Rocky II (1979)

Direct continuation of the story began in the first Rocky film can’t help but fall short of the original, but does come pretty close. Interesting examination of what comes after the big fight, Rocky possessed of few talents outside of the ring has a hard time making ends meat, especially after he goes a little spend happy immediately following the first bout with Apollo. Stallone’s portrayal of title character is a marvel, simple yet nuanced, I can understand why it was such a cultural touchstone. At this point in the series the franchise is very strong both financially and creatively. 3 ½ out of Five.