No doubt about it. In fact, I think the title (if not the script itself) is already written; Rocky VII: The Greatest Comeback in History

Originally posted by wetbandit82 He'll be back.  It's not like a little thing like death could ever keep a quintessential good guy down, not when there's lucrative millions and millions (sorry Mr. Sagan) out there.

Incidentally, Carl Sagan never actually uttered that millions and millions, or billions and billions line. It actually became attributed to him as the result of a satirical skit performed by Johnny Carson.

Since he dies in this one, it should have been called "Rocky 6 (Feet Under)".

Response from Head RAZZberry: Actually, it's Adrian who's dead in ROCKY BALBOA -- And her character has "passed away" before this film's story begins...

A year ago some of the regulars here were suggesting that King Kong, which opened on a Wednesday and drew around $60 million by the end of its first weekend, had been something of a disappointment at the box-office. By comparison, Rocky Balboa, which pulled in a little over $22 million must have left a crater.

I think a few definite conclusions present themselves:

1. The film is not a Razzie contender in any category

2. Its box-office performance is going to be precisely what some of us predicted; in the $50-$100 million range. That will fall well short of the box-office champion type numbers at least one of Stallone's more ardent fans predicted.

3. The number of Oscar nominations it will receive will exactly equal the number of WMDs we found in Iraq.

This movie looks like a winner, but I think that Milo Ventimiglia will get a Razzie nomination. Razzie voters will acknowledge it somewhere...

Response from Head RAZZberry:  I am preparing our 27th Annual RAZZIE Nominating Ballot this week and, yes, Milo (and Burt Young as Paulie) will both be listed as contenders for Worst Supporting Actor. If Young makes the final five, it will be his third RAZZIE Nomination for playing this same character (he was also a contender for ROCKY IV and ROCKY V). Other than those two truly wretched performances, though, ROCKY BALBOA will not be formally listed in any of the other 10 categories on the ballot. Members who still want to vote for RB will, as alwaze, be allowed to write it in wherever they wish...

I saw We Are Marshall this weekend. Let me say at the outset, for the benefit of those here who seem to think we never say anything positive about any movies I enjoyed it very much. But I am mentioning it for a different reason.

Having now seen this movie, I read some of the reviews for it at RT. As a majority, the reviews for this movie have been negative. On the other hand, Rocky Balboa is getting positive reviews by a margin of about 3 to one. I have noticed two rather curious trends.

1. Close reading of a lot of the reviews for RB demonstrates a rather consistant theme: "Gee, this movie wasn't anywhere near as bad as I thought it would be." Or "It was better than I expected." Curiously, the overall tone of the reviews may not be all that positive, but these phases or variations of them seem to be winning it a positive review rating.

2. RB is generally being praised for exactly the same reasons the same reviewers are bagging Marshall.

The above is why, as I have noted in another thread, I don't put all that much faith in professional film critics.

With 105 reviews not in, it looks like RB has settled in around the mid-70's, and its opening b.o. numbers are in line with expectations as well.

Meanwhile, not too many people here in Denver are going to be going to see it for another day or two. We've had a bit of a rough weather situation here, but my wife and I are both home safe and things should begin to improve in the next 24 hours.

The film critic in my city's newspaper gave it a B (out of A - F)
and says that Stallone retires his character with some dignity and grace, after numerous sequels to the Oscar winning original that built up to self parody.

To me this review suggests two things:

1. Rocky VI is much better than the Razzie-nominated Rocky IV and Rocky V.
2. This movie has a fitting conclusion (rocky might actually die) and it
strongly indicates that there will be no more sequels.

Response from Head RAZZberry: To get a sense of his own perspective on the film (and to see clips) I have been TiVo-ing Stallone's various talk show appearances promoting ROCKY BALBOA this last week. He has repeatedly made it clear (especially in his GMA interview with Diane Sawyer) that this is indeed the final episode in the ROCKY saga. Lest we think it's the end of Duh Sly Guy, he has also made clear in every interview that he is now putting together financing for RAMBO IV (in which Internet rumors have Rambo capturing Ossama Bin Laden)...

With 52 reviews now in at RT, Rocky Balboa is standing at 77%. The guess here is as the other half of the reviews come in, we'll see a trend of positive ratings somewhat over 50%, dropping this a little, but keeping it well within the range I predicted above (69% +/- 10 points).

Allow me to also express my hopes that #1Slyfan has enough of whatever he is taking to go around. Even in a year of exceptionally weak competition, there is just no way RB is going to draw Oscar attention in any significant category (or likely any minors ones either). Nor is there any probability it will challenge Pirates 2 at the box-office. If RB ends up cracking $120 million domestic, Stallone ought to rip of his clothes and dance around like a wino that just discovered the Fountain of Sangria.

If some of you guys would like to look at the poster for Rocky Balboa, here is one. Check out the tag-line: "It ain't over 'til it's over." Wait, isn't that what all sportscasters say while broadcasting ANY game?

Update from RT: It's still getting 77% critic approval, but the cream of the crop has dropped down to 90%. Some of the critics think that Duh Sly Guy has been smart not to try and do too much dramatic heavy lifting, and as a director, was smarter still to let Antonio Tarver do most of the talking in the ring...

