Top 30 Movies: #29. Rocky I-IV

29. Rocky I-IV (1976). Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 93% out of 100%.

So how do you follow up the most "badass" movie of the year? How do you follow up the "Batman to end all Batmans", and perhaps the best action picture of 2008?It's hard obstacle, and one movie has to take on the challenge of competing with such a great action flick. People of Philadelphia: I think we need a montage. It was an underdog story. However, all in all, the entire story of Rocky (excluding number 5 and 6) was something that had to be on the Top 30 list. So strap on your boxing gloves, enter the ring, tell Mick to cut you if you cant read this, and let us begin the assessment of the Rocky series "Ding, Ding"

Why The Movie is on the list:

1. Going into Round 15

One of the things that I enjoy about great movies are the fact that they withstand the test of time. A great movie never gets stale by generation. Rocky is one of those movies about an underdog that my father enjoys, I enjoy it and people in high school still watch this movie. It has stood the test of time and then some. The fight scenes do not get old, there are people that trash talk in real boxing now, and let's be honest, who doesn't like the constant feuds between Apollo Creed and Rocky Balboa? Apollo goes on these Mike Tyson/Muhammad Ali tirades were as Rocky responds with an inaudible, "Let's doooooiiiit"ect. Even still, it parodies itself and it never gets old

2. The MONTAGE

Watch this, and tell me you do not want to run 10 miles. Or at least do a couple more sit-ups. With Rocky I-IV there was almost a certain really cool montage of Rocky getting progressively better at running, sprinting, ect. Either way, it made you feel like you could climb the stairs at the art museum in Philadelphia. (Which, give it a shot, it ain't easy)

3. The Sub-Stories and the Fight

For what it's worth the plot is actually pretty good. It's extremely linear in every movie (Rocky's bad, Hooks up with Adrienne, Someone dies, Adrienne and Paulie get mad, Fight Montage, Rocky wins). Either way, your still intrigued in each movie to see what happens. The plot may be very linear, but its fun to watch. Also, don't even kid yourself if you didn't think Rocky beating Ivan Drago was awesome. Because quite frankly it was more than awesome. Going 15 some odd rounds and Rocky battling back from being behind and he wins. Still...Awesome

4. The Music

Let's not kid yourselves here. Who doesn't get pumped up to "Eye of the Tiger". Who doesn't want to sprint at the end of your run when you hear "Gotta Fly Now". Who doesn't want to scale a Mountain when you hear "Hearts on Fire". The music is so awesomely corny and cheesy, but still you work out to it. Still, "Eye of the Tiger" is show on commercials today about running and succeeding in life. However, the best example comes from this premise: Why is the song "The Final Countdown" considered to be one of the most awesomely bad songs ever? Because it was not in a Rocky movie. That's the impact that Rocky has! It can turn an otherwise lame and cheesy song and make it the motivational song of the century. Plus the band "Survivor" owes their life to Rocky, think about that.

Why this Movie wasn't rated higher

1. The Last 2 sequals

Let's face it, a magnitude of awesome flows through Rocky. It would be great if they stopped with 4! The fifth sequel brought tears to my eyes of how bad it was. Rocky is never to fight in a street fight, he is in the ring fighting Mr. T or Apollo. He isn't suppose to fight Tommy Gunn in a back alley. Plus when was it Kosher (that's right, I said Kosher) to put someone other than Rocky in the spotlight. Unacceptable, creators of Rocky. You had a great run at 4. Rocky does not need to fight in the alley, or when he has a catheter and a walker. 60 Year old Rocky may still be jacked, but it's not the same... 

It's just not the same...

2. The Dumbest Speeches Ever

Listen, I am all about the wonderful and blissfully corny appeal that Rocky has. However, couldn't we have found some better dialogue when Rocky wins? Take the fourth Rocky for example, talking to the Solviets (at this point) "So I came here in Russia and I was all like, you guys are lame, and yous guys were like, hes a big dumb american, and I was all like, well you smell funny, and yous guys were all like well you can't talk right, but you know yous guys aint so bad and we can all change...everyone can change!" Doesn't quite bring down the cultural barriers, Dr. King. I mean, in all honesty, it's hard to understand Rocky enough as it is, so we need to conjure up a speech after he's gotten his head bashed in? Then again, if you hear these speeches by boxers after a match, this isn't too far off....

Touche, Mr. Balboa, Touche

All in all the gripes are few. My main thing is that they came up with too many sequels when four did just fine. To be honest, that's better than most films ever do. Either way, Rocky is corny and cheesy, but it's too much fun not to put in the Top 30. If anything Rocky will be on my iPod as I run today.

Until next time, "It's the eeeeeyyyyeeeee of the Tiger"