, that he's not a bum. The fact that he doesn't win is irrelevant to Rocky. He did his best -- which is a victory in of itself. In short, Rocky's triumph is an internal one.
shareAnd that he went to distance.
shareExactly. Anyone can win. Not everyone can go the distance.
At the end of "Rocky" Rocky had nothing more to prove in the ring.
I like to think of "Rocky" occupying one universe, and the sequels occupying a separate one, and after the events of the first one Rocky and Adrian settled down and with the money Rocky earned from fighting Apollo the two opened their own pet store.
Just rewatched this as I am doing a Rocky marathon prior to seeing Creed II and, yes, that scene probably is the greatest part of the film. Man, the music, acting, directing, and writing in this one are by far and beyond above the others. Such a great drama!
shareThe opening scene of a mural of Jesus Christ only adds to realism, especially since it follows it up with two guys slugging the heck out of each other in a smoke-filled room. This contrasting imagery really sets the tone for what's to follow.
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Echoed beautifully in Rocky Balboa when Rocky's practically out of the arena before the result is announced - in fact just turning back to meet the acclaim of the crowd.
In both cases the result didn't matter, he'd already won by going the distance.
I thought you were going to mention how he cracked the eggs into a glass and swallowed them raw...
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