The seventh Rocky film has been out on DVD since March and it takes the franchise in a new direction.

Sylvester Stallone is back as Rocky Balboa, the former heavyweight boxing champion. He is the only actor left from the former cycle of films, Rocky—Rocky V (1976-1990) and Rocky Balboa (2006).

Though Stallone acted, wrote and directed most of the former films, Ryan Coogler directs the new film, with new writers on board who are obviously inspired by the former films. Stallone is a producer on this.

Creed (2015, USA) is about Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) and not about Rocky Balboa, but Adonis story is like Rocky’s in that he has to fight with passion and self-determination in the boxing ring to overcome his ‘demons’.

Adonis is tired of being in the shadow of his father, Apollo Creed, who fought against Rocky as heavyweight champion. He has to make his own way rather than be known as baby Creed.

He persuades Rocky to train him for a fight at the top level of the game.

Creed is very well-made. When Rocky trains Adonis, the old magic of the former films is back and I was on board. The fight scenes are very good and probably better than anything before it in the Rocky franchise.  It seemed to be a pure boxing/fight film, but it becomes more than that as the human interest elements kick in.

Most of all, I still love Rocky’s self-belief speeches that are emotional touchstones in the film.

What were the former Rocky films like?

Movie flashback

The Rocky signature music is as iconic as the Jaws and James Bond theme music, the quality of craftsmanship mostly enduring, and the characters just about as endearing as those from Star Wars. The Rocky series had heart, spirit, great themes, and quality.

Rocky Balboa, one of Hollywood’s enduring icons, knows real life, the struggles, the pain, and the self-doubts. But though he may be ‘down and out’ he will never say die and takes in his stride whatever is thrown at him.

At first, Rocky is such an underdog that he is considered easy prey by boxing promoters. They want him to fight the world champ in a promotional match that he is predicted to lose. So they think.

Getting chosen to fight is really a ‘lucky’ break when the odds were against it, but Rocky takes the opportunity with open hands and ready fists. It sets off an amazing change in his life that no one would have imagined.

To sum up Rocky: real life can be hard, but never give up, keep on keeping on, do what you got to do, stick with life, and have hope at all times.

Rocky (1976)

–Real life

The definitive underdog story of the modern film era, Rocky was originally a spec screenplay by future Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone, who needed the much sought after Hollywood break.

Stallone got it made and he starred in it as well, as Rocky Balboa, the charismatic, slightly off-center self-described nobody who is given a shot.

Rocky’s shot at glory is in the boxing ring. Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), the world title holder, needs an opponent as his scheduled rival pulls out.  Creed wants an underdog so sets up Rocky for a third round fall, but Rocky will give the bout his best shot. He’s got nothing to lose.

What defines this film is the underdog taking chances. Rocky thinks he is nobody, but is still soldiering on, trying to make ends meet and make something better with his life.

But much of it is a slice of hometown reality. Writer Stallone brings to his characters familiar human qualities, which shows his insight and observation into human nature.

More coming.