Rocky Balboa (2006) Movie and Film Photos and Desktop
Wallpapers
Rocky Balboa is a 2006 film written, co-produced and directed by
Sylvester Stallone who also stars as underdog boxer Rocky Balboa. It is the sixth and final film in the Rocky series, which began with the Oscar-winning Rocky thirty years earlier in 1976. The film portrays Balboa in retirement, a widower living in Philadelphia, and the owner and operator of a local Italian restaurant called "Adrian's", named after his late wife. Rocky Balboa was produced as the final sequel to the Academy Award-winning Rocky. According to Stallone, he was "negligent" in the production of Rocky V and it left him, and many of the fans, disappointed with the presumed end of the series. Stallone also mentioned that the storyline of Rocky Balboa parallels his own struggles and triumphs in recent times. In addition to Stallone, the film stars Burt Young as Paulie, Rocky's brother-in-law, and real-life boxer Antonio Tarver as Mason Dixon, the heavyweight division champion in the film. Boxing promoter, Lou DiBella plays himself in the movie and acts as Mason Dixon's promoter in the film. It also features the return of two minor characters from the original movie into larger roles in this film: Marie, the young woman that Rocky attempts to steer away from trouble; and Spider Rico, the first opponent that Rocky is shown fighting in the original movie. The film also holds many references to people and objects from previous installments in the series, especially the first. The film exceeded box office expectations and critical reaction was positive, with several critics also calling it the “best since the original.”
Rocky Balboa picks up in present-day Philadelphia, where Rocky, now retired from boxing for roughly 20 years, is living in a row house in Kensington (a deleted scene reveals that his brother-in-law Paulie has been living with him). His wife Adrian has died (due to what Rocky describes as "woman cancer" in 2002), and Rocky has retired to become owner of a small but successful Italian restaurant, Adrian's. He charms his patrons with stories of his past.
Rocky visits his late wife's grave site regularly, and embarks on an annual tour of Philadelphia landmarks that held importance to him and Adrian, including his old apartment, the pet shop where Adrian worked, and the remains of the torn-down ice skating rink where Rocky took Adrian on their first date. Paulie (Burt Young) joins him on this tour, but does so at great personal pain because, in his opinion, he did not treat Adrian well during her life. Rocky counters this claim by reminding Paulie that Adrian loved him as well.
Rocky's son, Robert (Milo Ventimiglia), is the total opposite of his fighter father -- a buttoned-down, corporate-minded businessman who is trying to carve out his own place in a very different world. Rocky's relationship with Robert is strained because Robert has always had to live under the champ's shadow; he even believes that the only reason he was hired for his latest job was because of his last name. But through the course of the movie that we see the relationship mend itself through Rocky's admonishment to his son that his life is his own and he must be willing to take chances to succeed.
During the tour of Rocky's life with Adrian, Rocky reunites with "Little" Marie, who was last seen in the original film (telling him "screw you, creepo"). Marie (Geraldine Hughes) works as a bartender. She has a son, Stephenson, nicknamed "Steps" (James Francis Kelly III). Rocky's friendship with Marie blossoms and gives him the confidence he needs to succeed in what is to come. He also develops a relationship with Steps, a youth growing up with no father figure in his life. Rocky takes the youth under his wing. He even takes Steps with him to the dog pound, where Rocky finds a new hound to replace his original "Butkus." Steps recommends the name "Punchy." It is not the most attractive dog in the world, but Rocky sees a reflection of himself: an aging creature who still has a little fight left in him.
ESPN broadcasts a show titled "Then and Now" hosted by Brian Kenny. It portrays a computer simulation of a fight between Rocky in his prime and the current heavyweight champion, Mason "The Line" Dixon. It is likened to a modern-day version of The Super Fight, a simulation between Muhammad Ali and Rocky Marciano that took place in 1970. In the Balboa-Dixon simulation, Balboa is predicted to have won with a 13th-round knockout, which riles the champ. Dixon's promoters L.C. Luco and Lou DiBella try to sell Dixon on the idea of a fight with Balboa. Pay-per-view audiences for Dixon's fights have plummeted thanks to his handpicked opponents and the public's perception of him as a corporate product rather than a battle-tested athlete who earned his title through drive and heart. They cynically argue that an exhibition fight with the heavyweight legend would buy Dixon favor with the public as well as generate a phenomenal payday.
