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Rocky The Rewatchables
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Rocky

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

Paulie; slow courtship

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:57Read transcript
  • Paulie or the slow Rocky–Adrian courtship are proposed; twenty-five minutes could now be nine.
  • The ice rink is defended, but another response wants the date to end with a kiss there rather than successive apartment invitations and persuasion.
  • Adrian discovers a sexual side of herself and offers to rub Rocky down.
Rocky The Rewatchables
Rocky poster
Rocky

What’s Aged the Worst?

Paulie; empty fight crowd; Marie advice; rejected points

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:12:07Read transcript
  • Paulie’s abuse of his sister and lack of consequences age poorly.
  • The Chuck Wepner story is called the worst, without further explanation here.
  • The visibly empty fight audience prompts wishes for a restoration adding CGI spectators.
  • The Steadicam inventor declining profit points is another choice.
  • Rocky telling twelve-year-old Marie that bad language will lead to prostitution is criticized.
  • Marie later becoming a Rocky Balboa love interest makes the earlier interaction uncomfortable in retrospect.
  • White doo-wop groups are added.
  • The sequels abandon this conception of Rocky as he becomes smarter and more athletically gifted with age.
Rocky The Rewatchables
Rocky poster
Rocky

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

More Gazzo; Rocky–Apollo romance; Rocky made Philadelphia

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:27Read transcript
  • Gazzo is the most interesting character outside Rocky, Adrian and Apollo; more scenes asserting control or fixing the fight could make the film more interesting. — Chris Ryan
  • The $500 offer appears to promise leverage over Rocky; two more Gazzo scenes could replace two Paulie scenes.
  • The darker original script reportedly had Rocky throwing the fight and a racist Mickey.
  • Rocky and Apollo are called the beginning of the greatest love story, reprising an earlier provocative take. — Van Lathan
  • A deliberately extreme take says Rocky made Philadelphia, otherwise likened to Delaware with attitude, a museum and teams.
  • Others object that Delaware is a state and Philadelphia has actual championship and boxing history.
  • The provocation is defended as an attempt to restore extreme hottest takes.
Rocky The Rewatchables
Rocky poster
Rocky

Casting What-Ifs

Caan/Reynolds/O’Neal/Redford; Norton; Keitel; Snodgress; Strasberg

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:29Read transcript
  • United Artists reportedly wanted Redford, Ryan O’Neal, Burt Reynolds or James Caan; this is defended as plausible studio thinking rather than ideal casting.
  • O’Neal is rejected as too handsome and WASPy.
  • Caan as Rocky with Keitel or Cazale as Paulie is imagined.
  • Caan and Reynolds are challenged as too established; the unknown Stallone makes the audience root for the real performer too.
  • Ken Norton reportedly withdrew from Apollo before Carl Weathers took the role.
  • Stallone reportedly wanted Harvey Keitel for Paulie.
  • Carrie Snodgress reportedly left Adrian over money; Cher and Susan Sarandon auditioned, with Sarandon judged too pretty.
  • Lee Strasberg reportedly wanted too much money to play Mickey.
Rocky The Rewatchables
Rocky poster
Rocky

Recasting Couch

John Cazale as a more likable Paulie; otherwise unchanged

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:58Read transcript
  • Caan as Rocky with Harvey Keitel or John Cazale as Paulie is imagined, but Caan and Reynolds are considered too established for the unknown-underdog effect.
  • Recasting: initial leave cast alone, then more palatable Paulie considered; John Cazale failed-brother type may repeat roles but charisma would make him likable. Imagined neglected skinny alcoholic and robe-logo hustler.
Rocky The Rewatchables
Rocky poster
Rocky

Half-Assed Internet Research

Production constraints; fight choreography; poster error; number-one song

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:13Read transcript
  • Duke reportedly received his name only in Rocky II; Bound for Glory and Marathon Man preceded Rocky’s Steadicam use.
  • The ice rink was empty because the production could not afford extras.
  • Meredith used a fake cauliflower ear and a nostril tube to alter his appearance.
  • Young reportedly applied vermouth and wore excess clothing to feel uncomfortable and angry; the meat-locker drinking is recalled.
  • The final fight reportedly began without choreography and had to stop so it could be planned.
  • The wrong trunks on the arena poster were reportedly an actual error incorporated into the scene.
  • A Philadelphia union issue reportedly moved much of the fight filming to Los Angeles.
  • Gonna Fly Now reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, above the guesses of top ten or seven.
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