The Clever Corvid's Curious Cache...

In the spirit of the caching habits of ravens, crows, magpies and jays, this Corvid's cache is a collection of pretty well anything that struck my fancy! In it you will find mostly reblogs of nature, history, art, quotes, fashion and a little bit of whimsy. Enjoy!

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Rocky II (1979)

While not as good as the first, Rocky II gets many things right. Considering the ending of the previous film, it’s logical for the story to continue as it does here. Once again, we’re asked to cheer for the ultimate underdog and Stallone - now starring, writing and directing – makes you eager to do so.

Following the match between heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) and Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), the Italian Stallion is told by doctors that going back into the ring could lead to permanent blindness. Retiring from the sport, he and Adrian (Talia Shire) begin their life together, getting married and getting ready to welcome a baby into their home. Meanwhile, Apollo becomes obsessed with the idea of a rematch.

In Rocky, we saw the man rise and win in the end, but the picture’s conclusion is unconventional. What about seeing him actually emerge victorious? Fuelled by hate mail, Apollo begins taunting Rocky (I almost wrote Stallone, so iconic is he in the role). Now, you’re torn. You want a rematch as much as Apollo does. You could excuse him not taking the initial fight seriously but now he’s putting too much weight on it. Rocky is retired. Apollo is champion of the world. What does he have to prove by turning Rocky’s admirers against him? You want Rocky to show him poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated, that the match wasn’t a fluke. On the other hand, you’re too endeared to Adrian and Rocky to put them at risk. If he goes back into the fight, it’ll break her heart and one bad hit may render him blind. While you may foresee the film’s conclusion, the middle is great and the picture so engaging both from a sports point of view and from a dramatic angle you won’t care.

One portion of the story - in which Adrian’s shoved aside - feels a little Hollywood-y, a bit phony. Otherwise, the writing is strong. There’s a running theme of pride throughout. Apollo gave the first fight his all but feels the need to prove it to his fans by beating Rocky. Our hero is ashamed for being unable to find work outside of manual labor and, when money becomes tight and Adrian suggests she return to her job at the pet shop despite her pregnancy, it’s a heavy blow to Rocky’s pride, a blow amplified when Apollo makes the proposed rematch personal. The topic is well explored, which means you won’t even mind that, once again, the film is not really about boxing, but about its characters.

Rocky II is a sequel which doesn’t feel contrived or made simply to squeeze more money from fans. While it may not be as good as the first, this is a well-written, well acted and clever film which delivers what you want to see and ultimately, satisfies. (On DVD, December 1, 2018)

See, that’s what the app is perfect for.

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Brian Pallister just became Premier of Manitoba…

Rocky II (1979)