Rocky is battling his own demons. He feels that if he could get back into boxing on a small level, he might be able to exorcise them. His application for a license is initially denied until he pleads his case before the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission. Dixon's promoters approach Rocky at his restaurant to pitch the fight -- a charity exhibition match to be held in Las Vegas. Rocky returns to his old trainer, Tony "Duke" Evers. Duke concludes that since Rocky's body is old and arthritic, he cannot train for speed. Instead, Rocky must train to increase power ("buildin' some hurtin' bombs") and use "blunt force trauma" as his main weapon against Dixon.
Robert makes an effort to discourage Rocky from fighting, claiming that it's hard enough to live under his father's shadow, this recent publicity will make it even worse. His son goes so far as to ask whether his father cares about him. A saddened Rocky says he remembers when Robert could fit in the palm of his hand. He says that at some point his son lost his way and started blaming other things and people for his own misfortune. Telling him: "Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't 'bout how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that!"
The actual bout is a back-and-forth affair. Dixon dominates for the first round and the first half of the second round. Ringside commentator Larry Merchant says it looks like "a speed bag against a punching bag." Throughout the first round, the power of Rocky's punches is evident. The few that he landed resulted in Dixon saying to his trainers at the end of the round, "The guy's got bricks in his gloves!" But midway through the second round, Dixon injures his hand on a mis-timed punch. This allows Rocky to move in and pummel the champ, even knocking him down.
The remainder of the fight is shown in quickly cut scenes, with Rocky out-performing Dixon due to his injured hand for the next three rounds. In the 10th -- or, as Paulie says to Rocky, "the last round of your life!" -- it appears Dixon has gained a measure of respect for Rocky, stating, "You're one crazy old man" just prior to the start of the round. To which Rocky replies, "You'll get there."
At first it appears that Dixon will outlast the exhausted Balboa. A hard hook sends Rocky to a knee, where he has a flashback to a moment he had with his son only a few weeks prior. He remembers the words and lesson of perseverance that he gave to Robert along with memories of Adrian, and in this, Rocky finds the strength to continue. The fighters trade blows in the center of the ring, with Balboa landing the last few.
Rocky loses in a split decision. However, he exits the arena as the decision is read - the outcome does not matter to him. It is the mere fact that he tried and "went the distance" with a much younger and more agile fighter that matters to him. Dixon says it was an honor to fight with him. The movie ends with Rocky speaking at Adrian's gravesite. He repeats to her a famous line from Rocky II which he first said when winning the heavyweight championship from Apollo Creed in their rematch and learning she was pregnant, "Yo, Adrian, we did it." He leaves a bouquet of roses on her headstone, kisses it, and walks away.
As the film (and series) concludes, the final image shows Rocky in the distance, waving to Adrian's grave (and, in effect, to the audience) before finally fading out himself. The credits roll next to real-life footage of individuals running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, ending with Rocky himself ascending them one last time.
Cast:
Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa, retired boxer and former (2-time) heavyweight champion.
Burt Young as Paulie Pennino, Rocky's brother-in-law and best friend.
Milo Ventimiglia as Robert Balboa, Rocky's only son.
Geraldine Hughes as Marie, a woman whom Rocky originally met over thirty years ago (as seen in the first installment of the movie series).
James Francis Kelly III as Stephenson a.k.a. Steps, Marie's son whom Rocky befriends.
Tony Burton as Tony "Duke" Evers, Rocky's trainer who has been his head cornerman since Balboa's second fight with Clubber Lang in Rocky III. Duke previously trained Apollo Creed, who was Rocky's nemesis in the first two films of the series and his head trainer in the third film.
Antonio Tarver as Mason "The Line" Dixon, Rocky's opponent in this film. Dixon is shown as the current heavyweight champion of the world, but a fighter who is not shown the same respect as Rocky was when he was the world champion.
All Snoron wallpapers are in JPG format and are compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux desktops. We've got wallpapers for your desktop with more added daily to our library, and they're all high-resolution top-quality scans. They're all free and
High Quality, with no logos or watermarks, so enjoy!
We offer you a huge selection of Free High Quality Desktop Wallpapers, Biographies, also we provide a mailing address and contact details for requesting autographs and sending fan mail.
Snoron Movies and Films
Desktop Wallpapers 
