Welcome to Rockyland!

"Its not how hard you can hit … It's about how hard you can get hit and still keep moving ahead!"

It is inspirational stuff like these which made Rocky a cult amongst all the fighting tigers of the world and now that he is back, in perhaps the last part of the entire series, Rocky Balboa doesn't disappoint.

Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) is back, this time, a sixty-year old man, a legendary boxer, who owns a small restaurant, making in the small bucks. He has put his boxing career way behind him. He's not the same old Rocky anymore. He's far more subdued, albeit a little old. He's retired. His days go by running this shop, plus visiting Adrian Balboa's grave and sitting there for hours on end. Rocky now is any other man, in any other place, leading a normal citizen's life.

On the boxing scene, Mason 'the flying' Dixon (Antonio Tarver) is having a similar bad time. He is the reigning undisputed champion of the world, but his popularity is on the downslide. His managers are getting rather anxious about his public relations. It's not about winning, it's about remaining a demigod in the eyes of your fans, like Rocky has remained till today. Plus there is this virtual reality thing, where the organizers go about tallying Mason's prowess against the all-time greats, with the temporal passages taking hold on the latters' abilities as boxers. First up for this comparison, is the legendary, two-time champion of the world, Rocky Balboa. The results are more defaming for the current champion, as they hold the result of Rocky beating him.

The comparisons spark off newer controversies over the champion’s fanfare. His managers get more nervous about the developing situation. There is perhaps only one salvo in the whole affair – a fight with Rocky, where not only does he beat the legend, but does it, leaving the veteran with his respect, his dignity – the outcome; not only does he consolidate his position as the undisputed boxer of the world, but also gains public support for “taking care of Rocky” through the ring.

Rocky, in the meantime, is having his own share of ideas. The virtual match provides him with the idea that he can actually return to the ring and take on a few people. Even at this age. Obviously he’s trying for the local level boxing matches just do realize some dreams of his. So he tries for a license and eve gets it, clearing all the scheduled tests. So Mason’s managers get in touch with him and Rocky consents to the fight. His son, Robert (Milo Ventimiglia) is furious. He claims that all he got in life was because of his last name. And now, when his father makes himself to be a laughing stock, he’s going to be included in that. What you then get, is vintage Rocky – “You gotta do, what you gotta do! The world is not sunshine and rainbows. It’s a mean world out there and no matter how hard you try, its gonna beat you to your knees and keep you there, no matter how tough you are. It’s not about how hard you can hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit … and keep moving on! I’m a fighter … that’s the way I am! You can’t change what we are!” Rocky goes into training. All muscle and heat, Rocky-style!

The stage is set. Rocky takes on Mason. Commentators are absolutely sure that Rocky won’t be able to last even two rounds - A straight K.O. for Mason. The bell for the first round rings. Rocky is pushed around; beaten up. Predictions seem to be running according to their words. Will Rocky be disgraced? But even before the bell for the second round’s termination could ring, Rocky turns on the heat. It’s a kind of pounding that Mason perhaps had never got at the hands of any of his current opponents.

The commentator’s words resonate through the arena – “welcome to Rockyland!” From there onwards, it’s Rocky all the way. Mason too gets to throw in his blows, Rocky also receives sufficient damage, but it’s not one-way traffic as expected. Mason is carried on through all the scheduled ten rounds of the match, Rocky style!
At the end, it’s not about winning or losing anymore. It’s about Rocky, the legend, the veteran, the larger-than-life figure. Rocky Balboa, the heavyweight champion. Rocky Balboa.

It must have been a very emotional moment for Sylvester Stallone, the last walk back from the arena. What started out as dream in 1976 has finally come to an end. Rocky will never fight again. It’s the story of Rocky, seen through the eyes of Stallone. But then again, “if I can change, you can change – everybody can change!” Rocky is transcendental, the center of the structure – both inside and out. Rocky is Stallone, the sixty-year old man, who can give a sixteen-year old man a run for his money. The determination, the will, the power – it’s just all Rockyland.
The cinematography and the music of the film (Bill Conti) deserve special mention. The camera was never handled better in any Rocky movie. The angles and the lighting, make it the magnum-opus and the ultimate swan-song of Stallone. Conti uses tracks from the old Rocky movies and the situations, in which they are added, make the scenes more stimulating.

The verdict – Rocky is the best! Be it the man, or the movie!