"Underdog" by Victoria Romprey

Rocky. Dir. John G. Avidsen
           Feat. Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa), Burgess Meredith (Mickey), Carl Weathers (Apollo              Creed), Talia Shire (Adrian), and Burt Young (Paulie)
           MGM, 1976

            The movie "Rocky" starts with a gruesome fight between Rocky-the Italian Stallion- and the challenger "Spider Reko" (Played by Pedro Lovell). Although Rocky struggles with the local small town fight, he ends up getting an extra wave of energy and takes the win. This is almost foreshadowing into the future, as the world weight champ Apollo searches for a new partner to fight against for one of the biggest fights in the country, the Bicentennial fight. Apollo decides to pick someone from the hometown of Philly rather than finding a "suitable" match for his level of boxing. He looks for an underdog that will put up an entertaining and inspiring fight. While looking for a fighter, he specifically looked for a white male. In this time of America there was still a lot of stress behind the races of modern day activities, and America still considered African Americans the lower race so Apollo being of a darker skin color and being the world champion is living a literal definition of the American Dream at the time.
            Rocky is looked down upon by million across the nation in the coming weeks of this fight, which is something I believe many if not all people can relate to. We've all had a pivotal moment where we along with what seemed like everyone else was rooting for your own opponent. The movie then goes to show one of the most famous montages in filmography history with Rocky running up the stairs of Independence Hall, and intense clips of sparring matches he has at the gym we see the preparation he has put into this fight, yet, another thing the human population can understand. Going the extra mile, taking the next step and going one further, stepping up your game, if you want to succeed, this is the only way and Rocky shows this with great triumph continuously bettering himself. Although Rocky goes on to lose the fight against Apollo, he ended up going the distance and shocking everyone around him. Even though he did not take home the win, he lost the title of underdog and was quick to regain the spark that had dissapeared from within him.
           I personally dislike action movies more than I ever do enjoy them, I often become quite bored with the existence of the characters and feel my attention slipping from the grasp of the directors and actors. Although, I have to say I was more interested in Rocky than I ever have been in a Marvel or Fast and Furious movie. Even if you are like me and lack large desires for the thrill in movies, I believe you should still give this one a chance. Rocky not only shows the story of an underrated and underestimated fighter, Rocky shows a new and interesting input on the classic story of the everyday "Underdog" who goes from being nothing, to everything in a short matter of time.