Aged best: Steadicam, reportedly third movie using it, stair test with inventor's wife, accepting money rather than points regretted. ASR inventor names inconsistent; verify externally rather than guessing. — Bill Simmons
Aged best: music/soundtrack still used in sporting events. — Bill Simmons
Aged best: actual turtles reportedly kept by Stallone and alive as of last2021 reference; turtle pets criticized as smelly, long-lived, undesirable indoors.
Aged best: sports-film form transformed by Rocky, called Marlon Brando of sports movies; dissent someone else might eventually have discovered formula. — Van Lathan
Digression contrasts real-sport fascination with dynasties and fictional underdogs, aspiration versus inspiration, Moneyball/Cashman example; The Game and Last Dance show dynasty stories work in books/docs; fans hypocritically resent real surprise winners.
Aged best race in boxing: tribal allegiances remain acceptable in boxing. Early sports films' white heroes facing Black opponents discussed. Disagreement over conceived Ali premise versus audience's racial reading and sequel wish; Apollo himself deploys race. Stallone's boxing investment illustrated by claimed Roy Jones Jr replacement by Antonio Tarver in Rocky Balboa. — Van Lathan
Race discussion: Apollo explicitly monetizes audience racial biases; opinion movie itself clean on race versus Rocky III, with Dipper taking Rocky's locker noted.
Boxing-gym authenticity: locker taunt and gym stopping for conflict; Van recounts fitness sparring complaint and racial tribalism, followed by commentary stereotype jokes.
Aged best: miserable initial5a.m. eggs/run/failed steps with coughing and side pain, setting up later triumphant return. — Bill Simmons
Angry Mickey dialogue praised, including women weaken legs and eat lightning/crap thunder; Burgess Meredith Penguin/Twilight Zone memories. — Bill Simmons
Aged best: inventive meat freezer, gritty1970s Philadelphia/Kensington/Port Richmond and economic despair shared by other cities. — Bill Simmons
Aged best: television Rocky marathons, complaint Rocky II repeats original ending; out-of-nowhere athlete inevitably evokes Rocky. — Bill Simmons
Aged best: Talia Shire in three Best Picture winners in five years; Adrian distinguished from Connie. Godfather family-lying digression. — Bill Simmons
Aged best: Gazzo's driver comedy, Steadicam, and final revised ending. Director anecdote rejected crowd-carrying ending and downcast aisle-walk ending before musical ring reunion saved film. Adrian's subtle vulnerability grounds exaggerated characters; joke Paulie bad brother. — Bill Simmons
Aged best: subtle Rocky homages, including chicken chasing and Kellerman contrasting Balboa’s body shots with Creed’s head shots.
Aged best: Rocky’s reluctant acceptance of training Donnie, especially the restaurant-food unloading and eventual gym arrival. — Chris Ryan
A provocative aged-best nomination praises emotional manipulation: Donnie reveals Rocky’s illness to get Bianca to open her door. The exchange is joking rather than an endorsement of real-world conduct. — Van Lathan
Aged best: realistic YouTube and 24/7 media touches, the large Mickey gym poster, and Coogler’s intimate camerawork in the upside-down kiss and cheesesteak booths. — Bill Simmons
Andre Ward’s career peak is debated against his earlier run and Kovalev fights; this period is only probably when he was most prominent, not a firm film-Apex award.
Aged best: Wood Harris as Duke’s son, with the irony of The Wire’s Avon refusing to train the actor who played Wallace; more Harris is a reason for sequels. — Bill Simmons
Aged best: Stallone was reportedly 69 at release, the same age as Burgess Meredith in Rocky. Donnie calling Rocky Unc is also introduced. — Bill Simmons
Burgess Meredith’s aged appearance prompts jokes about earlier roles and smoking.
Aged best: Conlan’s trainer and his demand that Adonis use Creed’s name; the Kobe-number 24 jacket is admired. Donnie’s fictional Los Angeles upbringing is offered as the reason he would idolize Kobe, whose Philadelphia connection is also noted. — Bill Simmons
Jordan reportedly told Bill he took a real punch for the eleventh-round knockdown at Stallone’s insistence, continuing a franchise tradition; the Leo fight is reiterated as aged best. — Bill Simmons
Aged best: producers taking a chance on young Coogler, and Bianca having an independent, written character rather than the obstructive sports-movie-girlfriend role. Rocky IV’s Adrian prompts a long mocking contrast.
Clooney is the most disappointing Batman, saddled with the worst film; he might have been good with a better director. — Sean Fennessey
More comparisons follow: Val Kilmer as Hakeem Olajuwon, Affleck as Karl Malone or Kawhi Leonard, Zoe Kravitz as the Steph Curry, Adam West as Paul Arizin, and Cesar Romero as George Mikan.
Julie Newmar’s Catwoman and Burgess Meredith’s Penguin are remembered from the TV show, and the 1966 movie featured all the villains. — Bill Simmons
