By Joe Starr | Think Pieces | November 24, 2015 |
By Joe Starr | Think Pieces | November 24, 2015 |
Hey. Do you like Rocky movies?
You are going to love Creed.
I also have a feeling that if you’ve never seen a Rocky movie, you’ll still love it. It’s a great movie. But, as it’s the continuation of a six film franchise, you’ll need to do a little homework to get your body ready. It’s fun homework, though- because Rocky movies are fucking awesome.
I don’t think it’s being contrarian to celebrate the brilliance of Sylvester Stallone. Long before Hollywood made him the King of the Expendables, he was a talented indie director and a hell of a performer- and still is.
If you don’t like Rocky movies, I wish I knew how to help you. You should really watch all of them. Except for Rocky V. But for the sake of argument, let’s say you don’t have time to watch all of the Rocky movies. There are two strategies we can break out here to make sure you’re in peak Creed viewing condition:
First, hit play on this.
Everything is better with a little Vince DiCola.
THE ROCKY TRILOGY
The Rocky Trilogy is your quickest bet. It consists of Rocky, Rocky II, and Rocky Balboa. If you want a great trilogy of films with no fat, they’re the best three Rocky films. It’s the rise and fall of a hero with one final shot at redemption, without the part where he won the Cold War. Also, Rocky Balboa is the best experience I’ve ever had watching a movie in a theatre. Strangers hugged and high fived. It was magical.
The problem with the Rocky Trilogy in preparation for Creed is that you’re not going to get the full tale of Apollo Creed, and that’s an important story to know heading into a movie named after him. So might I suggest you go with…
ROCKY AND APOLLO: BEST FRIENDS
A little longer, but necessary for the complete story of Apollo Creed: you’re going to marathon the first four Rocky movies. The downside is that you’re losing Rocky Balboa, which I love. But on the plus side, you’re getting some fun bonus stuff that the Trilogy binge doesn’t give you. Here, you’re getting the madness that is Mr. T in Rocky III, and you’ll get the definitive Eye of the Tiger montage- the training montage against which all montages are judged. Rocky IV is kind of absurd, but in a fun way. Watching Rocky literally fight the Soviet Union is also a fascinating exercise in seeing an artist cross into shark jumping territory. You’ll also get the Hearts On Fire montage, which is my personal favorite montage sequence because I’m a hipster.
ITS SO CATCHY.
Either way you go, it’s going to be worth it when you sit down in the theatre to see Creed.
Just remember that you don’t have to watch Rocky V. Unless you really don’t like yourself.