{"id":99115,"date":"2025-09-26T13:15:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T20:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=99115"},"modified":"2025-09-26T22:00:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T05:00:29","slug":"rocky-ii-1979","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=99115","title":{"rendered":"Rocky II (1979)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you be smart and fight again?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Poster-198x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-99116\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Poster-198x300.png 198w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Poster-84x128.png 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Poster-178x270.png 178w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Poster.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) struggles to provide for his new wife (Talia Shire) and son, he reconsiders engaging in a lucrative follow-up fight against heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Boxing<\/li>\n<li>Burgess Meredith Films<\/li>\n<li>Sylvester Stallone Films<\/li>\n<li>Talia Shire Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary writes that this sequel to Sylvester Stallone&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=99075\">Oscar-winning 1976 blockbuster<\/a> is &#8220;as shamelessly sentimental as both versions of <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=43265\"><em>The Champ<\/em><\/a>.&#8221; He points out that the &#8220;exciting final bout is, of course, the film&#8217;s highlight&#8221; (it purportedly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0079817\/trivia\/?item=tr0718753&#038;ref_=ext_shr_lnk\">took over eight months to edit to Stallone&#8217;s satisfaction<\/a>):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Final-Bout.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Final-Bout-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"335\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-99118\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Final-Bout-1024x536.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Final-Bout-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Final-Bout-128x67.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Final-Bout-768x402.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Final-Bout-516x270.png 516w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Final-Bout.png 1288w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; but &#8220;what&#8217;s most interesting is the relationship between Rocky and Adrian&#8230; Although she still can&#8217;t bear to watch him fight, she becomes his partner (rare for a woman in a boxing film) and the person who gives him the necessary motivation to&#8230; make the most of his life.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Shire.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Shire-1024x533.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"333\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-99124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Shire-1024x533.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Shire-300x156.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Shire-128x67.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Shire-768x400.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Shire-519x270.png 519w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Shire.png 1288w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>With that said, you&#8217;ll most definitely &#8220;have a hard time putting up with director-writer Stallone pulling your emotional strings by subjecting Adrian to a hemorrhage and lengthy deathbed stay, from which&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>SPOILER<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;she recovers because of Rocky&#8217;s prayers.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Coma.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Coma-1024x548.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"343\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-99119\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Coma-1024x548.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Coma-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Coma-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Coma-768x411.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Coma-505x270.png 505w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Coma.png 1297w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Indeed, the flaws and limitations of Stallone&#8217;s writing style &#8212; not to mention his strong Christo-patriarchal leanings &#8212; are much more evident this time around, as he attempts to provide a framework for essentially re-offering the same movie with just a few twists; everything viewers loved about the first movie is brought back for a second run, including starting with its final fight scene. With that said, lovers of Rocky and his entourage will likely enjoy a chance to spend more time with them (and to experience his inevitable success after adversity) &#8212; but this film hasn&#8217;t held up well as an essential sequel on its own. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bill Butler&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Training.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Training-1024x548.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"343\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-99117\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Training-1024x548.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Training-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Training-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Training-768x411.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Training-504x270.png 504w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-II-Training.png 1296w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Good use, once again, of Philadelphia locales<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-Running-Inspiration.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-Running-Inspiration-1024x557.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"348\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-99121\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-Running-Inspiration-1024x557.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-Running-Inspiration-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-Running-Inspiration-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-Running-Inspiration-768x417.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-Running-Inspiration-497x270.png 497w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rocky-Running-Inspiration.png 1288w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Bill Conti&#8217;s score\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but of course Rocky fans will want to check it out. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0079817\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/20654\/rocky-ii#articles-reviews?articleId=70911\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1979\/06\/15\/archives\/screen-rocky-ii-fights-a-rematchsecond-stanza.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.filmsite.org\/series-rocky2.html\">FilmSite Overview <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you be smart and fight again?&#8221; Synopsis: When Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) struggles to provide for his new wife (Talia Shire) and son, he reconsiders engaging in a lucrative follow-up fight against heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Boxing Burgess Meredith Films Sylvester Stallone Films Talia Shire Films Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: Peary writes that this sequel to Sylvester Stallone&#8217;s Oscar-winning 1976 blockbuster is &#8220;as shamelessly sentimental as both versions of The Champ.&#8221;&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=99115\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-99115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99115","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=99115"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99115\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99134,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99115\/revisions\/99134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=99115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=99115"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=99115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}