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Rocky II (1979)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Sylvester Stallone (written by)
Release Date:
15 June 1979 (USA)
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Tagline:
He was one punch away from the heavyweight championship of the world. Now he's one heartbeat away from losing the woman he loves. more
Plot:
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. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
2 wins
more
NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
Rocky: The Undisputed Collection – Blu-ray Review
(From Reel Loop. 18 November 2009, 12:37 AM, PST)
Rocky: The Undisputed Collection – Blu-ray
(From Scorecard Review. 17 November 2009, 4:01 PM, PST)
(From Reel Loop. 18 November 2009, 12:37 AM, PST)
Rocky: The Undisputed Collection – Blu-ray
(From Scorecard Review. 17 November 2009, 4:01 PM, PST)
User Comments:
One of the best sequels ever made. I'm not joking.
more (123 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Sylvester Stallone | ... | Rocky Balboa |
 | Talia Shire | ... | Adrian |
 | Burt Young | ... | Paulie |
 | Carl Weathers | ... | Apollo Creed |
| Burgess Meredith | ... | Mickey Goldmill |
| Tony Burton | ... | Duke (Apollo's Trainer) |
| Joe Spinell | ... | Tony Gazzo |
| Leonard Gaines | ... | Agent |
| Sylvia Meals | ... | Mary Anne Creed |
| Frank McRae | ... | Meat Foreman |
| Al Silvani | ... | Cutter |
| John Pleshette | ... | Director |
| Stu Nahan | ... | Announcer |
| Bill Baldwin | ... | Commentator |
| Jerry Ziesmer | ... | Salesman |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
119 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Canada:AA (Ontario) |
Canada:G (Quebec) |
Canada:PG (Alberta) (re-rating) (1999) |
Canada:PG (Manitoba) |
Iceland:12 |
Canada:14A (Ontario - 2006) |
Mexico:A |
South Korea:12 |
Brazil:12 |
Peru:14 |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:PG |
Chile:14 |
Finland:K-16 |
Norway:15 |
Singapore:PG |
Sweden:15 |
UK:PG |
USA:PG |
West Germany:12
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
When Rocky is training for the fight, he is sparring with a smaller quicker fighter. The sparring partner is played by real life Champion Roberto Durán.
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Goofs:
Factual errors: During the fifteenth round, Rocky lands a left hook and Apollo Creed is knocked down. Rocky falls as the result of his own punch. The referee begins to count both fighters out. The referee would only be counting Apollo Creed out because Rocky's punch knocked him to the canvas. According to the rules of boxing, Rocky should not be in danger of being counted out because he was not struck by a punch. Rocky was off balance and so the referee would rule it as a slip.
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Quotes:
[Rocky and Mickey are watching the film of the first fight]
Mickey: Left handed fighters they're the worst. They try to come in there with that big left. Right's no damn good. They ought to outlaw southpaws!
Rocky Balboa: Why didn't you tell me that before?
Mickey: I didn't want to hurt your feelings.
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Mickey: Left handed fighters they're the worst. They try to come in there with that big left. Right's no damn good. They ought to outlaw southpaws!
Rocky Balboa: Why didn't you tell me that before?
Mickey: I didn't want to hurt your feelings.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in A Decade Under the Influence (2003)
more
Soundtrack:
TWO KINDS OF LOVE
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FAQ
How much does the agent promise Rocky he'll make if he signs to his advertising agency?How many "Rocky" movies are there in the series?
What age is Rocky in this film?
more
more (123 total)
Message Boards
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I have to hand it to Sylvester Stallone – he did the impossible with 'Rocky II' and made a successful follow-up to 'Rocky,' winner of the 1976 Best Picture Academy Award.
Some argue that 'Taxi Driver' (also nominated) deserved the Oscar more. I'm not so sure. 'Rocky' came along at just the right time – it was an uplifting story and people needed that back then. Now, 'Taxi Driver' is usually considered the superior of the two – but they're entirely different and, in my opinion (and it's a rare one), 'Rocky' is just as good – but in a different way. They're both great films, and I'm not saying that 'Taxi Driver' shouldn't have won – but I'm not necessarily saying it should have, either. 'Rocky's' achievement is monumental and it is one of the greatest films ever made. To say it's 'not as good' merely because it is more optimistic is nonsense.
So what's so great about 'Rocky II' and why is it generally underrated? (Its average user score right now on the Internet Movie Database -- with over 8,000 votes -- is a measly 6.2/10, compared to the original's 7.7)
Because it maintains the focus of the first film, and continues the story rather well. A story that didn't really need to be continued, per se, but nevertheless formed the foundation of one of the greatest film franchises of all time. That's right – many people hate the 'Rocky' sequels, but apart from 'Part V,' they're all surprisingly entertaining – and, more importantly, well made. I like them; they entertain me, and I think they all serve their purpose.
What's particularly interesting about 'Rocky II' is that apart from repeating the central theme of fighting Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), Rocky (Stallone) goes through a character arc here that many sequels totally ignore – we see the after-effects of his fight, and him struggling to adapt to the 'New Life.'
Rocky is not a smart person. But he is one of cinema's deepest characters. Stallone (who wrote all the scripts and directed three of the sequels) succeeds at evolving Rocky's self-confidence. After winning a small fortune from his famous fight with Creed, he goes out on an impulsive shopping spree, buying a cool car, a new leather jacket (with a tiger – the beast with the 'eye' that Rocky re-captures in 'Part III' – printed on the back), and a new luxurious apartment for him and his wife Adrienne (Talia Shire).
The problem is that Rocky soon runs out of money. His happy-go-lucky personality crashes when he is faced with the prospect of losing it all. He promised Adrienne never to fight again, and keeps his word by trying to get a 'real' job at the meat-processing factory (the same one he trained at in the original film). However due to staff cut backs he is fired and soon realizes that he was born for one reason: To fight.
Meanwhile, Apollo is eager to take on 'The Italian Stallion' again – to prove he isn't the coward that criticizers are implying he is. He entices Rocky back into the ring for a final match – and to say that the outcome is satisfactory is an understatement.
Most people seem to forget that Stallone is almost solely responsible for the entire success of 'Rocky' as a whole. He came up with the idea, wrote a script, fought to get it made, fought to become the leading star, and literally fought to get in shape. All of this fighting paid off – and it continued to pay off as he kept on cranking out all the sequels.
Indeed, the 'Rocky' legacy is often poked fun at because it is the typical endless Hollywood moneymaking franchise. But 'Rocky II' and 'III' (more so than the other two sequels) have guts, power, determination and focus – they've got the so-called 'Eye of the Tiger' and I can't really say that I agree with anyone who says these movies are worthless. They aren't masterpieces but they certainly aren't trash, either. I give 'Rocky II' a hearty recommendation – it's a truly solid sequel that surprises us right when we expect to be disappointed.