#Rocky #sylvesterstallone #videoessay Join Me On Discord: / discord Support Me On Patreon: / cinemastix This is my love letter to Rocky (1976), one of my favorite movies of all time. Hope you enjoy :) Written & Edited by Danny Boyd
Go here for the rest of the video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_SJkTdb8zSg.html For some reason, when I uploaded the full version of this video, it got automatically copyright claimed. But when I tried uploading it in two parts, it was fine. I wouldn’t care, except that with the claim on it, I wouldn’t have been able to turn off mid-roll ads, and I really didn’t want a random ad break disrupting the flow of this video because I worked really hard on it and it’s a topic I’m really passionate about. At least this way I was able to pick a natural break point myself. Sorry about all this though. I hope you’re able to enjoy the full video despite the split :) -Danny
For sure! I turned ads off completely for part 2, so hoooooefully everyone can jump straight to it without technically still having a mid-roll break at the start of it. But I’m not entirely sure how much control I have of that in reality.
I have the awkwardness but not the charisma, yet I still could relate to him in certain aspects. I'm seemingly more book smart but I'm not street smart which is a significant downside.
"Rocky isn't a boxing movie" As someone who just recently watched it again, this is so true. I actually forgot how little boxing was in the movie. Even the finale feels so short compared to what it's built up to.
Boxing my favorite sport so its triggering when yall say its not a boxing movie...you mean it's more then a boxing movie ...Stallone did his homework on the life of actual fighters and what they go through in order to even make a film like this. So what if it's not alot of boxing in the film..it resonates with the life of a fighter that comes from bottom to reach the top.
I just realized that Rocky coming into the pet store every day for years only to get shot down and then still trying again tomorrow is him living by his code. The very code he explained to his son years later. It ain't about how hard you hit.
I think Rocky has a key verbal tic: "it don't bother me none". He says it every time he says something that makes him uncomfortable or insecure, in a thinly veiled attempt to keep up his machismo facade. And then there's that scene where he says to Adrian "Hey you know how I said that stuff on TV didn't bother me none? It did." He's a very vulerable character who feels like he can't afford to be vulnerable, until Adrian allows him to express that.
It's a shame that Stallone recently voiced that the producers essentially stole Rocky from him, kept him out of the decision making process of Creed 2, and then completely wrote him out of Creed 3 and have no plans on using him for input
I was hoping you'd talk about Rocky and Adrian. When I was young, I did not understand their romance in any way. It has aged so beautifully for me, especially in comparison to most movie romances, where a girl whose entire character is "hot actress" goes for the protagonist for no reason other than he's the protagonist. A romance in a movie showing people actually being awkward and nervous and imperfect is so wonderful to see. The whole movie you're dealing with real, hopelessly flawed human beings and not superhuman fantasies, yet they manage to build an incredible life.
I love the movie, though I will say it is a bit problematic at times. Even though Rocky is fundamentally kind and caring he is still being very assertive towards Adrian to the point where he occasionally doesn't take no for an answer. I still think their relationship is very sweet, but it does send a kinda weird message that if you're being turned down by someone you should just keep asking until they say yes.
@@felixbache5369 As long as all you're doing is asking it's a part of one of life's games. The worst it can be is irritating, done a certain way. It's when the tone changes that it's a problem.
@@randomobserver8168 Very good point about asking. Rocky is not demanding Adrian date him, does not think she 'owes' him, or any of the other 'toxic masculinity' behaviours associated with being a sexpest. And the most telling thing of all? I think if Adrian had ever said to him directly, "Thank you Rocky, but no thank you" or "I'm seeing someone else", an actual 'no' instead of an avoidance (or she may just be too shy to say yes, which is what I think, considering Paulie is hardly the most sensitive brother in the world, even though he clearly loves his sister and wants what's best for her in his own misguided way) Rocky would probably let her alone and keep it to a lame joke a day. He didn't become the problem that we see so frequently in the news, of young men incapable of handling rejection and turning it into an excuse for hate and violence. Rocky really reads as someone who just needs to connect with *anyone* on a human level...and until Adrian, he's largely denied that. Even Paulie's friendship feels transactional (but that might be me, I really don't 'get' how he and Rocky ever met and became friends in the first place lol).
