Movie Hall of Fame #1
We've decided here on Plattenspieler to reinvigorate a previously rejected idea to create a hall of fame for which a new movie will be inducted every week. These films are totally personal in choice and we aim to kill any notions of pretension by simply inducted a host of films already given their dues. These will be movies whose brilliance has been either forgotten or overshadowed by prevailing times and years. You could call it a 'Lost Movie' segment but not in the sense of films never seen or completely unappreciated at any point. These will be films lost by modernity or lost by sheer unfairness of the commercialised system. Anyway, we hope it will make you go back and see these movies.
So first up, on a topical note, is the original, the greatest, the Italian Stallion, Rocky! Forgiving the opening line there, this is a contemporary concern with its umpteenth DVD edition coming out and fifth sequel, Rocky Balboa currently playing at your local drive-in. Rocky is a perfect example of a movie being revitalised though rewatching. The new film's modest critical success has forced audiences to go back and relive this just perfect original. That's certainly what happened for us. Betty Boo (sometime contributor and full-time mental) saw the trailer for Rocky Balboa and instantly was excited for its arrival at the cinema. So we decided, as she was a Rocky virgin, that we would rewatch the films to be ready for this ones arrival. Myself and McGuyver both had seen these films a few times but let me tell you, this film just blew my socks clean off.
Your memories of Rocky have likely been tainted by the seemingly endless sequels, reaching a crushing nadir with the fifth installment's street fighting awfulness. But go back to this, and you will be taken back by its brilliance. Far from the later plot structures of simply finding an excuse to get to the climactic battle, Rocky is a thoughtful treatise from the desperate pen of a struggling actor. A parable for humanity's inability to seize the day when that one defining moment comes, it takes its time, building a touching character piece and great, truly beautiful love story long before fighting becomes an issue. Stallone is wonderful, far from the lunk-headed monosyllables of those mid-80s stinkers, this is a man desperate to make something meaningful. His character is one of cinema's great charmers, filled with street-tough moxy and an undercurrent of melancholy, he's just a joy to watch and its difficult to prevent yourself falling for him. The cast around him are surprisingly good too, Burgess Meredith especially bringing a painful sense of lost opportunity to the story. The final climactic fight will have you screaming for him to win and despite his failure to do so, you still feel like he made it.
You will not ever believe quite how wonderful this movie is when you hopefully sit and watch again. Its close to perfect in its grainy, low budget, low key sweetness and inspirational moments of humanity. It stands a testament to raw talent and seizing your day and in its immortal theme tune, has the greatest moment of inspirational music in anything, ever. Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!!!!!
So first up, on a topical note, is the original, the greatest, the Italian Stallion, Rocky! Forgiving the opening line there, this is a contemporary concern with its umpteenth DVD edition coming out and fifth sequel, Rocky Balboa currently playing at your local drive-in. Rocky is a perfect example of a movie being revitalised though rewatching. The new film's modest critical success has forced audiences to go back and relive this just perfect original. That's certainly what happened for us. Betty Boo (sometime contributor and full-time mental) saw the trailer for Rocky Balboa and instantly was excited for its arrival at the cinema. So we decided, as she was a Rocky virgin, that we would rewatch the films to be ready for this ones arrival. Myself and McGuyver both had seen these films a few times but let me tell you, this film just blew my socks clean off.
Your memories of Rocky have likely been tainted by the seemingly endless sequels, reaching a crushing nadir with the fifth installment's street fighting awfulness. But go back to this, and you will be taken back by its brilliance. Far from the later plot structures of simply finding an excuse to get to the climactic battle, Rocky is a thoughtful treatise from the desperate pen of a struggling actor. A parable for humanity's inability to seize the day when that one defining moment comes, it takes its time, building a touching character piece and great, truly beautiful love story long before fighting becomes an issue. Stallone is wonderful, far from the lunk-headed monosyllables of those mid-80s stinkers, this is a man desperate to make something meaningful. His character is one of cinema's great charmers, filled with street-tough moxy and an undercurrent of melancholy, he's just a joy to watch and its difficult to prevent yourself falling for him. The cast around him are surprisingly good too, Burgess Meredith especially bringing a painful sense of lost opportunity to the story. The final climactic fight will have you screaming for him to win and despite his failure to do so, you still feel like he made it.
You will not ever believe quite how wonderful this movie is when you hopefully sit and watch again. Its close to perfect in its grainy, low budget, low key sweetness and inspirational moments of humanity. It stands a testament to raw talent and seizing your day and in its immortal theme tune, has the greatest moment of inspirational music in anything, ever. Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!!!!!
posted by Sam at 1:15 PM
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