Rocky II (1979)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Sylvester Stallone

Writer:

Sylvester Stallone (written by)

Release Date:

15 June 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sport

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.

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.

Plot Keywords:

Fight | Rematch | Boxer | Coma | Commercial

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

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

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Alberta) (re-rating) (1999) | 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:

1818 East Tusculum Street, Kensington, North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Chartoff-Winkler Productions

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.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mickey comes to visit Rocky, Rocky opens the door for him to enter. Mickey never moves past the threshold but the door that opens inwards is now closed behind him.

Quotes:

Adrian: If he goes blind, Paulie, you walk away; I love him, you don't!

Movie Connections:

Edited into Rocky IV (1985)

Soundtrack:

TWO KINDS OF LOVE

Italian Stallion Returns

The original "Rocky" movie was such a monstrous hit that a sequel was inevitable. The film picks up where the first one left off, quickly moving forward, fleshing out characters and subplots. Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) wants a rematch, but Rocky has his doubts. Eventually, Rocky accepts to fight Apollo and you pretty much know how the story is going to end. One of the few sequels that are as good, if not better, than the original film. This time around the story does not feel original (director-star Stallone recreates with uncanny precision the structure and tone of the first film), and the manipulation is hard to disguise. Still, there is an air of honesty in Stallone's screenplay, but more important, this sequel remains true to the original characters. The film allows the beloved characters to grow, as great sequels often do. Stallone's direction is not very imaginative, but it is clear that he did his homework and he does a wonderful job balancing all aspects of his screenplay. Slicker than the first film, but still a very personal drama that knows when (and how) to push the right buttons. Bill Butler's cinematography is good and Bill Conti's score still delivers the goods. It is a great sequel that fans of the first film will love.