@@onceinawhile7 Ok, what kind of personality? 'Bland' was because that's what she was supposed to be...a wallflower, someone that no one appreciates. A diamond in the rough, being smothered by an overbearing brother who likely thought her a lesbian or spinster. Nobody appreciated Rocky either. Oh, some people spoke nice to him, they laughed with/at him, but he didn't really have friends. Neither did Ade. Rocky recognized that loneliness in her, because he had it too. And at the end of the day, it was a boxing movie with a splash of romance...not The Notebook or Romeo+Juliet.
Same thing with Rambo. It was a lot more about a guy battling with PTSD then it was an action film... You see the same thing happen with the sequels with Rambo that you do with Rocky it got a little bit more flamboyant and relying on action and dramatic villainy... Less on that internal plot.
Yeah, I have a video coming out in a bit covering a bit of that issue with the Rambo sequels vs First Blood. I’m excited though to make a video really focusing on it like I did with this one.
Yeah I saw First Blood back in 2016 and was surprised at how it started, I loved it. I had just been homeless for awhile as well so I related to his character. And I just watched Rocky 2 days ago
Poor Rocky was one step away of becoming an associate in some Italian mafia family, but his innately good character prevented him from going that far. I don’t think he’s “dumb” as himself and others loved to mention. He was a man with little formal education, with no clear goals, whose only seemingly positive trait was his muscles, so it was easy for others and himself believe that he was nothing more than a brute. But as you pointed out, once he started winning, and with the essential emotional support from Adrian, he built up his confidence to demonstrate that he was not dumb, but an intelligent and quite wise man.
This reminds me of a guy on the plane i talked to about Forrest Gump. I said how he never really misteps in the movie and he's like "he has no will!" Shortsighted
yep lol like mike tyson 🤣 everybody thought he was a brute for ages. meanwhile he says things from such a weird angle, a strange perspective that hes real good at making you see things in a totally new way that bo one had ever thought of before. some of his answeres to questions are so strange and profound its kinda nuts. i ighly reccomend looking up some vids on him talking.
I recently watched Rocky on a plane and honestly I was blown away by how good the movie is. I didn't expect it at all. While I'm watching it I'm like "damn, is this one of the best movies I've ever seen?"
Hah, that’s amazing. Honestly, even having seen it several times growing up, I still had a similar reaction to it the first time I saw it with a more developed set of eyes.
It's my favorite movie of *ALL TIME* and I think only "Rocky Balboa" (6th movie in the franchise) might come close to replacing it when I go into my 30's or 40's as Stallone said that after making the 6th movie, that one became his personal favorite from the franchise and I do see some reasons why.
Stallone is an incredibly under appreciated filmmaker. Even with Expendables which is by design a “dumb action ensemble” shows intentionality in the shot composition and the writing of story and characters in a way the sequel directors didnt even come close to
I think the fact that he could adapt the script so easily, quickly, and believably is because since he knew the character so well he knew how he would actually react when confronted with those things in the moment, and that makes it all the more organic.
Yup, that's literally Stallone dreaming about his future after being given the chance (like the boxing match) to prove himself that he's got it internally. He's not a failure himself. The situation Rocky is in is the exact situation of Stallone at that time if not worse. Man, I'm crying again...
When I ask people whether they have seen Rocky, they say "Oh its just a dumb boxing movie, why would I watch it?". Such a shame they r not willing to give it a chance.
@@-0rbital- 4 is so funny lol. stallone hates 5 but it is only bad compared to all the other rocky movies. balboa is like an oscar bait rocky but it’s a good send off. the creed films are legitimately great though they compress 2 or 3 rocky films into one and it works pretty well
The closed ice rink also could be seen as a metaphor for their relationship. She’s been closed, lonely, blunt, cold, empty. He’s pushed through all of that, and they ice skate despite the flaws in the rink.
