MovieChat Forums > Paradise Alley (1978) Discussion > I actually liked this movie!

I actually liked this movie!

posted 18 years ago by JimLoneWolf
9 replies | jump to latest

Seriously, this is an underrated film, and Stallone really deserved more credit for writing, directing, starring AND singing the title song!

I know this film isn't a classic, but neither is The Cotton Club, and that film has an IMDb rating of 6.1!

I liked this alot more than the Rambo sequels. I know those movies have built in fanbases, but dammit, this is a better movie than First Blood Part II. Unlike that film, its obvious this was a personal movie for Sly, and his affection for the characters and material shines through in even the weaker scenes.

For me, this film is a sign of where Stallone COULD have gone if his career hadn't been squandered making sequels and mindless action flicks that his "fans" demanded. He's much more talented than he's been given credit for...and this film is a must see for fans of the ORIGINAL Rocky.

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[–] sparkled_blue_rainss 18 years ago

Ugh I know. This is such a great film and Sylvester Stallone is AMAZING in it. I'm surprised this is such an underrated film. It is one of my favorite movies by Stallone..

[–] oscarflix 18 years ago

Mine also. And I, too, was born on the 22nd.

[–] brittyalexd 17 years ago

I agree! This is a really good movie. It makes alot of sense. I like the whole 40's in Hell Kitchen setting. And what is better than three handsome Italian men?? Nothing!!

I would rather be hated for who i am, Rather than be loved for whom i am not!!

[–] bladematrix 17 years ago

Fantastic, incredibly underrated movie. Alot of people don't like Sly so they say it's crap. The man was extremely talented and the rest of hollywood probably didn't like a guy who had muscles and brains who could make an entire movie. However much I like Arnie, he couldn't have done something like this.
The new Rambo movie was also excellent. Well done Sly.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] TheDiddy 16 years ago

Agreed JimLoneWolf.

This was a MUCH better movie than it was ever given credit for. Stallone had a certain knack for writing quirky (...yet gritty) character pieces. And you're also absolutely right about this being the direction that his career COULD have gone off into had he shy'd away from endless sequels.

That said... I must admit that 2006's "Rocky Balboa" finally returned Sly to this character-driven, quirky style of writing. If you haven't seen it don't let the fact that it's a 5th (!!!) sequel throw you. There are a handful of new characters introduced to us here - much like the handful we were introduced to in 76's "Rocky" or 78's "Paradise Alley".

I'd love to hear your opinion of that movie if you ever get the chance...

[–] cord-74 16 years ago

Some of dimwitts are standing on your heads. If this film was a direction he should gone into, then he would have no career! This was a big embarrassment for Sly at the time, and a huge flop. Sly was born to be an action star. Not a dramatic actor. Rocky is the first example of that, Rocky character himself was the man who achieved things through action, people only waited when Sly would realize his true potential, which happened in 1985... and since then he was the superstar bigger than ever.

[–] TheDiddy 16 years ago

1985 was his commercial peak. Since then most of his films were either flops or returned just minimal profits.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?id=sylvesterstallone.htm

The last Rocky turned a nice profit though. If you've seen it, you'll recall that it was far more dramatic than action-oriented.

[–] cord-74 16 years ago

In fact, if you analyzed the worldwide profit, his biggest commercial streak was from 1985 to 1995. RB was not a big hit, certainly not as huge as Tango & Cash for example.