The champ faces a new challenge

After the defeat of Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), Rocky 'The Italian Stallion' Balboa is on top of the world. He has more money he could of ever dreamt of and lives a very comfortable life with his wife Adrian. He has defended his title ten times successfully and even has time for a Charity fight against the Wrestling Champion Thunderlips (Hulk Hogan). With so many wins under his belt and with the public adoring him he becomes complacent and when an aggressive contender for the title steps forward he thinks this to be just another win to add to his impressive career. However the challenger, Clubber Lang (Mr T) has the desire to win that Rocky once had and Rocky underestimates him. Before his fight with Lang a backstage fight ensues and his aging friend and trainer Mickey (Burgess Meredith) is injured. With the the world watching Rocky enters the ring with nothing but worry for Mickey on his mind and faces Lang who has nothing but defeating the champ set squarely in his sights. Rocky takes a terrible pounding at the hands of Lang and looses the fight unanimously, crowning Lang as the new champion of the world. Rocky makes it backstage and finds Mickey on his last legs. He was unable to watch the fight due to his frail state and Rocky lies to him saying he won the fight, not wishing to have Mickey's last thoughts to be of defeat. Mickey passes away and Rocky is crushed. With his heart heavy from the loss he has lost the killer instinct he once had and turns to Apollo Creed who he has now befriended to train him for the rematch against Lang. Apollo together with Adrian and his brother Paulie take rocky back to basics, away from the glamour he has grown accustomed to and to find the 'eye of the tiger' he once had. With the fight drawing closer and his feelings still in tatters he a faces another monumental task and must face his own demons and restore pride in himself.

1st Time Around
The story of Rocky continues and for me not for the better. He is the same Rocky we have come to know and love but there is something missing from the film that the first two had. The first two were stories of an underdog making good and winning against the odds. This is more the story of what he has to do to stay on top after loosing faith in himself, and suffers a little for it. All the actors do a fine job, Mr T as Clubber Lang, Carl Weathers as Apollo, Talia Shire as Adrian and Burt Young Paulie. However the end fight I found rather unconvincing as shots are seen to miss, both fighters over act and the fight doesn't last as long and doesn't have the tension or reality of the first two monumental fights. I just wasn't convinced. This is not to say that this is a bad film its just not up to the standards of the first two. A little is made up for by the signature themes that are associated with the Rocky series, the theme tune that inspires greatness and Rocky's build up to the fight. Not the worst of the series but certainly not the best.

2nd Time Around
I was in no particular rush to watch this again but as a Rocky fan I have watched it again as the characters are now well known and it is part of the Rocky Legend. I know people who disagree with my opinions of this film and think it is better than I do. I found it a bit of a let down but watchable none the less.

6/10