Think back carefully, Rocky didn't skate. He walked with Adrian as she skated, one of the features of his character I liked the most. He didn't particularly care where he was as long as he was with her.
@@silverlightsinaugust2756 Imagine attending a party and telling someone you love the movie Rocky and they go off on some pretentious fart sniffing ramble about how Rocky taking Adrienne to the hockey rink is some kind of metaphorical allusion to Adrienne’s shyness or some nonsense. Worst… party… ever
I’ve always loved the way Rocky doted on Adrienne from the very start. Back when she was “invisible” to a lot of people he saw her. He was always so sweet to her too.
@@CinemaStix The real tragic figure in the movie is Apollo, who thinks he's won, but has only fallen prey to his own reputation and hubris, which is why I was relieved when he and Rocky hugged it out at the end of the next movie.
Rocky and Rambo are two movie series that people write off as dumb action, but going back to their origins, specially with Rambo you find these amazing character driven films. Love em.
Man, First Blood really was something. It wasn't a war movie in any conventional sense, but rather focuses on the torment of experiencing the worst effects of war and the failure for Vietnam War vets to reintegrate. While you may cheer for Rambo's tenacity against a cruel sheriff's department, you'll eventually pity him as he breaks down in a child-like state upon learning how far he escalated his little "war". Not a lot of war movies from that era explored these heavy themes, and it's a shame these subtleties were lost to Hollywood when they churned out Rambo sequels into the 1980s.
Stallone really had something special, and his early work shows that. On the back of the popularity of his earlier work bigger, more powerful people wanted to be involved and his level of input was steered into a more manageable space. It's not a fault of his, it's just the industry, and we're lucky we have films like Rocky and First Blood.
Yes! The original Rocky is about character, not action! I feel like Rocky 5 deserves more recognition for taking the franchise back to these ideas. Definitely my favorite out of 3-5.
Ive never actually seen Rocky before, i never got around to it, always thought it was just a random action type movie. In the first minute of your video, you made me want to watch it. I just finished the film and the rest of your video. Man thanks for motivating me to watch this masterpiece of a film. I had no idea it was so in-depth. So well made man. both the film and your video aha
I just noticed how great the chemistry is between Talia and Sly. The Rocky and Adrian love story is so sweet and romantic. I feel like I only realized that now though
Rocky reminds me of Ashita no Joe Both are genre-making, and widely considered to be boxing stories, but they're really about characters who are boxers.
6:28 it’s so interesting how the studio not putting in 100% for Stallone was mirrored by the marketing team not bothering to get Rocky’s image right in the film. Stallone was very much expressing his own ambition and rise to glory without the help of others through Rocky.
God its my favorite movie of all time. Everything about it, no other movie comes close. No other movie has a story behind the making of the movie that accompanies the actual film so well.
When I was a kid I never caught why the shorts being wrong was highlighted. It's a great way of showing how little regard the show has for him, with Apollo's shorts being iconic, the show is all about him. Really cool that they turned it into a story beat.
Lol. There is no need to convince me that Rocky is a masterpiece. I think most of us have known it since forever. But it was good to revisit the movie and those small human moments. Also i had no idea about those improvs that he made to the script. Thanks. Great info.
I never realised how talented or versatile he is Just watched a clip about a fellow actor talking about how he was on the set of Rambo 4 and how Sly wanted a shot done a certain way so he jumped down in a pool of pigs*** and moved the animals around himself until he was satisfied Not a lot of directors would have that level of dedication to their art to get their hands, or feet, that dirty
Rocky is one of the absolute classics of American film. At its core, it's a simple story about love and perseverance but it is told in such a genuine, endearing way that it becomes something timeless.
Such a fantastic video! I understand totally why this is one of your favorites -- so well-explained and opened my eyes to the love that went into this! Will have to watch it again soon
Thank you! Yes, highly recommend it :) It’s a simple story, but every time I rewatch I discover something else about it that I find thrilling or funny or charming.
