Rocky, The 72 stone steps to Atonement!

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     If you ask me and several others what their favorite film is, Rocky (1976) is going to pop up eventually in their top 5 list. Why? Because it is a beautiful work of art crafted with tons of heart and lots of sweat that kicked of Sly Stallone's star studded career complete with enough bicep curls, bullet casings and one liners challenged only by Arnie himself.

 

    Even the trivia behind the film itself has more motivational stories than the film itself. Sly finding himself in great debt with just 106 dollars in the bank, having sold his dog just to get out of debt, worked on a script that was offered 350,000 dollars. However taking the bold step by choosing to act with no payment for the script, today here we are, the great actor, the lord of the ring, the protector of American Prisoners Of War on screen, Sylvester Stallone!

 

      Watching the absolutely charming movie for the first time, you see the actor is only living his own life, the ageing underdog, the man of the people, the strong yet innocent at heart Rocky Balboa. The man who has almost given up on his boxing aspirations, doing odd jobs just to survive, living in a dilapidated apartment is someone the everyday man would easily fall in love with. There is no acting, no forced lines or farcical ideas. Just Sly living his life as he was back then.

 

      The film from a writing perspective is an absolute masterpiece. It’s a textbook example of a hero’s journey, a man aspiring to rise above and beyond, from humble beginnings, with doubts and hindrances in his journey, help of a mentor, and finally the great atonement! Although the sequels are almost repetitions of the same story, the Rocky film which started it all, truly stands the test of time. The opponent of Rocky poses just as big of a threat as Rocky's aspirations.

 

    I don’t want to ruin the film for you dear reader, but Rocky is your go to movie if you ever feel low. It shows a man who one could aspire to be, the man who would just never give up despite how bad the opponent lands punches on him. The music in the film, well I don’t have anything more to say about it. Just watch the clip below!

https://youtu.be/_YYmfM2TfUA?si=51leMDsF25Qg8FaX

      At the end of the day it goes on to show how someone is never too late to aspire and achieve his dreams no matter his origins or his past. It is a beautiful film that deals with universal themes of endurance, hopes and dreams that we could use now more than ever!

Let me know your thoughts dear reader!

 

For those who are still upset at Sly for selling his dog, he got his dog back by giving a role to the new owner in the film!


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