It is as I stated to #1 Sly Fan, I do not begrudge Duh Sly Guy his props for finally tapping into that inner creative child and producing something decent, just don't at the same time try to "gloss" the last 20 or so years over as #1 Sly Fan constantly has done in the past. As of this post over at Rotten Tomatoes Rocky Balboa is at 62% and still at 100% cream of the crop. I agree this maybe a semi-biographical movie to the fact that both Sly and Rocky have had has-been careers in the last 15 years and maybe that is where he got that creativity for this movie. Again, Stallone has always been good at doing Stallone, and Rocky has always been a good tool for that outlet.

I've seen it and it's rather good. It's about aging and having to deal with being a has-been.

Response from Head RAZZberry: If the film does turn out to be a hit, Stallone's own has-been status prior to its release will serve him well come Awards time. Mainstream Hollywood loves nothing more than they love apologizing to someone they've cold-shouldered who's since gotten back into the winners' circle. So #1 Sly Fan, though he appears to be exaggerating in his above post, may not be that far off.  Again, we'll know by next Tuesday (when Christmas weekend grosses are reported)  which way this "last installment" in the ROCKY franchise went...

Okay  #1 Sly Fan, lets break this down for you again, since for some unknown reason you cannot get past Stallone's basking of self-indulged glory and face the hard cold facts:

1) These are so far probably the best reviews since Rocky II not IV (IV got such horrible reviews that they did not dare print any them in their newspaper ads or TV Spots) and if you actually READ some of the critics' reviews, most are saying it the best since the original Rocky 30 years ago (Note: not as good, just the best since the original Rocky).

2) As far as Oscar glory is concerned, I really do not think that The Little Gold Naked Man needs to worry about being violated by Sly's creative talents. The only one he may have to worry about is if he gets 3 nods from the Razzie Foundation, in the categories that you previously mentioned (which right now does not seem likely for Rocky Balboa -- we'll no for sure by the end of this weekend).

3) If Stallone's smart (I know, that's pushing it) he will consider this a one-time fluke of good fortune, and not push his luck by reviving anything else. But, like the character he created and portrays in Rocky, Sly just does not know when to stay out of the Ring.

4) Whatever hallucinogen or drug you are currently taking that gives you these brighter outlooks on how things really are, you must share with me. Because I just can not (Nor can most of the members of this Forum) see this non-existent bright outlook on Stallone's career that you do. Heck, even Sly himself just recently admitted to having an off decade or two.

Overall, I am glad that, as of this moment, Stallone for the 1st time in maybe 20 to 25 years is putting out something that all audiences will enjoy, and not just the Stallone fan base. But please, just for once, keep it real!  

Originally posted by #1 Sly Fan As a lifelong fan of Stallone, and both of his main screen persona's Rocky Balboa and John Rambo, I am very excited at the prospect of seeing them both successfully resurrected after everyone in Hollywood (and especially the Razzie Awards) had written them off so dismissively. The reviews so far for "Rocky Balboa" suggest it could be Sly's biggest hit since "Rocky IV" more than 20 years ago. And if the audience response to a clip from the movie on The Tonight Show last week is any indication, the film could even garner Stallone THREE Oscar nominations -- one more than he got for the original "Rocky" back in 1976 -- Because this time he not only wrote and stars in it, but he directed it as well...

A few predictions from this corner:

1. Rocky Balboa will probably end up being somewhat above consideration by the Razzies (16 posted reviews at RT as of 10:30 AM MST 12/19/06 is not a trend either way, but the bet here is that it will end up 10 points +/- its current 69%).

2. I'll stand by my original prediction of a box office between $50 and $100 million

3. It will garner exactly 0 Oscar nominations.

Hold your horses (or should that be dogs?) #1 Sly Fan. The movie isn't even out yet, and you have Stallone in contention for three Oscars?? The movie itself is currently at about a 70% Approval Rating on Rotten Tomatoes -- Admittedly better than almost anyone expected, but hardly in range to merit Academy consideration.

How about if we all wait until we've actually seen the movie to assess it -- Good, bad or indifferent??

As a lifelong fan of Stallone, and both of his main screen personas Rocky Balboa and John Rambo, I am very excited at the prospect of seeing them both successfully resurrected after everyone in Hollywood (and especially the Razzie Awards) had written them off so dismissively.

The reviews so far for "Rocky Balboa" suggest it could be Sly's biggest hit since "Rocky IV" more than 20 years ago. And if the audience response to a clip from the movie on The Tonight Show last week is any indication, the film could even garner Stallone THREE Oscar nominations -- one more than he got for the original "Rocky" back in 1976 -- Because this time he not only wrote and stars in it, but he directed it as well...

SO, WILL SLY END UP FACE DOWN on the CANVAS...OR WILL ROCKY BALBOA BE TINSELTOWN's #1 CINDERELLA STORY of 2006. POST YER THOUGHTS, OPINIONS, WHAT-EVERS BELOW...

"Everybody sez I'm an underdog...Yer a professhunal. Whadda You think??" 

For Additional INFO on ROCKY BALBOA (including Reviews, Official Site, Cast & Credits, etc.) CLICK HERE...