rave195

I purposely did not read the reviews and kept my expectations very low since this was the 7th installment right?! LOL After the first 2 the magic was just not there. Wow! Didn't realize the emotional wallop that was coming. Made me realize how emotionally attached one gets while growing up with "Rocky Balboa". Congrats to Ryan Coogler for the wonderful meld of the old Rocky with the new. Michael Jordan showed the major Hollywood chops to carry the main role with creative finesse and talent. Coogler more than adequately captured the feel of big city Philly just as in the first two movies. Sly more than ever deserved his Oscar nomination and win, has had to be his best role since the Rambo series. Such a surprise to see the depth in his face in his words and his non words! Silence was truly golden between those two. Just loved how they portrayed the tightening bond between Creed and Rocky and how they ultimately ended up needing each other. Nothing felt corny, clichéd or false. Had the big 'ole lump forming last half of the movie, only to finally have the "pipe burst" at the last scene. Job well done. Highly recommended.

I would definitely agree with the majority of reviewers here, a buckler without much swash. :o Really wasn't feeling it between Rock Hudson and Yvonne DeCarlo and he just seemed much too young for her, IMO. The dialogue between them just seem forced and stunted. I did appreciate the scenes with his shirt off though, no one can deny Rock Hudson was a handsome, well built man.

However, as a nautical fiction/ history fan, this movie hit on 7 out of 8 cylinders and I DVR'd it just to be able to see it again on that note.

First of all, it is loosely(very) based on Victor Hugo's 1866 classic "The Toilers of the Sea". (He wrote Les Miserables, 1862)Some of the main characters have the same names from the story, Gilliatt(the Cunning!),Rantaine, Lethierry, and Deruchette, the Yvonne DeCarlo role. Secondly, it was filmed in the same locale as The Toilers of the Sea was based on, Guernsey of the The Channel Islands off of France. This location is also where Victor Hugo lived(while writing) and of which he writes of extensively in the book. (Still used today as the most detailed account of that coastal/island geography).

As I have yet to visit those islands, it was wonderful to see in the movie the intermingling huge blocks of boulders/rocks, unique grasses and surrounding sea so beautifully depicted. The rocky points, towering cliffs and walls of an old harbor are all shown, in color no less although some scenes are at dusk and dark on purpose. My next viewing will be to solidly identify which of the castles or low built fortifications they actually filmed on. What fun for a nautical fan! :>

This is why I gave it a 5 out of 10. (obviously not on the merits of the movie itself, but it's quasi story origin and filming location!) Enjoy! :D