Rocky 3

"The worst thing that happened to you...can happen to any fighter. You got civilized." - Mickey

release year: 1982
genre: drama/action
viewing setting: home DVD, 10/25/13 and 2/29/04

synopsis: Rocky loses the world championship to an aggressive young fighter, his trainer dies, and his wife doesn't want him to fight anymore.

impressions: This is a good accounting of how someone can get weak from being at the top. It showcases Rocky's fall from the top, and what he has to do to get back. More than any of the other movies, it gives the supporting cast a chance to do more.

something this movie has that no other movie has: Mr. T boxing.

acting: Stallone does a good job; this was the movie he got really trim for. Carl Weathers does a great job as Apollo, who trains Rocky for his comeback. Burgess Meredith bows out of the series here, and his screen time as the crusty old trainer is brief but entertaining. Talia Shire returns as Rocky's wife, who rekindles his fire to win. Burt Young again seems to serve little purpose as the mooching brother-in-law.

final word: Good, moreso for the trainnig and fight scenes than the story.

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