Rocky VI and the Continuing Saga: Cue "Gonna Fly Now"

I admit it, the Rocky series of movies is a "guilty pleasure" for me. (Nevermind that some of the sequels are far-fetched, and Rocky took inhuman beatings in those movies that your average boxer couldn't withstand.) These movies have worked their way into the American bloodstream over the past 30 years, for better or for worse.

Now comes word that production for Rocky VI is underway, and will be in theaters in time for Christmas 2006. The groans can be heard from the peanut gallery as we speak! :) But this time, if you've seen the trailers, this actually looks like a fairly credible movie, unlike some of the previous sequels. Let's recap briefly…

(stop here if you haven't seen all of these movies…)

Rocky I (1976) - the first and the best. Rocky is down-and-out boxer/strong-arm guy from Philadelphia. His friend Paulie has a sister named Adrian who works at a local pet store. Rocky eventually dates and marries her. Apollo Creed, the reigning heavyweight champion, wants to give an unknown a shot at the title. Rocky trains with his old trainer Mickey Goldmill. Creed defeats Rocky after a brutal 15-round fight.

Rocky II (1979) - After their first match, Apollo agrees to a re-match. Their first fight was surprisingly brutal with Rocky lasting all 15 rounds with the champion. In their rematch, Apollo beats Rocky unmercifully until Rocky begins to mount a comeback in the middle rounds. In the last round, Rocky knocks Apollo down with such force that he himself falls. Rocky gets up first and wins the heavyweight title.

Rocky III (1982) - Rocky is in the midst of defending his title. Apollo Creed has retired. Rocky is now enjoying newfound fame and fortune, to the chagrin of his old trainer Mickey. Rocky fights a charity match against Thunderlips (Hulk Hogan). Soon a new challenger arises, Clubber Lang (Mr. T), who soon challenges Rocky. In their pre-fight arrival, Lang causes a fray in which Mickey gets pushed down. Mickey later dies in the locker room. Rocky, who had not trained well and now couldn't concentrate after the death of his mentor, loses quickly to Clubber. Apollo Creed takes Rocky to the slums of L.A. where he trained. Slowly, Rocky regains "The Eye of the Tiger" and beats Lang at the end in a rematch.

Rocky IV (1985) - A new Russian challenger named Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) arrives on the scene. Apollo Creed comes out of retirement to fight the Russian. Drago is sorely underestimated and beats Creed unmercifully, killing him in the second round. Rocky, who was in Creed's corner, agrees to fight Drago, in a Christmas match held in Russia. Rocky travels to Russia where he trains in the Siberian wasteland chopping woods etc. Drago is shown in a Russian gym/laboratory where he is monitored and injected with steroids. Their fight is quite a showdown. Rocky takes an unbelievable beating but manages to gradually where down the Russian knocking him out in the last round.

Rocky V (1990) - Rocky has suffered brain damage as a result of the fight with Drago. He comes back to America to find that Paulie has given their lawyer power-of-attorney over the entire Rocky estate. Soon the Balboas lose their house and have to move back into downtown Philly where they are forced back into their old life. Rocky can't fight any more due to brain damage, so he has to train and manage at Mickey's old gym. Soon a boxer/drifter named Tommy Gunn (boxer Tommy Morrison) comes to town and wants to train with Rocky. Tommy eventually gets going with Rocky's help, and becomes force on the national scene. A corrupt promoter named George Washington Duke soon takes Tommy away from Rocky and turns the young boxer against his old mentor. The movie climaxes with a street fight between teacher and student

OK….by now you'd have thought that the series has worn out its welcome and maybe you're right. ? Nonetheless, here comes the sixth installment. Not much is known about it now other than this. Adrian is dead, and Rocky is very much over-the-hill and retired. He owns a restaurant in Philadelphia. ESPN runs a computer simulation pitting Rocky against the current champion Mason "The Line" Dixon (yet another original name!). Rocky wins the simulation and finds that he wants to fight some more. Soon Dixon's agent contacts Rocky….you can probably figure out where this is going…