Oh my friend, the entire Rocky franchise is based on the same thing. Everyone of these movies is a love story. Every part is about a man in love, with Adrienne, the boxing profession, his eventual best friend Apollo Creed, his manager, his son, even Paulie. Rocky is a fighter as his wife told him in the third movie, Rocky is tough and hard, but we saw him break. He always had the love of his life with him. Even in the Creed movies, Adrienne was there, Paulie was there, Mickey through his gym was there, and mostly Apollo was there to help Rocky mentor Apollo’s son. Whatever work that Stallone did afterwards was strictly for the money. Deep respects to Sly for his other roles and movies, but Rocky was his love-child. That was his iconic contribution to cinema.
rocky is by far one of my favorite movies... i have always loved it ever since i saw it for the first time as a kid.... i never knew that the shorts on the poster was actually a mistake but they made it seem like it was suppose to be for the movie.... that part 6:29 always stuck with me even as a kid.... always felt like a part that was meant to show how they thought rocky was a joke... its interesting to know it was a mistake but they turned it around to actually make it one of the more meaningful moments in the movie....
Thank YOU. I hope the way I had to split the video into two parts wasn’t too confusing. Of all the videos I’ve made, it was the last thing I wanted for this one. But I think it was the best choice given the circumstances. Anyway, thanks again :) -Danny
I like to still consider it a sports movie, as it lays down Rocky’s motivations for why he pushes himself and sets an example that motivates people, people relate the sentimental attachment they hold to the sports they play to rocky. So many motivational lessons in the movies, whenever the “gonna fly now” track comes on while I work out, my body is incapable of stopping until the song concludes, it’s the rocky affect
I’ll never get over that little moment where Rocky asks what happened to Adrian’s hat. It’s small and they didn’t need to include it but it shows how much he loves her and how she is the most important part of his world in that moment. It’s so beautiful and is just a little example as to why this is such an amazing movie.
Rocky improvising on his date and running along side her is the most heart warming thing ive ever seen. Movie really made you root for that guy. You wanted Rocky to make it.
The scene where he tries to tell the girl at the pet shop about his day is pretty accurate as far as how lonely and cold the world can be for most men.
I know you aren't Tony from Every Frame a Painting, but your cadence, editing, essay style, and critique are very reminiscent of that channel and this is a good thing. :)
Those scenes greatly help the movie. It’s as if something supernatural was aiding the production. Stallone made some greater choices with the rewriting, too.
Loved the video! They all have great pacing. My brothers and I always watched Rocky with our dad growing up. Haven’t seen it in forever but this reminded me why it will always be one of my favorites. I actually see a lot of Rocky in my dad in hindsight which is probably why he was drawn to this movie. I normally make videos about videogames but I have two video essays on movies cause I really love film as well.
I’ve saw Rocky for the first time in one sitting recently. It’s a gem… a masterpiece. It’s relatable to a lot of people. But I think the single greatest reason this movie is so good is because it speaks what we all know to be inherently true at the core of our being. That truth is this: life is tough. It’ll beat you down. You’ll have a crap apartment and have no shot with the girl you like and with no real friends. And in those times in order to rise above it all you need to work hard and get to the gym. It’s sincerely a beautiful movie.
I always jump at the chance to show Rocky to someone who has never seen it before. The movies were always playing on the tv when I was growing up and were family favorites, but you could usually only catch the third or fourth playing over and over again. So when I got into my early twenties I had the chance to sit down and rewatch the first properly and I truly fell in love with the film. It's easy to write off the films and even Sylvester Stallone to a degree, but when you really sit back and appreciate Rocky for what it is, you realize it really is an unexpected masterpiece.
Nice I don't remember their relationship being this interesting and innocent. Hope I can find someone who I can fill the gaps of and who can fill the gaps of me too.
This is an amazing video! Really captures what I never noticed when I watched it a few years back. Makes me wanna watch Rocky again and experience it the way I should’ve. 👍
My Dad introduced me to the Rocky series when I was a kid and I've been hooked ever since. I never understood why he loved these movies until he passed away. Then I see these movies not as boxing movies, but centered dramas with boxing laced around it. I can't watch a Rocky without crying anymore but I fight through those tears to see what my father saw. Thanks for making this video. Consider me your new subscriber.
