"Did we really need another Rocky?"
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Rocky first started off as a great addition to the sports movie genre. Even the 2nd and 3rd sequels weren't so bad (even though I personally think there should have been no sequels). But then things went a bit overboard. To make a long story short, Rocky Balboa is perhaps the most persuasive example of this.
STORY: So sportscasters debate if current undefeated World Champion Mason Dixon could take on Rocky Balboa if Rocky was in his prime as Dixon. Theres even a computerized virtual simulation of the arguable dream match showing what would happen in this situation in all likely hood. Obviously Dixon is not pleased when Balboa comes out the victor. Mason challenges Rocky to an exhibition and wala, Rocky's final fight. This to me apparently hinted that Stallone was trying to tap into a more modern Rocky spectacle than his previous projects; which his last was over a decade ago by the way. Despite me giving kudos to this attempt, I must say that I found the family turmoil plot quite unexplored, dull, and boring. A lot of the important pieces of the synopsis seemed sloppily thrown in without much directorial effort. The story as a whole left inconsistent gaps and as a whole basically done just for the sake of making one more Rocky.
ACTING: I really can't say that Milo Ventimiglia's roll as Balboa's estranged son was acted badly. He just wasn't given much to work with. He may have tried to improvise, but there wasn't much he could do. So that was poorly constructed by Stallone as well since he directed and wrote the screenplay as well. There was not much of any depth involving the rest of the cast as well. The film gave you simple scenarios and seemed to come to a halt in character progression. So the actors and actresses performances were limited and cut dry.
DIRECTING: Sylvester Stallone seemed to only have the legacy of Rocky in mind rather than also including compelling storytelling; even though he caught the legend of Rocky beautifully in three quarters of the film I must admit. But alas in the end it just didn't paint me canvas mastery that was done in the first two Rockies and that should have been done in despite of the originals since Sylvester took a big leap in making a 6th one.
VISUALS: The visuals were pretty well done. What I found downright cheesy is that Stallone used the same method in some parts of the fight scene that was done in Sin City.
The bottom line is this, just because one can make a 100th sequel doesn't make it wise to do so. And Rocky Balboa is standout proof. It wasn't a real bad film. But was poorly invisioned and maped out.
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