Rocky II (1979)
September 6, 2014 12:58 PM - Subscribe
Rocky struggles in family life after his bout with Apollo Creed, while the embarrassed champ insistently goads him to accept a challenge for a rematch.
In the sequel, Rocky tries retirement on for size, but finds he doesn't have a lot of skills outside the ring. Apollo struggles with the fact that many fans and reporters who think the first fight was fixed, or that Apollo must be a sham if he couldn't beat a boxer like Rocky.
Goaded into accepting a rematch, Rocky can't fight the heart to fight until his wife gives him her blessing. After chasing down a chicken and learning to fight right handed, Rocky not only goes the distance, he takes the title by KO (part 1, part 2).
Roger Ebert: Watching Rocky II with Muhammad Ali
Roger Ebert: Interview with Sylvester Stallone on Rocky II's opening day.
In the sequel, Rocky tries retirement on for size, but finds he doesn't have a lot of skills outside the ring. Apollo struggles with the fact that many fans and reporters who think the first fight was fixed, or that Apollo must be a sham if he couldn't beat a boxer like Rocky.
Goaded into accepting a rematch, Rocky can't fight the heart to fight until his wife gives him her blessing. After chasing down a chicken and learning to fight right handed, Rocky not only goes the distance, he takes the title by KO (part 1, part 2).
Roger Ebert: Watching Rocky II with Muhammad Ali
Roger Ebert: Interview with Sylvester Stallone on Rocky II's opening day.
I don't know, "Rocky buys a house" is pretty much the greatest scene ever.
"Are these new bricks?"
"I say we get the house now, huh?"
"...We didn't even go upstairs!"
"That's just details. I'm sure it's nice."
posted by Chrysostom at 7:06 AM on September 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
"Are these new bricks?"
"I say we get the house now, huh?"
"...We didn't even go upstairs!"
"That's just details. I'm sure it's nice."
posted by Chrysostom at 7:06 AM on September 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
I guess for me that many of the "Rocky" bits felt very much like "we're going to put on a show to remind you how dumb Rocky is;" the first film depicted him as not bright, but gave him great heart/emotional intelligence (that is, sensitive enough to get what was going on around him and respond to that) - the heart here just felt missing to me in most of those scenes.
posted by nubs at 8:59 AM on September 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by nubs at 8:59 AM on September 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
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The best scene - aside from the fight scene - was the press conference, I think - Rocky is his humble, simple self; and you can just see Apollo seething as Rocky charms the room without trying.
posted by nubs at 3:49 PM on September 6, 2014 [1 favorite]