Rocky Balboa

Ein senil einfacher, aber angenehm ehrlicher und bescheidener kleiner Film über einen alten Boxer, der immer noch etwas zu erzählen hat, und zwar nicht nur mit seinen harten Fäusten. Die Einleitung des Films ist ein bisschen langwierig, der Höhepunkt ist wiederum schnell vorbei. Die *Nostalgie* ist aber unbestreitbar sympathisch. Sylvester Stallone ist dasselbe wie seinem Helden gelungen – er hat kein großes Comeback erlebt, er hat sich aber mit Würde verteidigt. (02.02.2007)

The last (I hope) Rocky doesn't surprise with anything, the story is again simple and straightforward, with a pinch of combat adrenaline, and life wisdoms that sound out of Harlequin books, some of which caressed the soul. Rocky's final farewell to the audience in the boxing ring (and symbolically, Sly's farewell to this character, which suddenly catapulted him to the cinematic Olympus) left me surprisingly cold, but there’s no denying that it is a worthy farewell. Mainly because there is no lack of insight, Stallone faces the advancing years head on and occasionally throws down some nice and funny lines. In short, Sly made me happy. The film is worth 3 stars, the fourth one is thrown in for nostalgia’s sake, which Sly enlivened with several functional short flashbacks. And why not admit it, I have a soft spot for this hard-working "Italian Stallion". (09.01.2007)

Mir hat de leicht galgenhafte Humor sowie der nette altmodische mentorhafte Ton, welcher dem Film die meiste Zeit über Drive verleiht, aber der italienische Hengst solls mir nicht verpönen, allerdings ist das letzte Match nichts wert. Es fehlt hier an klarer Motivation, Begeisterung, an einem starken Gegner und einer vernünftigen Entschlossenheit, so dass am Ende des Films alles eben tatsächlich nur noch der Show dient. Bis dahin hat Rockys letztes Abenteuer sämtliche Attribute, welche den Einser zum Hit gemacht haben (wenn auch irgendwie abgetatscht und schäbig) ... er spielt mehr eher auf den einfachen Saiten, bedient sich jedoch einer packenden Psychologie sowie auf Stallones immer noch funktionalem Schauspielern mit zwei Gesichtern. Ich habe die Zeit genossen, aber dennoch halte ich einen Boxfilm, bei dem mich der letzte Kampf nicht zum Brodeln bringt, für etwas zu lau. (13.12.2008)

The idea of the whole movie is a little far fetched, but it has its interesting points. You can’t help feeling a certain trepidation. However, from the very beginning it’s clear that their trepidation is unfounded. All the sentimental roaming around Philadelphia, his long contemplation, looking back on life, telling time-proven truths all seem sincere. It is a very personal picture that Sly put his “heart" into and that makes it all the more endearing. In fact, this is evident to the point that almost nobody will see anybody else than him himself in the role of Rocky. What significantly damages the movie is the boxing match itself. For one thing, it seems somehow superfluous here, it’s shot strangely, lacks energy and is overall uninteresting. Which, in view of the fact that it takes up the whole last third of the playing time, is displeasing. But the worst thing are the final credits. They are indescribable hell. Even so, meeting up with Rocky Balboa at the beginning of the autumn of his life isn’t boring, it’s old-fogey agreeable and surprisingly not at all ridiculous. If I were Stallone I would leave my boxing gloves hanging on their hook from now on. After all those years of service they have earned a good rest. (12.01.2008)

The disheveled and smiley Sly wanders around Philadelphia, giving advice to everyone around him while being unsure of himself. I would take that as a light prologue to the sympathetically boxing finish with enthusiasm, but when he talks, advises, and sadly looks for two-thirds of the movie, it becomes boring. It's not unwatchable, but still a bit unnecessary because as soon as Rocky returns to training, runs up the stairs and enters the arena, adrenaline, tension, and cheering are also there. The fight against Dixon is incredibly well shot, but it really bothers me that the champion's actor is skinny and lacks the typical muscularity of a boxer, so I can't maintain a serious face when talking about "heavyweight". On the other hand, I can forgive many things without words because I really wanted Stallone to succeed and thanked him for not letting the series end in miserable waters in his old age. (18.10.2007)

