Rocky Balboa (DVD, 2007)

Rocky Balboa (2006) has been heralded by a number of film critiques as “the best (Rocky) since the original.” It is certainly high praise as its predecessor (Rocky (1976)) is now enshrined in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress “as being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Rocky (1976) also garnered three Oscars including Best Picture, Best Film Editing, and Best Director.

As for Rocky Balboa (2006), it gave the viewing public one last chance to say goodbye to an icon as the film devotes a considerable amount of time to several of the franchises characters and landmarks as “Rocko” revisits a few sentimental sites (e.g., the old Balboa apartment, Adrian’s pet store, ice skating ring, etc.) as well as catches up with past characters (who have reprise their roles) such as his brother-in-law Paulie Pennino (Burt Young), ex-boxer Spider Rico (Pedro Lovell), Duke the trainer (Tony Burton), and “little Marie” (Geraldine Hughes).

In many respects, Rocky Balboa can be likened to an aging Michael Jordan who came out of his second retirement to play for the Washington Wizards in 2001. Both men’s legacies—regardless of the outcome—were still apparent and secure. The crowd adored them—and like Jordan (who said upon his return to the game of basketball, “…what I’m trying to do is get that last scratch in,) Balboa had his own quotable quote when he said, “there is some still stuff in the basement…right here (pointing to his gut).”

Thirty years since his first fight against Apollo Creed and twenty years since he turned back the might of Russian’s Ivan Drago—the 60 year old Robert “Rocky” Balboa, Sr. (57 wins, 23 losses, 1 draw, 54 by way of knockout) still needed to prove something to himself by getting the tar kicked out of him.

Needless to say, the unlikely endeavor exorcise the beasts from within and helped "Rocko" find what he was looking for…

Peace.