Rocky II

By concentrating on character development with this first of several sequels to his Oscar-winning smash Rocky (1976), writer/director Sylvester Stallone earned critical praise that would desert him with the boxing saga's shallower subsequent chapters. Stallone returns as Rocky Balboa, a Philadelphia ...more

Released in 1979, Rocky II arguably represents the beginning of '80s film. The original Rocky was a welcome turn from the nihilistic storylines that dominated early and mid-'70s American films. Sure, Rocky does not have such a fairy tale life that he wins the title, but he does accomplish his dream to go the distance with the champ, and he gets the woman of his (realistically modest) dreams. The film's first sequel represents Stallone's abandonment of personal cinema and his acceptance of what ...more