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Blog Entry 20 of 68 The Write Words
I hope to write about anything and everything that comes into my mind, as long as it is in good taste. I hope to communicate effectively and stimulate thought and conversation. I can't wait to get started!

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~ErinsBlog

Are there any men out there like Rocky?

Contributed by: Erin Di Paolo   on 12/28/2006

Yesterday I went to see the movie "Rocky Balboa." If you haven't seen it yet, you are missing out. Of course, I am a bit prejudiced as I have been a HUGE fan of the Rocky movies ever since I saw the first one. At the time, I was living in south Jersey and in school we took field trips to Philadelphia or Philly as it is aptly called. So the movie has sentimental value for me.

Even so, the original Rocky was a triumph of the human spirit, not just because of the subject matter, but also because of the real life story of Sylvester Stallone. For instance, did you realize that Stallone was an unknown when he wrote the original movie screenplay in only 86 hours? And that he had only $106 in the bank at the time, refusing to sell it unless he could be the star? The film went on to gross $117 million and was nominated for 10 Academy Awards. Stallone's story is every bit as much a Cinderella story as Rocky Balboa's.

Stallone went on to make four more Rocky movies. I loved all of them except for Rocky V, a lame duck movie, in my opinion, that totally tanked at the box office, in comparison to the other installments.

The last movie has all the heart and passion of the first four, mostly because of Stallone. He has always been easy on the eyes, of course, and remains extremely buff, especially for a 60-year old man. But what really got to me was his heart: his character is still pure and undefiled by the world. Rocky does, though, like all of us, have demons in his basement that need to be exorcised. And he does get rid of them, predictably, in the ring against his 37 year-old opponent. It is a beautiful, poignant story of a person choosing to live life on his own terms, regardless of what others think.

As I watched the movie with my very own Italian Stallions -- my sons Joseph and James -- I thought of how very much I admire Rocky the man. I have grown up watching him on the big screen. I guess we have grown up together, so to speak. And I wondered if such a man as Rocky Balboa exists in today's world. Of course good-looking men are a dime a dozen. That is not what I am talking about. Are there any men today with Rocky's passion, drive, heart, simplicity? I don't think so. As my husband, John, said, "That's why they call them movies."

I suppose he is right. But a girl can still dream, can't she?



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Submitted By: Ann Himel
posted on 12/29/2006 @ 12:24:35 PM
Rated Blog Entry
I'm guessing you married your husband because he possesses some of the heart and golden character that Rocky has. I'm just jealous that you were able to get out of your house!
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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Erin Di Paolo

Denver , CO

Erin Di Paolo has posted 68 blog entries and 1 comment since joining on 3/18/2006. Erin Di Paolo 's average blog rating is 4.45.
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