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Both are the elite of the elite of movie characters.
Who's your pick?
Who's your pick?
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Vader. For me, it's because prior to the 2nd trilogy people really wondered about the sequence of events that would have resulted in this guy becoming who he is. His menace was palpable but he wasn't always like that, so how?
Rocky was a little more open about how and what he was. We saw his journey, we wondered about Vader's.
I think the Vader --> Anakin --> Vader evolution is more interesting that Rocky's Bum --> Superstar --> Mentor evolution. And the initial Darth Vader premise is more interesting than the Rocky premise. I think the acting in Rocky is much better than in most of the Star Wars films. But I think the Vader character has more depth than the Rocky one.Does that work in Vader's favor ultimately when those questions are answered and done so unsatisfactorily? I guess it's easy enough to jettison those answers and the prequels from memory (and the sequels for Luke and company) - much as I am happy to pretend Highlander 2 doesn't exist and Connor McLeod is not a space alien - but Rocky does emerge from 8 movies thus far pretty much unscathed with that kind of thing.
I think the Vader --> Anakin --> Vader evolution is more interesting that Rocky's Bum --> Superstar --> Mentor evolution. And the initial Darth Vader premise is more interesting than the Rocky premise. I think the acting in Rocky is much better than in most of the Star Wars films. But I think the Vader character has more depth than the Rocky one.
Kind of overselling Rocky here. Movie 2-4 are the same rags to riches premise dressed up in different clothes. If you ask me if the Rocky movies are better, I'd agree, but the character itself? He's a bum then a star. Then a bum then a star. Then a star who loses, trains like a bum to become a star. Then a star who loses his close friend, trains like a bum to become a star again. All time great training montages but Rocky goes through the same experience a lot. There isn't more to his evolution than there is in the evolution of galaxy savior into galaxy pariah into redemption.I found Vader a very compelling and interesting character with a ton of mystique...for three movies. After that I can do without every time I have seen Vader or Anakin. Some snippits and highlights from Rogue One or the Obi Wan series are cool but it's a music video's worth of material.
Rocky... Mileage will vary for the individual viewer but Bum - Superstar - Mentor sells him a little short. It is actually Bum -> Star -> Bum -> Superstar -> Somewhere between Bum and Star / Regular Guy --> Mentor (failed mentor and then successful mentor).
There is street thug to bona fide boxer and choosing to leave that behind even when broke in Rocky 2. There is overcoming and strategizing around injuries...learning to fight right handed for Rocky 2, then learning to fight Apollo Creed style for Rocky 3.
There are evolving relationships with Adrian and Mickey and Apollo etc. Grieving loss at various points and more than once.
Vader...we see his relationship with Luke change in the last five minutes of his life and it is interesting in the original trilogy to see this absolute monster actually so subservient to something that must be much worse (The Emperor) but otherwise he is mostly an island.
Movie 2-4 are the same rags to riches premise dressed up in different clothes
They were individual rags to riches stories. How we got to rags and how we went to riches changed but they're all still rags to riches. Rocky 1 is the movie that uses that formula the least because he ends the movie without the all out success that movies 2-4 give him. His "victory" in Rocky 1 is more symbolic and about his character. It's the best Rocky in terms of the character. It's also the movie least invested in the boxing itself (not that the boxing isn't great), Rocky 1 is way of a full character arc than the usual athlete climbing the gloried sports mountain movies that we got later.Rocky 2 is an incredible redemption story about being who you are meant to be.
Rocky quit boxing because of the damage he took against Apollo permanently messed up his eye. He did everything else except boxing and was miserable and unhappy. He quit boxing for Adrian who eventually sees being a fighter is what Rocky is meant to be. So Mick then adjusts his style to protect his eye so he fights southpaw against Apollo.
Rocky 3 is about rocky crushing cans to protect his eye until he finally accepts a fight with Clubber and loses because he was fighting nobodies along with enjoying the rich life.
Rocky 4 is about revenge for Apollo. He was still rich in there.
So only Rocky 1 was about rags to riches
The other 3 were individual stories that told much more than you're giving credit for.
They were individual rags to riches stories. How we got to rags and how we went to riches changed but they're all still rags to riches. Rocky 1 is the movie that uses that formula the least because he ends the movie without the all out success that movies 2-4 give him. His "victory" in Rocky 1 is more symbolic and about his character. It's the best Rocky in terms of the character. It's also the movie least invested in the boxing itself (not that the boxing isn't great), Rocky 1 is way of a full character arc than the usual athlete climbing the gloried sports mountain movies that we got later.