(2006) Directed by Sylvester Stallone Starring Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Tarver, Milo VentimigliaRating: ******
5.6/6
In his late fifties Rocky returns, Older and slower, With less time to burn. He now owns a restaurant On the same Philly streets Where he has lived all his life, Where he’s slept, where he eats. A young black fighter Asks Rocky to fight him, Back in the ring. He promises not to bite him Rocky says sure. After doing some tests, He’s all qualified To give it his best. He gets training For older folk. He lift’s weights in a pool, Lest his joints get a jolt. The fight was filmed differently This time. The two fought For real this time. They also use realistic Fighting sound effects. You can hear real punches, Of men getting decked. Rocky still got it, But that’s not the message. Anyone can do it. That’s really the message.
If we all work hard And put in the effort, We will see some results. It will be worth the effort, Even if it only remains A personal achievement, That nobody else will ever see, We should be proud of that achievement. We are not all going to be Rocky’s, But if we work as hard, We’ll gain a measurement of pride, For we hold the playing card That seems to us our destiny If only we will listen. We can realize that piece of life We had previously been missin’. The credits are the best part Of this entire film. Few endings quite as inspiring Have ever been put to film. We see every day people Doing personal training to stay lean, And they’re doing it, all joyously, To the motivational Rocky theme, And we see Rocky training Amidst these other folks. Who could have imagined That this started with just one bloke? Anyone can do it. Just put the effort in, And if you’re really lucky, You might end up like him, But even if you don’t, Exercise will improve your health. It will lengthen your life and lessen your strife And make you feel good about yourself. This is not the greatest Rocky film But the credits elevated. I’m giving it a five point six It hasn’t dissipated.
