2 out of 5

Director: Sylvester Stallone

And it’s a little tired by this point.  Stallone does his best to keep the steam going, but Rocky III feels like a reworked version of the second installment with more muscle definition.  Stallone is now contracting statues and theme songs to match his prize package, and though the plot of the movie does require Rocky to fall from grace, that grace seems a little too natural to Sly, happy to show off his new abs and tone.  The footwork is much better in this flick, as is the blocking during the boxing scenes, so technically things have gotten sharper, and Stallone is finding his balance as a filmmaker with smoother framing.  The writing is mostly high drama, but that’s to be expected from feel-good flicks, especially ones centered around lugs with hearts o’ gold.  But it’s the flair that makes the film truly a sequel – the boxing may look good, but our punch sounds are all now explosions, just to drive the point home, and we get plenty of first person shots just to let our actors show off their tough faces.  All that being said, it’s a logical enough flow from films 1 and 2 to here – Balboa is now a star seeking to retire, and after goaded into a “final fight,” loses the title to tough-talkin’ heel Mr. T as Clubber Lang.  So why not have Apollo Creed train him to give him back “the eye of the tiger” and remember why he fights.  Do you know the ending?  Probably.  Adrian’s coma in film 2 is replaced with a another drama which inspires the champ.  Stallone does the job, and the film is, again, thrilling once it goes into montage mode.  But the ugly bruised mug at the end of 1 and 2 is gone, replaced with a coiffed ‘do and a flexed bicep for our last shot.