Rocky

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Rocky - 8/10 It's more allegorical than I remembered ... "The American Dream" with the black champion (Ali is an entire story regarding Vietnam and how they never oppressed him) who is on top of the world, void of stereotypes, and the usual stereotypes about the white guy, Paulie is a mooch, and Mick couldn't stand him or his locker until he got the title shot. And it's addressed, but that's life. People don't necessarily live on principles or what they think is right/wrong, and they make exceptions. "America was found by an Italian"... It's all marketing. It's a set-up, like the American system. There are values on paper, but there's reality, too, and they show it.. Even the name "Apollo" is symbolic. "Apollo, this guy means business", "I mean business, too.. Get me some coffee" he says to his secretary, but talking about two different things. On the eve of the fight, the promoter is wondering why Rocky is there. "It doesn't matter who wins, it's all about the show" is a constant theme. Apollo's trainer says, "But he thinks this is a fight" when his only focus is marketing, doing commercials, after-school special to tell kids to go to college, etc... Bicentennial, white/black, rich/poor, opportunity, fighting, love, outcasts, the loan shark is the only "good guy".. and as a replacement. The entire boxing match is built around the idea of "I've spent over a million promoting the fight" (get me ANY fighter) until they come up with this "special".. Unfortunately, because it made so much money on a low-budget, they made so many sequels they might as well call it "Greed". I think a lot of serious movie people will think, "Ah, I'm not watching that franchise crap, I want something independent" not realizing "Rocky" is independent, helped by the underrated King of The Underdogs (John Avildsen) who has great vision. I compared the script, and feel Avildsen took the best, and made it more allegorical.