Thanks, Academy!

Unless you've actually watched it recently, I guarantee this movie is NOT what you think it is. The star-spangled sequels are so ingrained in our minds that it's weird to revisit the grimy impoverished underdog story that kicked off the mega-franchise. Mike MacRae had never seen the movie, and I THOUGHT I had but it was very different from my memories, so who knows? We both "dinged" along as iconic moments came up, then guffawed in bafflement at the weird scenes nobody talks about anymore: Rocky ice skating? Burgess Meredith talking to a lamp? Rocky working for the mob? VERY LITTLE BOXING? The whole experience is familiar but weird, like drinking a glass of raw eggs. Tune in for a dose of old-fashioned gritty patriotism.