After the dust had settled on Rocky V and it was deemed a failure, writer/star Sylvester Stallone started making noise about wanting to end the series in another way. But she was starting to catch up to him, and soon it would just look silly for a 50 plus Stallone to once again step into the ring against yet another new contender. And then the most unexpected of all unexpected things happened. At the ripe old age of 45, George Foreman scored an unexpected knockout of heavyweight champion Michael Moorer to become the new WBO heavyweight champion of the world. As Rocky Jr says at the end of this film, now people weren’t laughing. Now Stallone had his starting point. Yet, after fights with original Rocky producer Irwin Winkler, who refused to do another Rocky movie due to Winkler not seeing a way the character could connect anymore (a fight that would cost the two their friendship), it would take another 12 years for Stallone to finally get backing and distribution for a brand new Rocky film to be produced. And after once again stepping behind the camera to direct, Stallone would prove Winkler and all naysayers wrong when in December of 2006, Rocky Balboa finally hit theater screens to massive box office and critical success. Here, the Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast hosts close out the Stallone starring leg of the Rocky series. And at a time when legacy sequels are still front and center -anyone see the Gremlins 3 trailer?- Rocky Balboa could be seen as the start of that trend. Is it worth your time? And what are the guys reviewing for this Halloween season? The answers to both those questions might surprise you!

Where else can you go after turning your title character into a comic book character? If you’re Sylvester Stallone, it’s take him back to his roots. Bring back original director John G Avildsen. Put Adrian right back in that pet store. Move right back into that Rocky II apartment. And wax nostalgic about clothes you wore in the previous entries.

Who would have ever thought a prize fighter from Philadelphia would have been able to go to America’s number one Cold War enemy the Soviet Union, cause peace between the two bitter sides, and defeat those commie bastards once and for all? In 1985, that’s exactly where screenwriter/star/director Sylvester Stallone took his Oscar winning character of Rocky Balboa. Oh, and let’s not forget that same year’s Rambo First Blood Part II, but maybe we’ll get to talk about that one another day. Hear all about Garrett’s first Rocky theatrical experience, as well as Adam talk about how his mom and dad were both drawn to the film for different reasons. As for Matt? After not liking last week’s cinematic WWF upstart film Rocky III, is there any chance at all that he’ll be able to go through this blockbuster $300 million box office smash and actually like it? Listen and find out! Next week, a review of the so called black sheep of the Rocky franchise, 1990’s Rocky V!

Rocky 3 marked a turn for the franchise. Not just for its lead star. But it marked the first time the series went from full on human drama emphasized by boxing. To a boxing movie with hints of drama here and there. We also see a changing of the guard as Burgess Meredith’s Micky is killed off, and Apollo steps in, as he goes from Rocky’s arch nemesis to his boxing trainer. Oh, and did we mention two people by the names of Hulk Hogan and Mr T?? Join Garrett, Matt, and Adam as they dissect 1982’s Rocky 3. A film that not only helped the studio’s box office receipts. It also planted seeds for what would become the Golden Era of WWF wrestling. The results of which are still being carried on today. So what are you waiting for suckas?? Download the new Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast now!! Or maybe you’re too busy ducking us for those setup podcasts!

At the very end of 1976’s Rocky, our title character makes it clear that he doesn’t want a rematch. But, Hollywood and boxing are extremely similar in that if something is successful, people will clamor for more. But writer/star Sylvester Stallone found himself ignoring those calls. Instead, he wanted to to prove that he wasn’t a one trick pony. But after his directorial debut Paradise Alley and the Norman Jewison directed F.I.S.T. were both critical and box office failures, Stallone and United Artists couldn’t ignore the calls for a rematch any longer. For 1979’s Rocky II, it would seem that the deck is stacked even more against Stallone than ever. He is now behind the camera. He needs to follow up the Oscar winning underdog story that defies all underdog stories. And, he needs to prove like his lovable title character, he isn’t a one and done chump. Join Garrett, Matt, and Adam as they dissect whether Stallone proves all three things listed above, and more. After 2 perfect 10s and a ‘high 9’ last week, will Rocky II defy its so-so reputation and be a highlight of this Rocky retrospective? Listen below to find out!!