Your Pretty Much Pop hosts Mark Linsenmayer, Lawrence Ware, Sarahlyn Bruck and Al Baker talk about the highs and lows of this nine-film franchise that began with Rocky, the highest-grossing film of 1976 and winner of the Best Picture Oscar that year. We are particularly concerned about this year Creed IIIdirected by its star Michael B. Jordan, which is the first entry in Sylvester Stallone’s entirely free-to-play franchise.
How can such a seemingly simple formula (start as an underdog, train, and achieve at least one moral victory) stay fresh? Why was there a robot in Rocky IV? Is there any justification for an extended and continuous Rocky verse? Does enjoying these films imply endorsing boxing as a sport, or glorifying fictional sports heroes rather than real ones?
For various articles on franchise events, check out totalrocky.com. Sarahlyn mentions the NPR podcast The Statue.
Follow us @law_writes, @sarahlynbruck, @ixisnox, @MarkLinsenmayer.
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