Fantastic job! From a time when films were art and steeped in allegory, metaphor, and realism... all things missing in today's movies. I've been a writer/director and performing arts theatre owner in Hollywood for 25 years and I just found your channel. What a breath of fresh air! Keep up the great work.
The reason why the shortcomings of budget and errors worked well into the movie, is because the movie is literally a parallel of Stallone's story: an underdog coming out to the lights.
That first scene with the turtles is one of the best scenes in the movie. The mirror moment with him looking at the old picture of him says a lot about him with no dialogue.
This channel is so nostalgic... Thank you so much for making these content. I'm in much need of content creating after their passion for movies and not for monetary gain only. 💚
The original Rocky was such a good, heartfelt script. I had seen the sequels before I'd seen the original, and I was surprised by how authentic it felt by comparison. It's one of my all-time favorites, while the sequels are just a guilty pleasure.
Thank you! I’d been waiting to talk about Rocky for a long time, and was really glad to finally get the chance. One of my absolute favorites. :) -Danny
This is amazing. Thank you. Rocky is one of the films my mother and I could both agree to watch, and love. When I was young I liked it because it was about a regular guy standing up and taking on a big shot. Now I like it also because it's about a regular guy actually making something of his life when he's given only scraps to build it out of.
great essay. i had to sub. i remember watching this film randomly four years ago being that I hadnt seen it since the early 90s when i was a teen. I was floored at how tender the film was and immediately kind of knew it was the best "boxing" film ever made or at least one of the best. Ive seen so many. but yea, stallones actual life as an underdog and poor artist with 26 bucks in his account turning down 200 thou just to be sure he saw his vision through matches Rocky as a character so much. what a masterpiece
My favourite movie series of all time, Sly is a legend and everybody should be introduced to Rocky , such a positive loving message from the movies and in my opinion Rocky is one of Hollywood's biggest hero's, and it's so much more than a boxing movie, it's a story of life and love that features boxing, there will never be another more beloved character in this field
My favourite part of this movie is the scene where he talks with Adriana in his bed the night before the fight, filmed on the last roll of tape and out of budget, because Stallone wanted this scene to be in the movie so badly. They had one take and they nailed it.
That’s amazing!! I’m so glad, and I hope you’ll like what’s to come. I release three videos a month, so nothing today, but something new next Saturday :) -Danny
Rocky is a gentle giant. He can fight hard, is brave and loyal and tenacious but he also struggles with change, believes himself to be dumb and sometimes his struggle to put a good face on those things which are too challenging cracks. These times let his essential humanity shine through and help the audience understand him. He is always the underdog. But every dog has his day.
@@AhtoNajeebRashied We appreciate people like you not dumping crap on others comments just because you´re a douche, or just miserable and trying to bring down others with you... ^)^
rocky movies are about life and the struggles .. the boxing is just a plus on the story.. each one he goes thru different things in life.. such great movies
I remember buying the Blu-ray Boxed set so many years ago. I think I had seen/remembered Rocky IV more than the others and was excited to rewatch that, but of course I had to start from the beginning. I wasn't as familiar with the original film, and after I finished watching it, I was shocked at how great that film really is. The story, the characters...I was also just as shocked if not more to realize that Stallone had written the screenplay as well. I had a newfound respect for the story.
A favorite scene of mine: Rocky: I can't do it. Adrian: What? Rocky: I can't beat him. Adrian: Apollo? Rocky: Yeah. I been out there walkin' around, thinkin'. I mean, who am I kiddin'? I ain't even in the guy's league. Adrian: What are we gonna do? Rocky: I don't know. Adrian: You worked so hard. Rocky: Yeah, that don't matter. 'Cause I was nobody before. Adrian: Don't say that. Rocky: Ah come on, Adrian, it's true. I was nobody. But that don't matter either, you know? 'Cause I was thinkin', it really don't matter if I lose this fight. It really don't matter if this guy opens my head, either. 'Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody's ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I'm still standin', I'm gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood.