My first Rocky movie in the cinema was "Rocky V". Low blow, uff! It's like the first record of a punk fan of Toten Hosen or Green Day. Nevertheless, I became one of the biggest Rocky fans. It does not matter if you make a bad movie; It is important that you get up and then make better films again to freely quote him.

Creed II - Rocky's Legacy will be released this week. So I decided to treat myself to all six "Rocky" movies plus the first "Creed" - on a long night, because Rocky did not stop in the middle and postponed the fight. It was beautiful, nostalgic and also hard: The age is a nasty opponent, I know that now. A drama in 15 laps.

Round 1: "Rocky" (1976)

Oh, wonderful! Straight into a stuffy boxing hall somewhere in the middle of nowhere, cheering spectators, two guys who stump stump on each other. A certain Rocky Balboa prevails, collects a few dollars and tells his grumpy coach Mickey of success, but the only beckons: Rocky had squandered his talent. He has too, but for his bread and butter job as a debt collector, his heart is too soft. He prefers to hang in the pet business and flirts with the saleswoman.

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Boxing films: Gong ... through four decades with Rocky Balboa

In the boxing film of all boxing films came surprisingly few boxes. Sylvester Stallone, who also wrote the screenplay, did a wonderful study of the environment: Rocky tries to be a kind of social worker in his neighborhood, and he is thanked by the girl, who says he's hanging out with the wrong guys, a few more dirty words behind. So he cares more about Adrian, the woman from the pet trade. An introductory lesson of the first kind: So, men, that works with the women! Chat charming, invite her to ice skating and then show her the pets, in Rocky's case, turtles.

The film would be shortened today after test screenings by half an hour, at least. Fortunately, in 1976, fortunately not. Then Rocky's big chance: as a Nobody against the World Champion. He lasts 15 laps, loses on points, what I had forgotten smoothly - and the cry for AADRIIAAANNNN, by mark and leg.

Round 2: The training scenes

Dö-döö-dö-dö-döö ... The Rocky fan knows about it. The most famous of all training sequences: In gray tracksuit and Chuck Rocky runs through the streets and industrial areas of Philadelphia, bricks in hand, past burning garbage cans, cut into the training hall, one-armed pushups (alternately!), Cut into the cold store, Rocky threshing on pork halves , Cut back to the port, increase run past the sailing ship, up the stairs, jubilee pose. And all accompanied by the unique driving music.

I can not wait for the gong for the next round, in my euphoria even "Rocky V" would be good.

Round 3: "Rocky II" (1979)

In my memory, "Rocky II" was just like Part 1, except that in the end Rocky wins. Now it turns out that he is just like Part 1, except that in the end Rocky wins. Okay, there are slight variations. In the beginning, Rocky actually has money, but that's gone faster than his eyes go down. Again, he has to start at the bottom and work in Mickey's gym for a few toads: Rocky empties the spit buckets !

How undignified, so Rocky agrees to a rematch with Apollo and gets into training, this time with chickens and pull-ups on the playground. When both go down at the end of lap 15, only Rocky gets up. He did it, Adrian!

Round 4: Choreographies

In "Rocky II" - as in all other parts - the fight choreographies have nothing to do with real boxing matches. The meeting went like this: "Okay, first the other one rocks Rocky's mouth for half a minute, then Rocky slaps the other's mouth for half a minute - and on and on." When someone asked what was covered, it said, "What's that?"

Well, movie boxes enjoy dramaturgical freedom to unbelievable, as long as it's fun to watch. Maybe I just saw too many boring Klitschko fights.

Round 5: "Rocky III - In the Eye of the Tiger" (1982)

Even the title song brings back many memories. "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor was my favorite song at that time, the first contact with Rocky, but part 1 fell into this period. The parents went on a bowling tour, my sister woke me up late. The fascination of this TV evening still works today. I only saw "Rocky III" for a long time afterwards, the entertainment value is still high, also because of the performances of the whipping boys Hulk Hogan and Mr. T, especially because of the dramatic film death of coach Mickey. In addition, Rocky's training camp at Apollo in California provides a change and warmth after all the seventies gray in Philadelphia.

Round 6: figures

With Mickey, the first figure from the Rocky cosmos left the ship. Gnarled, often merciless, but with the heart in the right place - how should a boxing coach be different from him? About young, with university degree and modern training methods? I where! Mickey had Rocky catch chickens to increase his maneuverability. Once boxed himself and therefore had the decisive tip ready before the last round. Just as only Mickey could be the coach for Rocky, Adrian as a woman, Paulie as his best friend and Apollo as a rival and later a friend, also fit perfectly into this boxing world. Stallone had a great sense for it.

Round 7: "Rocky IV" (1985)

Rrrrumms, the film is close to perfection. From perfect bodies to perfect hairstyles (Dolph Lundgren! Brigitte Nielsen !!) to the perfect name of the Rocky opponent: Ivan Drago, this sinister Russian giant. After Apollo dies of Drago following Dr Ko, Rocky does what Rocky has to do: travel to the Soviet Union and send Drago on the boards.

Some say Rocky chose the Cold War with this movie. Others, including me, find the film highly entertaining despite all the clichés. Rocky training in the Siberian snow with sledging and chopping wood, always in thick leather jacket - madness.

Round 8: And the music first

"Burning Heart" and "Hearts on Fire" were the biggest hits from "Rocky IV", but I especially remember the instrumental part of the training sequence. At the age of eleven, I was not allowed to see the movie in the cinema and only knew the plot through a photo story in the "Bravo". But the soundtrack, I had on tape and sonicated with my little ghettoblaster at the open window half the neighborhood.

Round 9: "Rocky V" (1990)

Was Rocky ever as scared of a fight as I was before the recent sighting of "Rocky V"? Will my teenage trauma take me off track, or will I discover unimaginable qualities of the film? In the end, I stagger like two hard jabs, but can stand on my feet. No trauma, but qualities ... no. At least the name of Rocky's protégé has something: Tommy "The Machine" Gunn. With him Rocky beats at the end of the film in the street.

Round 10: Awards

For "Rocky V" Sylvester Stallone did not even pick up a "Golden Raspberry", probably the jury thought the film was too bad for the ridiculous price. "Rocky" won Oscars three times, as the best movie, for the best director and the best cut. A golden raspberry put it for Stallone as a director of "Rocky IV". He was then nominated for his role in "Creed" as the best supporting actor for the Oscar.

Round 11: "Rocky Balboa" (2006)

Before me is the last round with Rocky in the ring. He's drinking raw eggs again, still able to do one-arm push-ups and storm up the stairs in Philadelphia. A touch of nostalgia, but not too much, a pinch of wit, a lot of flair for characters and moods - 16 years after the "Rocky V" -desaster Rocky could not have given a nicer, more dignified farewell film.

Round 12: The voice

I'll never forget the first time I heard Rocky's voice. So the right one, the original, not the synchronous version by Jürgen Prochnow or later Thomas Danneberg. The one by Sylvester Stallone brought a whole new dimension to Rocky-watching. In "Rocky Balboa," Stallone sounds as if he were eating a pack of thumbtacks instead of raw eggs every day. "It's not over it's over"!

Round 13: "Creed" (2015)

How can you save a 1970s figure into modern times without being embarrassing? And most of all: Will I make a seventh after six films? Donnie fights against World Champion Conlan, I'm against sleep, both of us lose - stealthy knock-out in Round 13. Is Rocky never happened. But three years ago when I visited the cinema I know: well done, men! Rocky is great as a minor character.

Movie Trailer: "Creed II - Rocky's Legacy"

Video

Warner Bros.

Round 14: The ideas

Maybe you could dig up a bit in Rocky history and connect that with Creed ... Dragos son against Apollo's son? Rocky in the middle? Sounds like an absurd idea, but the trailer for "Creed 2" has grabbed me at the latest when Dolph Lundgren as Ivan Drago comes into the picture. I have to see.

Round 15: "Creed II" (from 24 January in German cinemas)

I am very excited and will go to the cinema with a touch of melancholy. The farewell is really this time forever. Bye, Rocky!