When a self-doubting boxer is offered a shot at the heavyweight title of the world, he must fight the fear inside to win the battle in the ring. (Rocky)
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When a self-doubting boxer is offered a shot at the heavyweight title of the world, he must fight the fear inside to win the battle in the ring. (Rocky)
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Rocky was plagued with self doubt which indeed laid the base for his inner journey, but a logline should describe the plot about the main character achieving his or her outer goal. In this case his goal was to beat the champ, he was happy to settle on lasting the full 12 rounds but none the less the point of a match is to win. The odds were stacked against him considering how well equipped Apollo was and impoverished he was, therefore the cooler-room meat punching and famous steps climbing scenes were depicted as victorious achievements.
When a poverty stricken boxer is offered a shot at the heavyweight championship, he must rely on his willpower to overcome his lack of resources in order to seizes the opportunity of a lifetime and beat the champ.
Not satisfied with it, but here goes:
When a two-bit boxer who sees?no future for himself ?gets a? chance to fight the world champion,??he trains to be able to?go the distance,? 10 rounds, in a fight he knows he cannot win.
(34 words)
Rocky has the heart?to be a great?fighter — that’s not what his curmudgeonly trainer accuses of him of lacking?.? The problem is in his head, but I would venture it’s not self-doubt so much as he has resigned himself to a life of low?expectations.? He’s give up on his dream and settled for less, a lot less.? He’s aiming low? instead of high–that’s his character flaw.
?So the? champion gives him an opportunity to do what he?can’t do on his own initiative — a?once in a lifetime opportunity to aim higher, to?shot at his dream.?
(This film was such a hit because it aimed straight and true at?a classic? fantasy scenario of millions of downtrodden,?powerless?underdogs; to wit, waiting around, dreaming, hoping?for someone to give them a lucky break.? Or win the lottery.)
This is a film that doesn’t follow the “script” — the standard template for how and when plot beats are supposed to occur.? For example, the protagonist doesn’t get “the call” until almost?1/2??way?through the film.? And his objective goal doesn’t fully crystalize until about 3/4 of the way through the fight when he declares?his personal definition of victory: ?not to win, but?to go the distance,?be standing at the end of the 10 rounds.?
A? clever set up for a sequel.?
Great feedback dpg and nir shelter.? Plenty of helpful insights for me to think about.
While re-viewing this film, the obvious? (finally) occurred to me.? Rocky doesn’t get “The Call”, the offer to fight the champ , until the 55th minute of the film of the 2 hour film.? The inciting incident occurs where the MPR (Midpoint Reversal) usually occurs.
This reckless breaking of “the rules”,? the wanton violation of all the standard plot paradigms explains, of course,? why the movie bombed at the box office and failed to spawn five sequels.? ?