Sly did it. The end of the series about the Italian Stallion Rocky Balboa worked out as it should and as I wished. Stallone was clever about it using the only thing he had left: memories. It’s as though he's recapitulated his own life and transferred it to the character who's been with him from the beginning. The movie's success is also due to the performances, which are definitely above standard. In addition to the excellent Stallone, there is also the great Burt Young as Paulie (the only link with the past) and Milo Ventimiglia, who shows that he can stretch beyond Heroes. I'm overjoyed to return to the old days for an hour and a half, and I'm giving Rocky an extra star to say goodbye. Thanks. (29.06.2007)

Perhaps the saddest, slowest, and most sentimental of the entire saga, with an absolutely banal storyline and a ton of outrageous clichés. Nevertheless, there is one key word that nobody can resist, not even Hollywood triviality and its classic effort to squeeze as much money out of the viewer as humanly possible, and that word is nostalgia. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve seen him, you still can't help but root for the protagonist, and Stallone definitely deserves clenched fists not only for the gripping and touching scene in the meat-packing plant, for which I would gladly award him an Oscar in the imaginary category of the best performed moment of the year. His fists are still strong and even though the finale is heavily edited and confusing, it's still worth watching. The pleasant supporting roles bring joy, the typical cloyingness is annoying, and the blatant simplicity is striking, but they squeeze everything out of it and the legend can end with honor. (15.08.2007)

Er hat einen Schlag bekommen und ist aufgestanden. Er hat einen nächsten bekommen und ist wieder aufgestanden. Und wieder. Und wieder. Manchen kann es als ein einfacher Gedanke vorkommen, was eigentlich stimmt. Er ist aber wichtig. Sylvester Stallone kehrte mit Rocky schon im vorherigen Teil an alte bekannte Orte zurück. Dort hatte er auch Probleme mit seinem Sohn und musste wieder kämpfen… Mit dem Film waren weder die Zuschauer*innen noch er selbst zufrieden. Deshalb ist nach sechzehn Jahren ein neuer entstanden. Zum Glück. Es ist nämlich eine mehr als würdige Vollendung der ganzen Saga. Der Film ertrinkt nicht in Nostalgie, Melancholie oder Tränen. Er ist zwar ein bisschen traurig, aber gleichzeitig voller Hoffnung. Viereinhalb. (10.01.2016)

A legend like Rocky Balboa could hardly have asked for a better retirement. More than ever, Stallone gave me the impression that he literally connected with Rocky, imprinting him with heart and soul, and it shows not only in his great performance, but especially in his sensitive and sincere direction. The film is a beautiful depiction of perseverance, indomitable desire, and the power of friendship, and though the story takes a predictable and well-trodden path, it still manages to strap us firmly into our seats and knock us off our feet at the end. I enjoyed it, plus I definitely figured out who Stallone's most famous and best movie character is: the Italian Stallion Rocky Balboa. 4.5* (02.10.2012)

Sly returned to the role of Rocky after sixteen years, thirty years after he filmed the first movie. Right from the beginning, it completely got me and I realized how beautiful the story of Rocky and Adrian is. It's a beautiful romance, completely ordinary, but it shows the wonderful harmony between a man and a woman. They weren't a perfect Hollywood couple, but they were a perfect movie couple. They argued, but they never stopped loving each other. Just for that, this series is wonderful. With the sixth film, Sly gave it the right, beautiful, and incredibly sad ending. The giant returned and showed that what he created had a purpose. And it still has a purpose. The sixth film touched me incredibly. Sly made a beautiful tribute and a full-fledged continuation at the same time. There is nothing more to add. (19.03.2014)